RE: at least Ryanair are cheap idiots.
ok, I had nothing better to do this afternoon, so I priced flights at both ryanair.com and sabena.com, for a week in September (18-25). By going three months in advance, I should be able to get all Apex/Super Apex fares, as I asked for the cheapest flights possible on the days in question.
The results are as follows:
Ryanair: Charleroi – Dublin 3757BEF (+ Handling charge)
Sabena: Brussels – Dublin 7009BEF (All Taxes included)
Ryanair: Charleroi – Prestwick 2810BEF (+ Handling charge)
Sabena: Brussels – Glasgow 11566BEF (All Taxes included)
Ryanair: Charleroi – Stansted 2012BEF (+ Handling charge)
Sabena: Brussels – Heathrow or London City 7135BEF (All Taxes included)
Ryanair: Charleroi – Treviso 3174BEF (+ Handling charge)
Sabena: Brussels – Venice Marco Polo 10500BEF (All taxes included) (Fare also avaliable with transfer at Nice (code share with Air Littoral))
I could get quotes for Sabena flights to both Shannon and Pisa, although there were no connections avaliable on the day, so I don’t know the routes they proposed. There prices were as follows:
Ryanair: Charleroi – Shannon 2270BEF (+ Handling charge)
Sabena: Brussles – Shannon 25566BEF (All taxes included)
Ryanair: Charleroi – Pisa 3085BEF (+ Handling charge)
Sabena: Brussels – Pisa 26722BEF (All taxes included)
I couldn’t find an eqivalent for Carcasonne at Sabena.
I think Ryanair’s handling charge is just a credit card transaction fee, so it won’t be a lot.
So the savings possible are:
Dublin 46.4%
Glasgow 75.7%
London 71.8%
Venice 69.8%
Shannon 91%
Pisa 88.4%
Ok, maybe they don’t understand Belgian law, but surely they’re allowed to promote their fares in adverts, as you can’t buy their tickets at travel agents, so the only quote you’d get would be Sabena’s. Having said that, it’s possibly cheaper to go Sabena if you only book a week in advance. My Uncle found it cheaper going BA from Glasgow – Dublin, despite Ryanir’s fares for the route starting at £1.45 + £5 tax
As to their ‘our airframes are newer than yours’ claim, that’s unbelievably petty. Ryanair operate mainly 737-200’s, they will eventually all be replaced by -800’s, but at a rate of 5 a year. so it willl be another 3 or 4 years before they have the new fleet they claim to have.
Sign In
