Ryanair Flights: Cheaper Rates Hiding in Currency Conversion

Ryanair flyers may be leaving money on the table when booking flights by not taking advantage of cheaper conversion rates. Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert team claims that paying in the 'right' currency can yield significant savings, especially for pricier flights.

The trick is to split your trip into two separate one-way bookings and compare the total cost with a standard return flight. This allows you to see if the conversion rate from Ryanair's default pound price to the local currency of the destination country is cheaper.

In a spot check, MSE found that Euros were often the sweet spot for savings, while some other currencies could actually increase costs. For example, Warsaw to London flights cost £55.09 in pounds, but only £53.04 in Polish złoty (3.72% cheaper), while Ibiza to London flights cost £82 in pounds, but just £77 in Euros (6.1% cheaper).

MSE advises using travel-friendly accounts or fee-free bank options to avoid foreign transaction fees, which can range from 2-3%. They also warn against accepting Ryanair's 'guaranteed exchange rate', which may nudge you back into their own conversion rate.