Ryanair Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Unfavourable Currency Exchange Rates
Budget airline Ryanair is facing criticism for its website’s currency conversion practices, with consumer advocates claiming it offers “terrible exchange rates” to customers booking flights online. A recent investigation has highlighted significant discrepancies between Ryanair’s offered rates and those available through independent currency conversion services, potentially costing travellers more.
The core of the issue lies in how Ryanair handles currency conversions for flights originating outside the UK. When a customer books a ticket for a flight that departs from a foreign country and lands in the UK, the airline typically presents the fare in the currency of the departure country. For instance, a family of four planning a summer trip from Alicante, Spain, to London might see a fare of €1,439, based on rates observed in February 2026.
Ryanair then proceeds to convert this euro amount into British Pounds. However, the consumer study found that the £1,321 charged by Ryanair represented a “terrible exchange rate.” When these same prices were checked against a reputable currency conversion site like xe.com, it was revealed that passengers would have paid approximately £81 more through Ryanair’s automatic currency conversion compared to using their bank’s rate, had they simply chosen to pay in euros. This problem of unfavourable exchange rates has reportedly been a recurring issue across numerous flight bookings.
Navigating the Exchange Rate Maze: How to Avoid Ryanair’s Conversion Fees
Fortunately for budget-conscious travellers, there is a method to bypass Ryanair’s automatic currency conversion and secure a more favourable exchange rate. However, achieving this requires a deliberate effort from the customer, as highlighted by consumer experts.
When proceeding with a flight booking on Ryanair’s website, after entering payment card details, customers are presented with the conversion rate offered by the airline. Alongside this, a small, downward-pointing arrow accompanied by the text, “Want to learn more about our guaranteed exchange rate?” is displayed.
Clicking on this arrow reveals a message explaining the customer’s options. It states: “If you do not wish to accept the exchange rate, you can pay in the currency of the flight and have the currency converted by your Payment Service Provider. However, bear in mind that the rate you receive from your bank is not guaranteed and is subject to daily fluctuations, which could result in a significantly different cost for you.”
Crucially, there is also a pre-ticked checkbox accompanied by a recommendation: “We recommend you do not untick the checkbox so that you receive our guaranteed exchange rate.”
To opt out of Ryanair’s conversion and ensure your bank handles the exchange, travellers must actively ignore this recommendation, untick the checkbox, and proceed. By doing so, the exchange rate will be determined by the customer’s own bank or payment provider, rather than by Ryanair. The consumer study indicated that since the practice was first investigated in 2017, the bank rate has consistently proven to be more advantageous.
Ryanair’s Response to the Allegations
In response to the findings, Ryanair has issued a statement asserting that the claims made by consumer advocates are “false and inaccurate.” The airline maintained that its currency conversion service is competitive and stated that it is indifferent to whether customers utilise their conversion service or opt for an alternative.
Beyond Currency: Other Cost Considerations with Ryanair
The consumer investigation also delved into other pricing strategies employed by Ryanair. It was found that opting for Ryanair’s “Regular” ticket option could result in paying £59 more than if holidaymakers had chosen the “Basic” fare and then separately purchased the same baggage allowance and seat selection.
Furthermore, the consumer experts recommend that travellers bypass Ryanair’s “Plus” fare option. This fare typically bundles a 20kg suitcase and seat selection, but the study suggests that these inclusions might not represent the most cost-effective approach when compared to individual selections. Travellers are advised to carefully compare the costs of bundled fares against the prices of individual add-ons to ensure they are getting the best value for their money.
