Eurowings vs Ryanair 2026: German LCC or European ULCC

Eurowings and Ryanair compete on intra-European low-cost flying with different operational models and corporate strategies. Eurowings is Lufthansa Group’s low-cost carrier, operating from primary German airports (Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, Berlin) with Miles & More loyalty earning integrated into Lufthansa’s broader FFP. Ryanair is Europe’s largest ULCC by passenger volume with 611 aircraft, 233 destinations across 40 countries, and a notoriously aggressive bag-fee and gate-enforcement model.

Both airlines strip the carry-on from the cheapest fare. The Eurowings personal item (40x30x25 cm) is meaningfully more generous than Ryanair’s (40x20x25 cm); a standard work backpack often passes Eurowings’ sizer but fails Ryanair’s narrower 20 cm depth limit. Eurowings allows pets in cabin (EUR 55 each way) and includes ski equipment free, both of which Ryanair does not.

The decision usually comes down to network and airport access. Ryanair flies more European destinations from secondary airports; Eurowings flies fewer destinations but from primary German hubs that are easier to reach from the city center. For a German traveler, Eurowings is usually the better practical choice. For non-German European travelers, Ryanair is often the only LCC option on their specific route.

What We Looked For

• Cheapest-fare bag policy, since both restrict carry-on but Eurowings includes a more usable personal item
• Primary vs secondary airport access, especially for German cities where the difference is substantial
• Loyalty program integration, since Eurowings earns Miles & More and Ryanair does not have a real FFP
• Pet in cabin which Eurowings accepts and Ryanair does not
• Sports equipment fees, notably Eurowings’ free ski equipment vs Ryanair’s €45-50 per piece
• Network reach, with Ryanair’s 233 destinations vs Eurowings’ smaller German-hub-focused network

Which airline charges less for bags, Eurowings or Ryanair?

Both strip the carry-on on the cheapest fare. Eurowings personal item is more generous and Eurowings pet/ski policies are friendlier. Ryanair wins on sticker fare; Eurowings wins on total cost when you need bag, pet, or ski transport.

Carry-on. Both 55x40x23 cm (21.6-21.7x15.7x9.1 in), 8 kg, free on SMART/BEST/BIZclass (Eurowings) or with Priority and 2 Cabin Bags add-on (Ryanair, €/£6-36 at booking). Both BASIC fares (Eurowings BASIC, Ryanair Basic) restrict to personal item only.

Personal item. Eurowings: 40x30x25 cm (15.7x11.8x9.8 in). Ryanair: 40x20x25 cm (15.7x9.8x9.8 in). The Eurowings personal item has 10 cm more width, which is the difference between a standard work backpack fitting (Eurowings) and failing the sizer (Ryanair). This is the most consequential bag-related difference between the two airlines.

Checked bags. Eurowings: BASIC includes 0 (add from EUR 15 at booking), SMART/BEST/BIZclass include 1x23 kg. Second bag EUR 75+. Ryanair: 0 included on any fare. All bags purchased separately: 10 kg €/£18.99-46, 20 kg €/£18.99-59.99, 23 kg €/£29.99-80.99 (booking only).

Pet in cabin. Eurowings: up to 8 kg including carrier, EUR 55 each way. Ryanair: NOT ALLOWED on any route except registered assistance dogs.

Ski equipment. Eurowings: FREE (one of the few European LCCs with this benefit). Ryanair: €45 at booking, €50 post-booking, max 20 kg.

The cost comparison: a Ryanair Basic fare with personal item only is usually the cheapest published. Add a Priority add-on plus a 20 kg checked bag and the total often matches Eurowings BASIC plus the EUR 15 checked bag add-on. For a traveler with a pet, ski equipment, or who values primary airport access, Eurowings can be the better total-cost choice.

Winner: Personal item usability

Eurowings / 40x30x25 vs Ryanair's narrow 40x20x25

Winner: Pet in cabin

Eurowings / EUR 55 each way; Ryanair prohibits pets

Winner: Ski equipment

Eurowings / Free vs Ryanair €45-50 per piece

Winner: Cheapest sticker fare

Ryanair / Lowest published on overlapping routes

Primary German airports vs secondary fields

Eurowings operates from primary German airports. Ryanair uses secondary fields that often require 30-90 minutes of ground transport to the city the route nominally serves.

Eurowings’ German hubs include Düsseldorf (DUS), Stuttgart (STR), Cologne/Bonn (CGN), Hamburg (HAM), Munich (MUC), and Berlin Brandenburg (BER). All are primary airports for their respective metropolitan areas with direct rail, S-Bahn, or bus connections to the city center within 15-45 minutes. For German travelers, Eurowings operates from the airport you actually want to fly from.

Ryanair operates from German airports too, but often from secondary fields. The most notorious example is “Frankfurt”: Ryanair uses Frankfurt-Hahn (HHN), 130 km west of Frankfurt, requiring a 1.5-2 hour bus ride. Lufthansa, Eurowings, and other airlines use Frankfurt Main (FRA), 15 minutes from central Frankfurt by S-Bahn. Similar dynamics apply for “Munich” (Ryanair uses Memmingen, 110 km away), “Berlin” (some Ryanair routes use BER but historically used Schoenefeld), and other German cities.

For German travelers, this is usually a deciding factor. The Ryanair sticker fare advantage often disappears once you factor 1-2 hours each direction in ground transport to/from the secondary airport, plus the €20-40 transport cost. Eurowings from FRA, DUS, STR, MUC, or HAM is typically the better total-trip choice.

Winner: Primary German airport access

Eurowings / FRA, DUS, STR, MUC, HAM vs Ryanair's secondary fields

Winner: European destination breadth

Ryanair / 233 destinations vs Eurowings ~210 (concentrated in German hubs)

Miles & More integration is Eurowings’ structural advantage

Eurowings is a Lufthansa Group airline. Eurowings flights earn Miles & More points and status credit. Ryanair has no equivalent loyalty integration.

Eurowings is part of Lufthansa Group alongside Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways (41% stake), and Air Dolomiti. All Lufthansa Group airlines share the Miles & More loyalty program. A Miles & More mile earned on Eurowings is identical to one earned on Lufthansa, Austrian, SWISS, or any Star Alliance partner.

For travelers building Miles & More elite status (Frequent Traveller, Senator, HON Circle), Eurowings flights count toward status qualification. Lufthansa-branded Miles & More credit cards (Mastercard, Amex) earn miles on Eurowings purchases. Award redemptions on Star Alliance partners are available regardless of which Lufthansa Group airline you fly.

Ryanair has no FFP integration with any major European program. Ryanair Choice is a paid annual membership (€/£19.99-29.99/yr) that provides priority boarding, seat selection benefits, and discounts on cabin and checked bag fees, but no points earning, no status, no transfer partners.

For travelers who value loyalty program earning across multiple airlines, Eurowings is the structurally better choice. Even a single Eurowings short-haul flight earns Miles & More mileage that aggregates over time; Ryanair flights earn nothing that compounds.

Winner: Loyalty program integration

Eurowings / Miles & More across Lufthansa Group; Star Alliance reciprocity

Winner: Credit card co-brand

Eurowings / Lufthansa Miles & More cards earn on Eurowings purchases

Route network: 233 destinations vs German-hub focus

Ryanair operates 233 destinations across 40 countries from bases across Europe. Eurowings operates around 210 destinations primarily from German hubs.

Ryanair’s network is structured for European leisure point-to-point: London Stansted, Dublin, Bergamo Milan, Madrid, Barcelona, Charleroi Brussels, and many secondary European airports are major bases. The 233 destinations include virtually every meaningful leisure destination in Europe, often from secondary airports requiring additional ground transport. Ryanair has 611 aircraft, making it Europe’s largest airline by passenger volume.

Eurowings operates around 210 destinations primarily from German hubs (Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, Berlin). The network has expanded steadily and now includes Mediterranean leisure destinations (Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal), Central and Eastern Europe (Vienna, Prague, Budapest), and select long-haul leisure (Caribbean and seasonal North America from Düsseldorf). Most flights operate from primary German airports.

For a German traveler, Eurowings has the route from your nearest primary airport. For a non-German European traveler, Ryanair often has the only LCC route on your specific city pair.

Winner: Total destinations served

Ryanair / 233 vs Eurowings ~210

Winner: Primary German airport routes

Eurowings / Concentrated from FRA/DUS/STR/MUC/HAM/BER

Winner: Long-haul leisure (Caribbean, seasonal NA)

Eurowings / Eurowings flies select long-haul from DUS; Ryanair short-haul only

Who should pick Eurowings

• You are flying from a German primary airport (Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, Berlin)
• You are crediting Miles & More miles or hold elite status in the program
• You need to travel with a pet in cabin (Eurowings allows up to 8 kg for EUR 55)
• You are carrying ski equipment (free on Eurowings; €45-50 on Ryanair)
• You want a more usable personal item (40x30x25 cm on Eurowings vs 40x20x25 cm on Ryanair)
• You have a Lufthansa Miles & More credit card

Who should pick Ryanair

• Your route is on Ryanair’s 233-destination network and Eurowings does not serve your city pair
• The Ryanair sticker fare is the lowest published and you can travel with the 40x20x25 cm personal item only
• You are based at a Ryanair major base (London Stansted, Dublin, Manchester, Bergamo, Madrid, Barcelona, Charleroi) where Ryanair frequency is highest
• You do not care about FFP earning or primary airport access
• Secondary airport ground transport (30-90 minutes) is acceptable for your trip

The bottom line

For German travelers, Eurowings is usually the better practical choice: primary German airports, Miles & More earning, pet acceptance, free ski equipment, and a more generous personal item. The Ryanair sticker fare advantage often disappears once you factor airport ground transport, bag add-ons, and the absence of loyalty earning.

For non-German European travelers, the choice usually comes down to who flies your specific route. Ryanair’s 233-destination network covers far more European leisure pairs than Eurowings; if Ryanair has the route, it is often the only LCC option. If Eurowings flies your route, the primary-airport access and Miles & More integration give it a meaningful edge.

For frequent travelers building European LCC strategy, the integration question matters most. Ryanair has no FFP value, so each flight is a one-off transaction. Eurowings flights compound into Miles & More status and award value over time. For repeat European flying, Eurowings is the structurally better choice when the route exists.

For more comparisons, see Ryanair vs Wizz Air and Norwegian vs Ryanair.