Ryanair has hit back at consumer watchdog Which? after it claimed passengers could save over £100 by ignoring the airline's recommended fare. Which? said its research found that selecting the 'Basic' fare and adding extras separately was often cheaper than the 'Regular' fare promoted as 'ideal'.
In a test booking for a family of four from London to Alicante, Which? said the 'Regular' fare cost £59 more than the 'Basic' fare with identical seats and baggage added manually. The watchdog also noted that if the family opted for four cabin bags instead of eight, savings could reach £163.
Which? analysed 15 flights to various destinations for February 2026 and found the 'Regular' fare cheaper only once. The 'Regular' fare includes priority boarding, carry-on luggage, and free seat selection.
A Ryanair spokesperson dismissed the findings, telling Sky News: 'This is more fake news from Which? Thankfully no one reads, or takes any notice of Which's fake recycled news articles.' The airline cited its passenger growth from 200 million to 208 million in 2025 as evidence of customer satisfaction.
