Ryanair and Wizz Air among the outsiders: 2026 passenger satisfaction rating

Popular low-cost airlines Ryanair and Wizz Air are among the outsiders in the 2026 passenger satisfaction rating. Find out who received the highest ratings and why travelers are increasingly annoyed by additional fees

Order a transfer from Visit Ukraine – it's easy, convenient, and affordable!

ORDER

The British consumer organization Which? has published its annual airline passenger satisfaction ratings. According to the results of a survey of more than 5,500 travelers, popular European low-cost carriers Ryanair and Wizz Air were at the bottom of the list among short-haul carriers.

The study assessed the level of service, flight organization, comfort, communication during delays, and overall transparency of pricing policies.

Short-haul outsiders: what passengers are unhappy with

Ryanair — 55%

Ryanair received only 55% satisfaction. Passengers gave two stars for the booking process, boarding, and service. Seat comfort was rated only one star. Among the main complaints were:

● dirt in the cabin;

● uncomfortable seats;

● problems during the flight — more than a third of respondents reported them.

Wizz Air — 59%

Wizz Air scored 59%. Passengers gave negative ratings for communication during flight delays and the overall organization of the flight. Most criteria received a two-star rating.

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

Additional fees — the main annoyance for travelers

According to Which?, more and more passengers are outraged by the system of additional fees charged by low-cost airlines. The base fare often looks attractive, but the final cost of the ticket increases after adding:

● hand luggage;

● seat selection;

● priority boarding;

● other additional services.

The actual price of the flight only becomes clear at the final stage of booking.

Experts note that in some cases, tickets from traditional carriers, where baggage and seat selection are already included in the price, may not be more expensive — and sometimes even cheaper.

Who received the highest ratings

Among budget airlines, Jet2 received the highest satisfaction rating — 76%. Passengers noted:

● reliability;

● quality of service;

● transparent pricing policy.

Lufthansa, Norwegian Air Shuttle, British Airways, KLM, TUI Airways, Aer Lingus, and Air France also ranked high in the rating.

In the long-haul flights category, Singapore Airlines took first place with a score of 81%. Emirates and Virgin Atlantic were also among the top three.

For Ukrainians who often use low-cost airlines to travel to European countries, the question of the real cost of a flight becomes particularly relevant. Additional expenses can significantly affect the budget of a trip. Before booking, it is worth checking carefully what is included in the base fare and comparing the total cost of the ticket with offers from other carriers.

In addition to air travel, bus or combined routes can be an alternative. To plan trips between cities in Ukraine and Europe, you can use the transfer service on Visit Ukraine, which allows you to organize your trip in advance and avoid unexpected expenses.

We remind you! Ukraine is gradually preparing to resume full air service, and the country's main air hub has already announced that it is fully technically ready to launch flights. Read about the conditions under which Boryspil will be able to accept the first flights and how soon planes will reappear in the Ukrainian sky.

Photo: onlyyouqj / Freepik

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance - insurance for a safe stay abroad without unnecessary expenses;

Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;

Visit Ukraine Tickets - book tickets for buses, trains, and airplanes to/from Ukraine and between cities around the world;

Private Lawyer service - professional legal support on visa and migration issues;

Visit Ukraine Merch - buy patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

© 2018-2026, Visit Ukraine. Use, copying or reprinting of materials on this site is permitted only with a link (hyperlink for online publications) to Visit Ukraine.

All rights reserved.