Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ryanair dark UX patterns summer 2026 refresher

blog.osull.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 207 posts

Re: Ryanair dark UX patterns summer 2026 refresher

#61

Post by amiga386 »

Fascinating Aida: Cheap Flights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAg0lUYHHFc

    After studying the website we decided it was best
    to pay priority boarding so we'd sit three abreast
    (three abreast, that's the best)
    And of course we'd all have luggage, so that's an extra cost
    And then we paid insurance in case our cases might get lost

Re: Ryanair dark UX patterns summer 2026 refresher

#62

Post by antiloper »

throwawaysleep wrote: post #38
thimabi wrote: post #29

That “Don’t Insure Me” option hidden in the middle of a country list is pure evil. I’m used to seeing dark patterns everywhere but that’s a first for me. From where I stand, it’s not fair to charge the hell out of people who fall for these tricks while giving steep discounts to the ones who don’t. Maybe there’s a “fool me once” aspect to Ryanair’s shenanigans, so at least their impact might be limited somehow.

Eh, we might be all better off if a lack of curiosity was more regularly financially excruciating.

Eh, we might be collectively better of if we just all robbed your house

Re: Ryanair dark UX patterns summer 2026 refresher

#63

Post by robofanatic »

thimabi wrote: post #29

That “Don’t Insure Me” option hidden in the middle of a country list is pure evil. I’m used to seeing dark patterns everywhere but that’s a first for me. From where I stand, it’s not fair to charge the hell out of people who fall for these tricks while giving steep discounts to the ones who don’t. Maybe there’s a “fool me once” aspect to Ryanair’s shenanigans, so at least their impact might be limited somehow.

I always think these airline people see passengers as fish and put baits all over the places.

Re: Ryanair dark UX patterns summer 2026 refresher

#64

Post by bojangleslover »

matt-p wrote: post #50
bojangleslover wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Those incidentals would not increase your fare 5-8 times Oh I see what you're saying. What I'm saying is, what's the alternative? Another more expensive airline whose online check-in takes 5min instead of 10min? I'm contending that even with the dark patterns, my downside is only 1.5x cost, which is still far, far below a non-budget airline. >nor can the price difference to US be the base for your cost savings Yeah…

I think that sometimes we think just in terms of the raw price of the incidentals rather than the effect of reducing demand for incidentals. The main reason Ryanair is so cheap is that they have the fastest turn around time in the industry. This means the utilisation rate is far higher. Part of the reason they're able to turn around so quickly is that they take less hold luggage (so unloading/loading is not holding t…

After reading their SEC filing I would push back on that slightly.

I think the main reason Ryanair is so cheap is that they get insanely good deals with the airports because they bring so much business to the region. Ie Alicante, a secondary airport, is somewhat tourist-dependent.

Ryanair makes a deal with the municipally-owned airport and says hey, we're going to bring thousands of Brits and Germans to you (with full wallets). The municipality gives a good deal in return.

There's also the 1.5x revenue multiplier from ancillary revenue.

Finally, they only own one type of airplane. Makes the maintenance etc easier.

Re: Ryanair dark UX patterns summer 2026 refresher

#65

Post by NicuCalcea »

jwpapi wrote: post #44

I wonder if this makes the world a fairer place actually. Because it allows people that are attentive and have time to dig through this to save money. The lowest price would be higher without these patterns. It’s a polarizing idea, but frankly it’s what the world moves too and seem to work on the market. Some people are lazy or don’t have time and pay more money and some people have less time and dig through dark pat…

Some people are also old, or not very technically literate, or have poor vision, or aren't experienced flyers. I can navigate around the dark patterns despite being very lazy, but my dad who only uses a computer occasionally would really struggle with them. That is not a fairer world to me.

Re: Ryanair dark UX patterns summer 2026 refresher

#66

Post by csomar »

jen729w wrote: post #59

I just ordered a pizza from Uber Eats here in Taiwan and was offered the option to "Try Uber One". Clicking "Try now" in fact just signs you up for Uber One. So I suppose you are, technically, trying it. For money. Dirty. I'm Australian and I'm sure that wouldn't be legal.

When I am looking at airbnb I use an Australian VPN to get pricing to work as it should.

Re: Ryanair dark UX patterns summer 2026 refresher

#68

Post by arjie »

rithdmc wrote: post #55
bojangleslover wrote: post #2

About 1/3 of their revenue is ancillary (the dark patterns are there to cause ancillary revenue). I just flew from Bournemouth to Alicante on Ryanair for £50. A similar flight in the US (DC to Miami, for example) would be easily 5x that, possibly 7-8x. The dark patterns took me about 10min to click through. Doing the math, that means my time would have to be worth $1500/hr which is higher than the take-home (not bill…

I don't find Ryanair much cheaper than Aer Lingus. In my experience there's up to a 20% premium, and I just cross checked the Alicante route for next week with the same results. Compared to the high likelihood of delays or cancelled flights with Ryanair, I think it's worth it for peace of mind.

As a bit of a bonus for the latter airline, you are permitted to yell "Forth Aer Lingus!" as you charge headlong towards your seat.

RyanAir is ultra-budget. You need to be ready for the whole thing, but often you can get something much cheaper. As an example, looking for London to Belfast next month, RyanAir is a fifth the price.

Re: Ryanair dark UX patterns summer 2026 refresher

#70

Post by tonyedgecombe »

neals wrote: post #32

It's why they're cheap though. I fly around Europe for 30 euro's. If this is how that works, it works. And after hundred+ flights with them, believe me, I have had my share or RyanScam. I just play their game and laugh.

There is definitely room for budget airlines but the sort of dark patterns Ryanair employs is dishonest.

Personally I wouldn’t do business with someone who is constantly trying to scam me.

Post reply on HN