British Airways vs Ryanair — Compare Airlines

Policy comparison

Structured operational tokens — verify current fare rules on each airline before booking.

Policy	British Airways	Ryanair
Cabin baggage	Included	Personal item only (max 40×30×20 cm). Must fit under the seat. No weight limit.
Checked baggage	Not on Basic; 1×23 kg on standard long-haul	Not included on basic fares. Paid options: 10 kg (max 55×40×20 cm) or 20 kg/23 kg (max 80×120×120 cm).
In-flight Wi-Fi	Paid	None
Economy seat pitch	30–31"	28"
Loyalty programme	Executive Club (Avios)	Ryanair Prime
Lounge access	Galleries / Concorde Room for Club World/First and BA Gold	None
Changes & refunds	Basic non-refundable; standard fares change fee + difference	Flexi Plus allows changes; Basic restricted

Individual profiles

Editorial profiles

United Kingdom · BA/BAW · #1 in this comparison

British Airways

To Fly. To Serve.

#9 Global 4-Star

7.7 / 10

Quick Answer

British Airways scores 7.7/10 on FlightLogic (safety 9.1/10), ranking #9 globally. verified in-flight Wi-Fi averages 5 Mbps on measured routes. Catering: Special meals (VGML, MOML, NFML) ordered 24h ahead — reliable on long-haul; short-haul buy-on-board limited

Is British Airways a good airline?

British Airways scores 7.7/10 (Very Good) on FlightLogic, ranking #9 globally with a safety score of 9.1/10. British Airways is the UK's flag carrier and oneworld founding member, operating roughly 280 aircraft from its London Heathrow Terminal 5 fortress hub to 200+ destinations worldwide. Long-haul Club Suite business class — with direct aisle access, closing doors, and full plated dining — has transformed BA's premium product and now competes credibly with Virgin Upper Class and US carrier suites on transatlantic routes. Short-haul Euro Traveller remains dated, and operational punctuality trails European rivals, but for UK-based Avios collectors BA's Heathrow dominance, Reward Flight Saver pricing, and credit card ecosystem make it the default loyalty programme. See full profile →

Overall 7.7 Very Good

Safety 9.1 Excellent Safety

Service 7.8 Cabin crew & ground

Value 7.0 Fare vs product

Star rating 4★ FlightLogic tier

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Customer Service

7.8

Seat Comfort

8.4

Food & Beverage

7.5

In-Flight Entertainment

7.8

On-Time Performance

7.5

Value for Money

7.0

Key facts

Hub: London Heathrow (LHR)
Alliance: oneworld
Founded: 1974
Fleet: 280 aircraft
Region: europe
IATA / ICAO: BA / BAW

Passenger policies

Cabin baggage	Included — standard carry-on allowance applies
Checked baggage	Not on Basic; 1×23 kg on standard long-haul
In-flight Wi-Fi	Paid Wi-Fi or messaging packages
Economy seat pitch	30–31"
Lounge access	Galleries / Concorde Room for Club World/First and BA Gold
Changes & refunds	Basic non-refundable; standard fares change fee + difference
Loyalty programme	Executive Club (Avios)

Strengths

Club Suite business class with direct aisle access and privacy doors on most long-haul widebodies
Concorde Room and Galleries lounges at Heathrow T5 — among the UK's best ground experiences
Avios loyalty programme with Reward Flight Saver, household accounts, and strong UK credit card earn
Unmatched London Heathrow connectivity across oneworld and partner airlines

Weaknesses

Short-haul Euro Traveller uses buy-on-board catering on many European routes
High carrier-imposed surcharges on long-haul Avios redemptions reduce reward flight value
Heathrow T5 congestion and occasional ATC-related delays affect punctuality scores

Awards & recognition

Best Business Class Club Suite
Best UK Full-Service Carrier

Ireland · FR/RYR · #2 in this comparison

Ryanair

Low Fares Made Simple

#45 Global 3-Star

6.8 / 10

Quick Answer

Ryanair scores 6.8/10 on FlightLogic (safety 8.8/10), ranking #45 globally. in-flight Wi-Fi is paid or partial on most long-haul routes. Special meals require pre-order on long-haul.

Is Ryanair a good airline?

Ryanair scores 6.8/10 (Good) on FlightLogic, ranking #45 globally with a safety score of 8.8/10. Ryanair is Europe's largest airline by passengers, offering unbeatable fares with a no-frills model and improving reliability metrics. See full profile →

Overall 6.8 Good

Safety 8.8 Excellent Safety

Service 6.5 Cabin crew & ground

Value 9.5 Fare vs product

Star rating 3★ FlightLogic tier

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Customer Service

6.5

Seat Comfort

5.8

Food & Beverage

5.5

In-Flight Entertainment

5.0

On-Time Performance

8.5

Value for Money

9.5

Key facts

Hub: Dublin & 80+ bases
Alliance: Independent
Founded: 1984
Fleet: 560 aircraft
Region: europe
IATA / ICAO: FR / RYR

Passenger policies

Cabin baggage	Personal item only (max 40×30×20 cm). Must fit under the seat. No weight limit.
Checked baggage	Not included on basic fares. Paid options: 10 kg (max 55×40×20 cm) or 20 kg/23 kg (max 80×120×120 cm).
In-flight Wi-Fi	Not available
Economy seat pitch	28"
Lounge access	None
Changes & refunds	Flexi Plus allows changes; Basic restricted
Loyalty programme	Ryanair Prime

Strengths

Lowest base fares in Europe
Extensive route network
Improving OTP scores

Weaknesses

Strict baggage policies
Tight 28-inch seat pitch
Ancillary fee structure

Awards & recognition

Best Value Airline Europe

FAQ

Which is better — British Airways or Ryanair?

British Airways scores higher on FlightLogic at 7.7/10 vs 6.8/10 for Ryanair. Policy comparison below covers cabin baggage, checked bags, Wi-Fi, and seat pitch.

Does British Airways or Ryanair include a carry-on bag?

British Airways: Included. Ryanair: Personal item only (max 40×30×20 cm). Must fit under the seat. No weight limit..

Which has free Wi-Fi — British Airways or Ryanair?

British Airways: Paid. Ryanair: None.

Does British Airways include checked baggage?

British Airways checked baggage: Not on Basic; 1×23 kg on standard long-haul.

Does Ryanair include checked baggage?

Ryanair checked baggage: Not included on basic fares. Paid options: 10 kg (max 55×40×20 cm) or 20 kg/23 kg (max 80×120×120 cm)..