1

In theory - and I use Ryanair quite a bit, it looks OK.
In the long run, if all their claims are true, it should save cash.
I recently booked two returns from MAN-AGP and the card fee was about an extra £12 - I think. Had the card been available there and then - I could have saved enough for a few beers right away.
Read on....

http://www.ryanair.com/en/news/ryanair-launches-cash-passport-card-to-deliver-huge-savings

2

I haven't used the card but further to your point about 'fees for paying by card' being banned, that isn't quite true. The fees must reflect the cost incurred and anyway, O'Leary has made it clear if they can't charge the fee they will just put it somewhere else like making you pay and extra EUR6 for booking online.

3

It looks to me like when you put money on your card, it is basically stuck there. You have to pay £2 for a cash withdrawal, 50p for a purchase from a merchant in the UK (this would presumably include Ryanair) and while purchases from merchants abroad are free, they add a loading factor of 5.75% to the exchange rate, which is crazy. It looks like there are also hefty fees for reloading your card by a method other than internet banking, and they only accept internet banking from a list of 11 UK banks.

The nastiest fee looks like the monthly inactivity fee debited from your card if it has not been used for 6 months: £2.50 per month

http://www.cashpassport.com/1/en/Ryanair/About-Cash-Passport/Fees-Limits/

4

The £2.50 non-use fee, is fair - I think.
The idea of getting this card - is to use it, not get it and not use it.

5

Has anyone had any bad experiences with the Ryanair Cash Passport card? It seems to be the only way to avoid the admin charge on Ryanair flights
The other way to avoid the admin charge (note that this is different to a credit card fee in the eyes of Ryanair) is not to fly Ryanair.

6

Good point by *5....pedro555 - trouble is, despite so many people feeling hurt about a £2 charge here and there - and £2 for a can of Coke and even more for a cheese butty - overall, they are still so incredibly cheap in comparison with other airlines.
Also - their timekeeping is amongst the best anywhere in the world.
That'll do me.

7

I looked at the card and it worked out just as expensive as paying the fee minus the hassle of getting the card. I usually figure it will cost about £12 on top the airfare each way to fly Ryanair not including the baggage fee, if you check bags. I also figure a £5 discomfort fee to fly Ryan as well as the planes are uncomfortable and often late. I must disagree with #6 as their business model is based on quick turn around. If an early plane is late, all flights with that plane will be late that day. Baggage has taken an hour to get as well. Be aware that they will not compensate you for anything. If you miss a connection, too bad.

That said, a £60 return flight to some destinations, all in, is possible. Just be aware that there are other airlines that may have competitive pricing when you consider all the fees.

8

Ryan as well as the planes are uncomfortable and often late

Ryanair had one of the best timekeeping records of any airline - budget or otherwise, in Europe during 2011.
The thing about them is they are mad cheap and you get what you pay for with them - whereas with most national carriers you actually get less for your money, but it's just a few hours on a plane - that's it.
It seems just as many people complain about their uncomfy seats, as enjoy a 36 hour train ride through Southern Asia on a wooden bench.
It's all about what you want to pay, where you want to go - and how you want to get there. No more than that.
Long live the budget airlines - I say.

9

Ditto billy about the timekeeping of Ryanair. I fly with them a few times a year and love hearing the (fanfare) on landing to indicate landing on time...

10

Thanks everyone for the responses and comments!

I don't love the Ryanair experience either but you can't argue that they have the best range of destinations from Stansted and often the best prices especially if I can reduce the fees. Their ontime record is surely helped by adding some flight time to the sceduled time to allow for short delays - not complaining as I prefer this over other airlines promising what they can't deliver! Last time I flew Ryanair with luggage the luggage was out before we were even in Berlin where there was only short queues for immigration. As for comfort after spending a year travelling mostly on crappy buses in Asia I don't care about comfort on a 2 hour flight! Heck I would fly all the way to New Zealand on one if it meant significant savings.

If they do move the card payment fee somewhere else that would take away the advantage of the cash passport card making it a bit useless so I wonder if they will do this...The actual cost of processing the payment is meant to be less than 50p for debit card payments and a £ or two at most for credit cards. I could see that I would use the Ryanair card at least every 6 months for booking weekends away at least for as long as I live in Cambridge so it seems the card would be worthwhile unless they change the rules again as seems to frequently happen. Even the first time I would save £24 as I am usually booking flights for 2 people.

11

love hearing the (fanfare) on landing to indicate landing on time

When the fanfare isn't played - that indicates one of two things.... Either the PA has packed up, or it's late :-)
I echo your point.
I also travel Ryanair quite regularly - and I get to hear the fanfare on the vast majority of the flights.