Ryanair free flights, or do they actually cost you ?

I took out a Ryanair credit card last summer. The reason was that they offer a free return flight once you spend £100 and then another after you spend £1,500. You still pay the fees applicable to the flights.The flights can't be used in July/August. The flights also have a use by date, approx 6 months from the voucher being issued.

Just selected a few flights for this month on the web site. The 2 return flights would cost £118.56 total plus card fees, if booked on the web. After calling and being on hold for several minutes to an 0871 number, the Ryanair agent informed me that because the credit card was issued in my primary name, that these vouchers only apply to me. My wife does have a card from the account in her name, but this dosen't qualify.

I then asked for a price of me using 1 voucher, and paying the booking fees and taxes etc.The quote was £91 ??????. The reason was that I could not enjoy any discounts shown on the web, if using the free flights voucher.  It would therefore cost us an extra £31.72, if I used my free flight voucher and paid the airfare of £59.56 for Sandra online.

I suppose I should have known better.

I am sure all this is in the small print somewhere.

Has anyone actually used their voucher and benefited ?

I trust my Nigerian friend who is sending me 40 million pound next week (I won their lottary, cant remember entering), more than I trust Ryanair's "Free" Flights.

I got the Ryanair Card a few years back, spent like Viv Nicholson for 3 months in order to get my free flights. Then when I enquired it works out cheaper to book with the Ryanair web site.

I would advise people not to use the Ryanair card, dont know of anybody who has benefited from these "Free" Flights. Better with a decent cashback credit card or a Tesco credit card which will earn you clubcard points.

Look out for the new "Bank of Darren" card, coming soon. If you spend £3k in the first 3 months, you get free Paramount Murcia tickets, along with transfers from Corvera Airport.

Darren

Once again you have brightened up my day

Whoops am I becoming a Darren Fan ????

Jan

We have had our Ryanair credit cards for about 2 years now and have benefitted from the free flights twice a year if you are clever and find the "no taxes" flights you do get it free providing you spend £3k every 6 months.  But you are probably right about the cash back cards, the best way to get the free flights is to get the expensive ones e.g Easter and summer so even if you have the taxes its still cheap.