Ryanair-Questions, comments, bouquets & brickbats (Merged)
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As with most airlines, the vast majority of passengers with Ryanair experience no problems, and get excellent value for money. It's when things go wrong that Ryanair can - and frequently does - leave you high and dry.
Many people accept this as a risk they take to get exceptionally low fares; other (myself included) choose to pay a little more - and sometimes it is only a little more - to travel with a carrier that we know will look after us if a flight is cancelled or delayed. Call it an additional insurance policy, if you wish.
And I would certainly never wish to be in the hands of a giggling, unprepared Ryanair crew if there were a real emergency. How much is your life - and those of your children - worth?
Many people accept this as a risk they take to get exceptionally low fares; other (myself included) choose to pay a little more - and sometimes it is only a little more - to travel with a carrier that we know will look after us if a flight is cancelled or delayed. Call it an additional insurance policy, if you wish.
And I would certainly never wish to be in the hands of a giggling, unprepared Ryanair crew if there were a real emergency. How much is your life - and those of your children - worth?
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"ladylily63",
No, you haven't simply been lucky. I have flown Ryanair around one hundred times and what you describe is pretty much par for the course.
However, I've yet to be seriously inconvenienced and might change my opinion of the airline were this to happen.
Remember that Ryanair has to stick to EU regulations in relation to delays/cancellations and compensation. I'd be interested to know of any instances where it has tried to wriggle out of these obligations. I always carry a printout of these regulations with me, just in case!
I've yet to be convinced that in an emergency my life would be in any more danger than if I was on another carrier. Cabin crew under stress finding it difficult to communicate in English in an emergency is a concern I have, but this is also true for travel on any airline based outside the English speaking world.
And, how likely is a genuine emergency? Since 1966 I have flown many hundreds of times and have only experienced one emergency. That turned out to be a false alarm.
[P.S. Yes, the ground staff at Alicante seem to take a relaxed attitude towards the carry-on regulations. Last time I flew it was a case of "We'll allow it this time but don't do it again".]
No, you haven't simply been lucky. I have flown Ryanair around one hundred times and what you describe is pretty much par for the course.
However, I've yet to be seriously inconvenienced and might change my opinion of the airline were this to happen.
Remember that Ryanair has to stick to EU regulations in relation to delays/cancellations and compensation. I'd be interested to know of any instances where it has tried to wriggle out of these obligations. I always carry a printout of these regulations with me, just in case!
I've yet to be convinced that in an emergency my life would be in any more danger than if I was on another carrier. Cabin crew under stress finding it difficult to communicate in English in an emergency is a concern I have, but this is also true for travel on any airline based outside the English speaking world.
And, how likely is a genuine emergency? Since 1966 I have flown many hundreds of times and have only experienced one emergency. That turned out to be a false alarm.
[P.S. Yes, the ground staff at Alicante seem to take a relaxed attitude towards the carry-on regulations. Last time I flew it was a case of "We'll allow it this time but don't do it again".]
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I agree that if a situation were to arise that greatly inconvenienced me then I may change my view on Ryanair. However, I just speak as I find and as I have said had no problems so far.
I do not think that they would be any more or less capable in the event of an emergency than some other airlines. I admit that I often take a look around at the crew and wonder how they would handle an emergency and whether I have any faith in them. However, this applies to other airlines as well and there are all kinds of factors to consider even though the cabin crew have all undertaken the same training; there are surely going to be inevitable variations in coping strategies, ie personality differences,sex, and language barriers for example.
However I do not feel I am putting my childrens' lives in danger by choosing a low cost carrier. I ensure I listen to the safety demonstration every time I fly and take note of where the exits are so that in the event of an emergency I would not be totally reliant on crew.
I do not think that they would be any more or less capable in the event of an emergency than some other airlines. I admit that I often take a look around at the crew and wonder how they would handle an emergency and whether I have any faith in them. However, this applies to other airlines as well and there are all kinds of factors to consider even though the cabin crew have all undertaken the same training; there are surely going to be inevitable variations in coping strategies, ie personality differences,sex, and language barriers for example.
However I do not feel I am putting my childrens' lives in danger by choosing a low cost carrier. I ensure I listen to the safety demonstration every time I fly and take note of where the exits are so that in the event of an emergency I would not be totally reliant on crew.
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Good to see the "week view" of fares has returned to the booking process. And there I was thinking that the airline had removed it to make it more difficult for us to find the bargains!
My Ryanair flights continue uneventfully. Ontime or early departures and arrivals, clean aircraft, good cabin crew etc. etc. (not to mention wonderful fares).
Something worthy of note: yesterday, whilst waiting to deplane, I was chatting to the flight attendant who said that he loves working for Ryanair. When I tried a "Yes, but..." type of question, he said that he has no criticisms at all of his employer.
I noticed that the wording used during the safety demonstration has changed subtly and did I imagine that the "hard sell" PA announcements have been toned down?
My Ryanair flights continue uneventfully. Ontime or early departures and arrivals, clean aircraft, good cabin crew etc. etc. (not to mention wonderful fares).
Something worthy of note: yesterday, whilst waiting to deplane, I was chatting to the flight attendant who said that he loves working for Ryanair. When I tried a "Yes, but..." type of question, he said that he has no criticisms at all of his employer.
I noticed that the wording used during the safety demonstration has changed subtly and did I imagine that the "hard sell" PA announcements have been toned down?
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I noticed that the wording used during the safety demonstration has changed subtly and did I imagine that the "hard sell" PA announcements have been toned down?
The safety demo does appear to have been reworded, with little or no extra words added! - The old PA was fine, so I've no idea why they changed that.
The hard sell PA announcements have also been changed, with the same voice as the safety demo PA - However, it's just as loud and annoying.
The safety demo does appear to have been reworded, with little or no extra words added! - The old PA was fine, so I've no idea why they changed that.
The hard sell PA announcements have also been changed, with the same voice as the safety demo PA - However, it's just as loud and annoying.
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"Doctors boarded flights at Gatwick and Heathrow to examine passengers for swine flu" - today's media.
Now here's another one for MoL. Like the railway platform tickets of old - which entitled you to step on the platform but not go anywhere on a train - Ryanair can start selling tickets - a pound each sounds reasonable - for non-travellers such as doctors, tearful spouses bidding loved one's farewell, creditors, lawyers, double-glazing salesmen etc. to enter the plane but not actually go anywhere with it. A sure fire success !
Now here's another one for MoL. Like the railway platform tickets of old - which entitled you to step on the platform but not go anywhere on a train - Ryanair can start selling tickets - a pound each sounds reasonable - for non-travellers such as doctors, tearful spouses bidding loved one's farewell, creditors, lawyers, double-glazing salesmen etc. to enter the plane but not actually go anywhere with it. A sure fire success !
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al446 wrote on another thread:
Quite simple, AVOID RYANAIR.
For a stupid remark, that takes the biscuit.
We must fly monthly between GRN and London. I draw your attention to the words "must" and "GRN" and "London".
What do you suggest we do, start our own GRN-based airline as the only alternative to FR ?
Added May 5th - just booked return flight GRN - Gatwick in June, under €60 with all charges. If any other airline can do a flight at that price, and fly from Girona, I'll go with 'em. Until then, Ryanair gets my cash. And thanks.
Quite simple, AVOID RYANAIR.
For a stupid remark, that takes the biscuit.
We must fly monthly between GRN and London. I draw your attention to the words "must" and "GRN" and "London".
What do you suggest we do, start our own GRN-based airline as the only alternative to FR ?
Added May 5th - just booked return flight GRN - Gatwick in June, under €60 with all charges. If any other airline can do a flight at that price, and fly from Girona, I'll go with 'em. Until then, Ryanair gets my cash. And thanks.
Last edited by OFSO; 5th May 2009 at 17:45.
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Deleting a passenger
I've made a booking for my wife and myself with Ryanair for the end of this month - that's two people, return tickets - but it is possible that due to family problems my wife will have to stay at home.
I shall still be going.
It's too much hassle and too expensive to change the booking, so I wonder, if I turn up on my own but with the booking for two, will I still be allowed on ? Anyone else done this ?
R
I shall still be going.
It's too much hassle and too expensive to change the booking, so I wonder, if I turn up on my own but with the booking for two, will I still be allowed on ? Anyone else done this ?
R
Paxing All Over The World
It's too much hassle and too expensive to change the booking, so I wonder, if I turn up on my own but with the booking for two, will I still be allowed on?
All the information is in here.
http://www.pprune.org/passengers-slf...ts-merged.html
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WRONG ! I have just looked thru all 192 postings on the Ryanair thread and my question is NOT answered there.
Ryanair's own site has no answer either under FAQ's and directs one to call the local booking office. They couldn't tell me !
Ryanair's own site has no answer either under FAQ's and directs one to call the local booking office. They couldn't tell me !
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I have travelled Ryanair without someone else who was on the same booking and had no problem whatsoever. I checked in online and didn't see any Ryanair staff until boarding so I can't comment on whether the same is true for those who don't. I can't imagine it would be any different, though.
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WRONG ! I have just looked thru all 192 postings on the Ryanair thread and my question is NOT answered there.
!
!
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I don't like the implication that I hadn't tried to find the answer before posting. There are enough time-wasters on SLF who can't be bothered to read what's gone before. Thanks to Seat62K who did answer my question.
R
R
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Ryanair ticket prices and fees
Please have pity on a poor Yank who has never flown on a European low fare airline. I was investigating the price of a one-way trip on Ryanair from Santiago de Compostela, Spain to Barcelona. The FR website quotes the fare as 0.99 euro, plus 19.75 euro in taxes and fees -- totalling a very inexpensive 20.74 euro.
But then the web site suggests there may be supplemental fees according to the following schedule (I've only included the possibly relevant ones):
Online Check-In* €5
Payment Handling Fee - Per passenger/ Per One Way Flight €5
Airport Check-In Fee - Per passenger/ Per One Way Flight €10
Priority Boarding Fee* - Per passenger/ Per One Way Flight €3
Checked Baggage Fees* - (Each passenger is permitted to check-in up to 3 bags with a maximum combined weight of 15kgs)
1st Bag – Per bag/ Per One Way Flight €10
2nd & 3rd Bag – Per bag/ Per One Way Flight €20
Excess Baggage Fee - Per Kilo €15
Flight Change Fees* - Per Passenger/ Per One Way Flight €25
While I understand the baggage fees, is there really extra charges to pay for your ticket and check in for your flight? These scarcely seem to be optional. What extra fees does one typically pay in addition to the teaser rate of 0.99 euro and the obligatory taxes? Are there any well-known tactics for evading these extra fees? Thanks much.
But then the web site suggests there may be supplemental fees according to the following schedule (I've only included the possibly relevant ones):
Online Check-In* €5
Payment Handling Fee - Per passenger/ Per One Way Flight €5
Airport Check-In Fee - Per passenger/ Per One Way Flight €10
Priority Boarding Fee* - Per passenger/ Per One Way Flight €3
Checked Baggage Fees* - (Each passenger is permitted to check-in up to 3 bags with a maximum combined weight of 15kgs)
1st Bag – Per bag/ Per One Way Flight €10
2nd & 3rd Bag – Per bag/ Per One Way Flight €20
Excess Baggage Fee - Per Kilo €15
Flight Change Fees* - Per Passenger/ Per One Way Flight €25
While I understand the baggage fees, is there really extra charges to pay for your ticket and check in for your flight? These scarcely seem to be optional. What extra fees does one typically pay in addition to the teaser rate of 0.99 euro and the obligatory taxes? Are there any well-known tactics for evading these extra fees? Thanks much.
, try the local scheduled carrier, might be cheaper.Join Date: Feb 2008
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Unless you fly to a place that Ryanair wants you to fly to, on a day they want you to fly there, at a time of their choosing, book the ticket during a specific period, pay with a plastic card that they choose and carry no luggage then you'll find that a full-service carrier is very often cheaper than Ryanair. And you'll pay only £2.20 to get to Heathrow (from central London) rather than £25 to get to Stansted, and will arrive at an airport that is actually in or near the city you wish to go to. And have a generally more pleasant experience.
But the fact that millions of people choose to fly with Ryanair means that the better airlines have to keep their fares down to compete, so I for one would like to see more people fly with them. Just as long as I don't have to.
But the fact that millions of people choose to fly with Ryanair means that the better airlines have to keep their fares down to compete, so I for one would like to see more people fly with them. Just as long as I don't have to.
Paxing All Over The World
The RyanAir website is complicated but all charges can be worked out. You may find it best to make a dummy run - enter all the data up to the moment of paying and money and then see what the cost is going to be.
Their fees for 'handling' your payment via credit card are steep but that's only because the fare is '1 Euro' and they have to make their money somewhere. If you have a bag to check in then book it at the same time as the flight ticket. You can check in on line, you just have to read all the small print before you start.
There is a long (merged) thread in this forum: http://www.pprune.org/passengers-slf...ts-merged.html
and in the Airlines, Airports & Routes forum: http://www.pprune.org/airlines-airpo...anair-6-a.html
Plan carefully and it will work but, of course, consider all carriers on a route.
Their fees for 'handling' your payment via credit card are steep but that's only because the fare is '1 Euro' and they have to make their money somewhere. If you have a bag to check in then book it at the same time as the flight ticket. You can check in on line, you just have to read all the small print before you start.
There is a long (merged) thread in this forum: http://www.pprune.org/passengers-slf...ts-merged.html
and in the Airlines, Airports & Routes forum: http://www.pprune.org/airlines-airpo...anair-6-a.html
Plan carefully and it will work but, of course, consider all carriers on a route.
Do Ryanair operate to Barcelona or Girona?
If you want to get to Barcelona city from Girona Airport, there is a bit of extra travel and cost compared to flying directly into BCN.
Without too much luggage and assuming you check-in online, you are looking at an additional €50-€60 on top of flight cost and taxes.
Bear this in mind.... still porbably cheaper than a scheduled flight into BCN, but you have to weigh up the low-cost issues should your flight not be able to operate.
If you want to get to Barcelona city from Girona Airport, there is a bit of extra travel and cost compared to flying directly into BCN.
Without too much luggage and assuming you check-in online, you are looking at an additional €50-€60 on top of flight cost and taxes.
Bear this in mind.... still porbably cheaper than a scheduled flight into BCN, but you have to weigh up the low-cost issues should your flight not be able to operate.
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Using an Oyster card, off peak, the tube fare is GBP2.20.
At peak times, it rises to an outrageous GBP3.80
At peak times, it rises to an outrageous GBP3.80