Ryanair has been rated as the least satisfactory airline in the UK according to a survey conducted by consumer group Which?. The budget airline received the lowest ranking among nearly 30 airlines included in the survey, scoring 55%. It achieved only two stars out of a possible five for various aspects such as booking process, boarding, customer service, cabin environment, and just one star for seat comfort.
More than 1,200 passengers who flew with Ryanair were surveyed, with one customer expressing dissatisfaction, mentioning, “The plane is dirty and the seats are awful.” In response, Ryanair dismissed the survey results, stating that neither they nor their 208 million passengers pay attention to such surveys, labeling them as fake and manufactured.
Wizz Air, another low-cost carrier, was second to last in the rankings, receiving two stars in most categories except for value for money, where it obtained three stars. On the other hand, Jet2, a holiday airline, topped the short-haul category with a satisfaction score of 76%, earning praise for its generous luggage allowance.
Singapore Airlines emerged as the highest-rated carrier overall, achieving a remarkable 81% satisfaction score. It excelled in the long-haul category, receiving five stars for cabin environment and customer service. British Airways scored 72% in both short-haul and long-haul categories.
The survey, which involved over 5,500 British adults who flew economy class for leisure from a UK airport in the previous year, indicated that budget carriers may not always offer the cheapest fares due to additional fees. Wizz Air defended its performance, highlighting its growing passenger numbers and competitive pricing.
Editor Rory Boland from Which? Travel criticized Ryanair and Wizz Air for disregarding their customers’ negative experiences, emphasizing the importance of considering airlines that offer inclusive fares to potentially save money in the long run.