Wait, Ryanair isn't awful??? 2 flights on the 737MAX 8-200

In this trip report and airline review I’m taking another ride on the widely dreaded Ryanair 737MAX 8-200 from Stockholm Arlanda to Skellefteå in the north of Sweden and then back down again. This plane is extremely densely configured, and Ryanair is infamous for bare bones service and no frills, but somehow…. it’s a really nice ride. At least if you pick the right seats, as you’ll find out in the video. You’ll get to see what seat 3F is like – a seat with extra legroom that isn’t billed as having extra legroom and can be purchased for just a little more than a window in the back row. And then you’ll see how it is in the exit row, which I managed to blag on the way back after nearly getting stuck in a cramped standard aisle seat with two other people. Yes I can be a bit of an airline snob. But Ryanair is consistently winning me over. Join me on this quick trip and see if you agree!

Flight details:

15 March 2023 | ARN-SFT
Ryanair FR9664
Boeing 737MAX 8-200 9H-VVG (age: brand new)
Seat 03F | Ryanair First Class 😉

17 March 2023 | SFT-ARN
Ryanair FR9665
Boeing 737MAX 8-200 9H-VVD (age: brand new)
Seat 17A

Shot on: iPhone 14 Pro
Music: Epidemic Sound

Shot, written and edited by Gabriel Leigh, a.k.a. Gabe Leigh, for Air Edition.

SECTIONS:

00:22 Intro from Arlanda
01:23 Boarding
02:24 Taxi
02:41 Takeoff
03:28 Cabin impressions
05:08 Landing
05:57 Loving Ryanair
06:45 Return flight
07:21 Switching seats
07:55 Takeoff
08:52 Conclusion
09:21 Landing

#Ryanair #737MAX #Stockholm

[andrewhoult]

The problem with ryanair is the experience varies. Sometimes they load people onto gates waiting for others to get off a plane thats literally just arrived, sometimes the seats are hard because the cushion has been impacted with heavy use, older 737's suffer from this badly imho. The landings vary too, but then thats expected, weather, pilot skill, luck :)
The second landing you had there was very smooth indeed. Given the price though, can you complain much? Ryanair gets people places which they might not otherwise afford, in that sense, they are a Godsend.

[theRealJohnnyG.]

Hi Gabe, I just found your channel and I am absolutely amazed by your production quality even though you just started out. As a very, very small Aviation Youtuber myself I know how much, time, money and effort goes into all of that. I really appreciate it and see you as a huge inspiration. Keep up the great work and your channel is going to take off (pun intended).

[fockewolf]

Amazing Ryanair as usual! Great video and review!!

[bpcoxkr]

Good question on the exit row. Had an entire exit row in an Alaska Max 9 to myself a couple days ago and was wondering the same thing.

[frederikmyhre]

You should come try the Dornier 328 jets at Sun-Air, great opportunity to try the Dornier 328 before they go out of services. Its really a great little aircraft and it flies to London City if you havnt tried that approach before its amazing.

[mac]

If you're six foot or over and get assigned row 29 non window seat on a Ryanair 737 8 200... then pay for an upgrade. They have crippling legroom. The window seats are fine as they have no seat in front of them.

[flops]

Love these videos / vlogs Gabe! Keep them coming! That landing was a bit on the harder side but landing a plane isn't easy... I dont think Ryanair deserves that reputation of having hard landings, ive seen plenty of completely normal B737 landings from Ryanair! And EASA wont let any airline fly in Europe, they have to meet strict safety standards. And about that exit row on the flight back, I'm pretty sure there has to be an able-bodied person there in case of an emergency so they would be able to open the door quickly for people to get out of.

[davesthilaire]

It isn’t a requirement to have someone in the exit row, at least in the US. I have worked many flights with an empty exit row.

[mpbee]

That landing isn’t as bad as that landing on a previous video of your flight to, what was it, Mallorca. Sure a hard landing but not too bad. What about the boarding experience for you? That’s my one main drawback with RyanAir—“board” everyone and then make them wait in the hallway before walking to the plane…