Ryanair’s Website Accused of Offering Unfavourable Exchange Rates to Travellers
Budget airline Ryanair has come under fire for allegedly providing significantly worse currency exchange rates on its booking website compared to independent financial services. A recent investigation by consumer advocacy group Which? has highlighted concerns that travellers might be overpaying for their flights due to the airline’s automatic currency conversion process.
The findings suggest that when customers book flights originating from a foreign country into the UK, Ryanair presents the fare in the departure country’s currency. However, the subsequent conversion to pounds sterling, as displayed on the airline’s platform, has been deemed unfavourable.
For instance, Which? cited a hypothetical scenario involving a family of four travelling from Alicante, Spain, to London during the summer. Based on rates observed in February 2026, the flight cost was quoted at €1,439. Ryanair’s automatic conversion of this amount into pounds sterling resulted in a charge of £1,321.
This figure, according to Which?, represents a “terrible exchange rate.” When the same booking was analysed using a dedicated currency conversion website like xe.com, the cost would have been £81 less if the passengers had simply paid in euros, allowing their own bank or payment provider to handle the conversion. This issue has reportedly surfaced across a number of flight bookings, raising questions about the transparency and fairness of Ryanair’s pricing practices.
Navigating Ryanair’s Conversion System: A Step-by-Step Guide
Fortunately for consumers looking to book with the popular budget carrier, there are ways to bypass Ryanair’s potentially disadvantageous exchange rates. However, the process is not immediately obvious and requires a degree of attention to detail during the booking process.
The key lies in opting out of Ryanair’s automatic currency conversion. This option becomes visible after a customer has entered their payment card details. At this stage, the website displays the conversion rate being offered by Ryanair.
Crucially, there is a small, downward-pointing arrow accompanied by the text: “Want to learn more about our guaranteed exchange rate?” Clicking on this arrow reveals a message informing the user that if they do not wish to accept the airline’s exchange rate, they can opt to pay in the original currency of the flight. The message then states that their Payment Service Provider (PSP), such as their bank, will handle the currency conversion.
However, the airline includes a disclaimer, cautioning that rates received from banks are not guaranteed and are subject to daily fluctuations, which could potentially lead to a higher final cost.
Furthermore, a pre-ticked checkbox appears with the recommendation: “We recommend you do not untick the checkbox so that you receive our guaranteed exchange rate.”
To secure a better exchange rate, travellers are advised to ignore this recommendation. They must actively untick this checkbox. By doing so, the currency conversion will be handled by their own bank or PSP, rather than by Ryanair.
Which?’s research has consistently shown that since the issue was first investigated in 2017, the rates provided by banks have always been more favourable than those offered by Ryanair.
Ryanair’s Response and Further Cost Considerations
In response to the Which? findings, Ryanair has issued a statement asserting that the claims are “false and inaccurate.” The airline maintains that its currency conversion services are competitive and that it is indifferent to whether customers utilise their conversion option or a third-party service.
Beyond the currency exchange issue, the Which? study also highlighted other potential cost traps. It was found that opting for Ryanair’s “Regular” ticket option could result in paying £59 more than if holidaymakers chose the “Basic” fare and then purchased the same baggage allowance and seat selection separately.
Additionally, Which? recommends that travellers should generally avoid Ryanair’s “Plus” fare option. This fare typically includes a 20kg checked suitcase and seat selection as part of the package. The consumer group suggests that it is often more cost-effective to book the basic fare and add these ancillaries individually if needed, as the bundled “Plus” fare may not offer the best value. This further underscores the importance for travellers to meticulously review all fare options and consider the individual components of their booking to ensure they are not inadvertently overpaying.
