RyanAir Tips?
We've used them loads and as stated above read and understand Ts/Cs. They have improved over the last year. Seats are now allocated, so there is no mad fight. If certain seats are important to you, pay for them early otherwise take the ones allocated to you. You can ck in and show boarding passes on the RYR app. Fit in with the published luggage criteria, don't expect much in the way of in flight service and you will have a punctual flight on a modern well maintained ac operated by well trained crews.
Assuming you mean Ryan Air, rather than RyanAir/Ryanair, they are still very much in existence.
Ryan Air ? Home Page
Ryan Air ? Home Page
One piece of advice that seems to be missing is that you should board the plane as early as possible. That is the only way to ensure that you do not have problems finding space for your hand luggage.
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The wife has booked us on RyanAir flights to/from Dublin next month (from Budapest). As I have never flown RyanAir before, and considering some rather nasty/snarky posts I've seen on here and elsewhere about them, can anyone offer suggestions/tips on the best way to ensure the least horrible experience?
Your wife had an excellent idea. I have flown on some 500 Ryanair flights in the last ten years, and I love it. Never had any "horrible experience" with them.
Your wife had an excellent idea. I have flown on some 500 Ryanair flights in the last ten years, and I love it. Never had any "horrible experience" with them.
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It is if you are not vertically challenged. But the rigidity is not confined to the lack of recline. The fabric of the chair quickly hardens in use and after a few months the seats have a hard, non giving feel to them.
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I have flown on some 500 Ryanair flights in the last ten years, and I love it.
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I've only flown Ryanair once. They let the priority passengers through the gate first and then the rest, who proceeded to run past the priority pax and grab the seats they wanted.
There was a scrum for the front and rear doors. I was one of the last to board. Most pax had chosen seats near the exit so they could get off quickly. They were sitting quite bunched up with bags on their laps.
I got on. Headed for two thirds of the way down and got an entire three seats to myself.
Peace and quiet and no one around me.
I knew that getting off the plane early was a fools quest because the airport we were flying to bussed the passengers to the terminal and they always wait until the last passengers are on the bus.
There was a scrum for the front and rear doors. I was one of the last to board. Most pax had chosen seats near the exit so they could get off quickly. They were sitting quite bunched up with bags on their laps.
I got on. Headed for two thirds of the way down and got an entire three seats to myself.
Peace and quiet and no one around me.
I knew that getting off the plane early was a fools quest because the airport we were flying to bussed the passengers to the terminal and they always wait until the last passengers are on the bus.
I just don't think you could do 500 flights in total without at least one or two issues never mind 500 with the same airline!
I've about two hundred flights under my belt with various airlines and I had at least two cancelled, one of which deprived me of €100 for a concert ticket for a show in Paris that evening. Another cancellation saw me going to FCO rather than LIN and losing my train ticket from Milan to Florence, which was non refundable and having to buy another one from Rome.
These aren't major deals but they are a pain. Hard to believe anyone could have more than twice as many flights and no issues at all.
I've about two hundred flights under my belt with various airlines and I had at least two cancelled, one of which deprived me of €100 for a concert ticket for a show in Paris that evening. Another cancellation saw me going to FCO rather than LIN and losing my train ticket from Milan to Florence, which was non refundable and having to buy another one from Rome.
These aren't major deals but they are a pain. Hard to believe anyone could have more than twice as many flights and no issues at all.
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I flew Ryanair and initially with some trepidation, did I book that ticket. I read the horror stories about the website. However, I was actually kind of impressed.
Think of booking as an easy step process:
Cabin bags go free - there is a strict weight limit of 10kg and a standard European size to comply with (brought in because Ryanair got cheeky). Dammit, I LOVE being in the EU!
Check-in/Baggage drop:
I was flying from Lisbon so you get herded on a bus from T1 to T2. Not a problem in the winter (although it was still warm). If there is no air-con in the bus just make sure you're fit and ready for it. Takes about 5 minutes.
All you need to do is follow the rules, remember that booking is broken down into the steps above and boarding is straightforward if you turn up on time - This is critically important.
You will be offered food and newspapers for sale on this flight - no frills remember.. but treat this like a coach ride. You are travelling for two and a half hours, not long haul. So grab some munchies from the shop before you leave your house or leave your hotel (no drinks/liquids I'm afraid). You can purchase a soft drink once you are in the 'sterile' area of the airport past security but these can also be a bit pricey. A bottle of water whether on the flight or on the ground is £2.50-ish.
One word of warning on this. If the a/c is on the ground for any length of time, they cannot open the shop or give away free drinks. This is to comply with local customs and excise laws.
My flight had an extra two sweet cherries on the top. I was up front on seat 1C, facing two fit looking stewardesses - my favourite was the German(?) one who seemed nice and frankly she looked quite tasty. The other cherry was the fact that they allowed me to hang around after the flight to chat to the captain about career options after my hours building (I'm a private pilot that might consider taking it to the next level). He was very happy to spend five minutes to explain what I needed to do to get to where he sits.
Overall, I was satisfied with my flight and knowing how the system works, I get it, and would fly with them again.
Think of booking as an easy step process:
1. Choose your flight and times and ticket type.
2. Choose the number of bags, insurance, and the other gubbins.
3. Select payment method.
Then really you are good to go. Just remember that you need to check in and print your boarding pass up to 30 days before you fly, print it AND DON'T lose it.2. Choose the number of bags, insurance, and the other gubbins.
3. Select payment method.
Cabin bags go free - there is a strict weight limit of 10kg and a standard European size to comply with (brought in because Ryanair got cheeky). Dammit, I LOVE being in the EU!
Check-in/Baggage drop:
I was flying from Lisbon so you get herded on a bus from T1 to T2. Not a problem in the winter (although it was still warm). If there is no air-con in the bus just make sure you're fit and ready for it. Takes about 5 minutes.
1. Go to your baggage drop desk, show your boarding pass and passport.
2. Make sure bags are within size - particularly your cabin bag, dead important. Mine was booked into the hold for free as the a/c was fully booked.
3. Go through security check with boarding pass and passport (long but pretty quick queue).
4. Hang around the basic 'sterile' area and check out the duty free.
5. When your aircraft and gate number are called, head to electronic passport control to book out of the country (we are NOT a part of the Schengen agreement)
6. Go to the Priority Q or the Other Q depending on what you chose in booking step 2. Priority Q does go first but you MUST turn up as soon as the gate/aircraft is called otherwise you will be stuck with the rest.
7. Wait to be allowed to exit to the apron and then walk up the steps as guided by the security staff. Show your ticket to the cabin crew - yes, they MUST see you ticket again, it is your final clearance to your seat (the number of annoyed people that hated doing this beggars belief).
8. Enjoy the flight. Some airports can be busy so expect to queue behind other aircraft but usually you are well underway, twenty minutes at the very very most. We were late out but arrived on time.
2. Make sure bags are within size - particularly your cabin bag, dead important. Mine was booked into the hold for free as the a/c was fully booked.
3. Go through security check with boarding pass and passport (long but pretty quick queue).
4. Hang around the basic 'sterile' area and check out the duty free
.5. When your aircraft and gate number are called, head to electronic passport control to book out of the country (we are NOT a part of the Schengen agreement)
6. Go to the Priority Q or the Other Q depending on what you chose in booking step 2. Priority Q does go first but you MUST turn up as soon as the gate/aircraft is called otherwise you will be stuck with the rest.
7. Wait to be allowed to exit to the apron and then walk up the steps as guided by the security staff. Show your ticket to the cabin crew - yes, they MUST see you ticket again, it is your final clearance to your seat (the number of annoyed people that hated doing this beggars belief).
8. Enjoy the flight. Some airports can be busy so expect to queue behind other aircraft but usually you are well underway, twenty minutes at the very very most. We were late out but arrived on time.
All you need to do is follow the rules, remember that booking is broken down into the steps above and boarding is straightforward if you turn up on time - This is critically important.
You will be offered food and newspapers for sale on this flight - no frills remember.. but treat this like a coach ride. You are travelling for two and a half hours, not long haul. So grab some munchies from the shop before you leave your house or leave your hotel (no drinks/liquids I'm afraid). You can purchase a soft drink once you are in the 'sterile' area of the airport past security but these can also be a bit pricey. A bottle of water whether on the flight or on the ground is £2.50-ish.
One word of warning on this. If the a/c is on the ground for any length of time, they cannot open the shop or give away free drinks. This is to comply with local customs and excise laws.
My flight had an extra two sweet cherries on the top. I was up front on seat 1C, facing two fit looking stewardesses - my favourite was the German(?) one who seemed nice and frankly she looked quite tasty. The other cherry was the fact that they allowed me to hang around after the flight to chat to the captain about career options after my hours building (I'm a private pilot that might consider taking it to the next level). He was very happy to spend five minutes to explain what I needed to do to get to where he sits.
Overall, I was satisfied with my flight and knowing how the system works, I get it, and would fly with them again.
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This is to comply with customs and excise laws.
I don't know of any country that have laws that prohibit using duty free stores after boarding. For example on a LHR-YVR flight, while we sat for four hours awaiting de-icing, BA served a meal, and a full drinks service in all cabins.
This is to comply with FR policy.
If they are telling you it's the governments fault, they are either uninformed or they are lying to you. It's ironic, if you are delayed before boarding you are entitled to 'care' meaning food and refreshments, etc. but this doesn't seem to apply once you've been seated.
Cabin bags go free - there is a strict weight limit of 10kg and a standard European size to comply with
The Small Print | T&Cs
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European standard? Set by who? I'm not aware of anything out of Brussels that sets a standard size for European flights or airlines. If fact it was DG-Comp that forced IATA to make their standard a 'recommendation'.
There is no way that AEA or ELFA would get involved in standard setting. They know the law.
There is no way that AEA or ELFA would get involved in standard setting. They know the law.
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Just measured my backpack, which is my regular carry-on bag, and it's well within the 55 x 40 x 20 cm Ryanair size limit. Will be away only four nights, and this bag actually holds a lot -- I once carried six bottles of wine in it, in addition to many other items. Won't be going that heavy on this trip. however. 10kg should be no problem. Regs say you may also carry another bag, up to 35 x 20 x 20, which may allow a briefcase for a laptop, etc. Interestingly, no weight limit specified for this smaller bag.
But the regs also say they allow only 90 bags of that size in the cabin. The rest are handled as checked baggage, but without fee.
Now, let's see what the wife's got in mind....
But the regs also say they allow only 90 bags of that size in the cabin. The rest are handled as checked baggage, but without fee.
Now, let's see what the wife's got in mind....
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult
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Bear in mind that if you buy a scratch card on the flight and you win 10,000 euro
1/ The flight does not have the cash on-board, you will have to claim it once on the ground by post
2/ Ripping up and trying to eat the winning card will not get you your money!
1/ The flight does not have the cash on-board, you will have to claim it once on the ground by post
2/ Ripping up and trying to eat the winning card will not get you your money!
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Make sure the airport you think you are flying from/to is actually the airport you are flying from/to:
Walking in uniform through the terminal at Glasgow when a gentleman rushed up to me, shoved his paperwork in my face, and asked where to check in for a Ryanair flight. Was slightly perplexed as couldn't remember seeing a Ryanair aircraft at Glasgow - closer inspection of his paperwork revealed the words: Glasgow (Prestwick).
I assume he missed his flight!
Walking in uniform through the terminal at Glasgow when a gentleman rushed up to me, shoved his paperwork in my face, and asked where to check in for a Ryanair flight. Was slightly perplexed as couldn't remember seeing a Ryanair aircraft at Glasgow - closer inspection of his paperwork revealed the words: Glasgow (Prestwick).
I assume he missed his flight!