Ryanair vs Virgin Atlantic Airways — Compare…

Policy comparison

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

Policy	Ryanair	Virgin Atlantic Airways
Cabin baggage	Personal item only (max 40×30×20 cm). Must fit under the seat. No weight limit.	Included
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).	1×23 kg standard Economy; none on Light
In-flight Wi-Fi	None	Paid
Economy seat pitch	28"	31"
Loyalty programme	Ryanair Prime	Flying Club
Lounge access	None	Clubhouse for Upper Class and Gold
Changes & refunds	Flexi Plus allows changes; Basic restricted	Flex free changes; Lite/Classic charge fee

Individual profiles

Editorial profiles

Ireland · FR/RYR · #1 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

United Kingdom · VS/VIR · #2 in this comparison

Virgin Atlantic Airways

The airline that reinvented long-haul travel with style

#12 Global 4-Star

8.0 / 10

Quick Answer

Virgin Atlantic Airways scores 8.0/10 on FlightLogic (safety 8.7/10), ranking #12 globally. verified in-flight Wi-Fi averages 6 Mbps on measured routes. Catering: Special meals via manage-my-booking — vegan and halal reliable on long-haul with 24h notice

Is Virgin Atlantic Airways a good airline?

Virgin Atlantic Airways scores 8.0/10 (Excellent) on FlightLogic, ranking #12 globally with a safety score of 8.7/10. Virgin Atlantic is a British long-haul carrier founded in 1984 by Richard Branson, flying a compact, modern fleet from its London Heathrow base to North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. Renowned for pioneering Premium Economy and its stylish, service-forward Upper Class product with onboard social spaces and the iconic Clubhouse lounges, it consistently ranks among the most-loved transatlantic airlines and joined the SkyTeam alliance in March 2023. See full profile →

Overall 8.0 Excellent

Safety 8.7 Excellent Safety

Service 8.6 Cabin crew & ground

Value 7.6 Fare vs product

Star rating 4★ FlightLogic tier

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Customer Service

8.6

Seat Comfort

8.3

Food & Beverage

7.8

In-Flight Entertainment

8.0

On-Time Performance

7.4

Value for Money

7.6

Key facts

Hub: London Heathrow (LHR)
Alliance: skyteam
Founded: 1984
Fleet: 43 aircraft
Region: europe
IATA / ICAO: VS / VIR

Passenger policies

Cabin baggage	Included — standard carry-on allowance applies
Checked baggage	1×23 kg standard Economy; none on Light
In-flight Wi-Fi	Paid Wi-Fi or messaging packages
Economy seat pitch	31"
Lounge access	Clubhouse for Upper Class and Gold
Changes & refunds	Flex free changes; Lite/Classic charge fee
Loyalty programme	Flying Club

Strengths

Widely credited with pioneering the modern Premium Economy cabin, a product now copied industry-wide
Distinctive Upper Class experience with onboard bar/social space (The Loft on A350s), chauffeur transfers, and the renowned Clubhouse lounges
Young, modern long-haul fleet of Airbus A350-1000s, A330-900neos and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners

Weaknesses

Small, long-haul-only fleet (43 aircraft, no short-haul or regional network) means limited route breadth versus alliance-backed rivals
Smallest SkyTeam long-haul network — relies heavily on its Delta and Air France-KLM joint venture for connectivity

Awards & recognition

Skytrax World's Best Premium Economy Class Airline 2025
Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards — regularly ranked among top transatlantic carriers for cabin design
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class named among World's Best Business Class contenders in Skytrax rankings

FAQ

Which is better — Ryanair or Virgin Atlantic Airways?

Virgin Atlantic Airways scores higher on FlightLogic at 8.0/10 vs 6.8/10 for Ryanair. Policy comparison below covers cabin baggage, checked bags, Wi-Fi, and seat pitch.

Does Ryanair or Virgin Atlantic Airways include a carry-on bag?

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

Which has free Wi-Fi — Ryanair or Virgin Atlantic Airways?

Ryanair: None. Virgin Atlantic Airways: Paid.

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)..

Does Virgin Atlantic Airways include checked baggage?

Virgin Atlantic Airways checked baggage: 1×23 kg standard Economy; none on Light.