First time on low cost
Ryanair ;Stanstead - Poznan out Thurs, back yesterday.
I didn't really know what to expect, having been on flights where you have a seat allocated. What I didn't expect was the 'Guess the Gate' game they have at Stanstead. Get in a queue where you are told to be, wait for about half the flight to be waiting, announce a change and watch the passengers run! When I heard similar gate changes being announced after I returned, I presumed this must be a regular occurence. Also the strange phenomena of passengers appearing out of nowhere when a check in is opened! They come out of the cracks! We took off on time, landed on time and ditto for the return journey. CC were polite and busy. I will try to avoid low cost travel in future; don't like paying for refreshments, fiddling with raffle tickets and the continual sales patter. I think I must have been spoilt. Regards Hazel :O |
Good afternoon. I agree with your comments re Ryanair and Stansted, except I have never personally suffered a gate change. However, how much did you save financially by travelling with them, viv a vis a full service carrier? Who else even flies to Poznan direct from UK? I grit my teeth and fly lo-co if they are going where I want to go and use the money saved on upgarding my hire car and/or eating out in nicer restaurants than I can usually afford!
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For most of this year I seemed to be doing as much time in the back of EZY and FR 737's as I was actually flying myself! I found it much the same as flying with anyone else...A lot of the legacy carriers seem to charge for food and drink these days anyway.
Ryanair get a lot of bad press but I never have had any problems with them. Food was edible, flight was always on time, new aircraft, better pitch than rivals and the CC were always friendly and usually pleasant on the eye...Which is more than I can say for some of the others. :) |
A lot of the legacy carriers seem to charge for food and drink these days anyway CC were always friendly and usually pleasant on the eye... |
Flew SAS the other week...You had to pay for everything. Same when I flew United domestic (I think it's the same with AA domestic) and alcoholic drinks with American Airlines long-haul were charged too. :(
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I might have saved a few quid but...
if I could have got to Poznan by any other route, ideally one from the airport next door or even the airport half an hour down the road, and paid full price, I would have been happier.
As you say, it did the job, fit for purpose and all that, but the uncertainty of not getting a seat doesn't go down well with me. I have an appointment in Valencia next month; going with Flybe. No idea what to expect there. I am used to long haul and knowing what the heck I am doing! :hmm: |
Smiliesam. If you turn up to fly on a lo-co you will get a seat, it isn't allocated but you will get somewhere to sit. SFAIK it is only the big carriers that over book, hope for no-shows and then have to deny people boarding. The disadvantge I find is that some people who pay 49p plus taxes for a flight don't always have spare cash for soap and deodorant! From what you are saying I gather that there was no other direct flight to Paznan?
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No other direct flight that I could find on the day I needed it. Flights from Luton on selected days that didn't meet my requirements.
I was attending an event at the World trade centre in Poznan. Don't think I will be going back in a hurry. |
lo co or legacy?
Flew recently with US Airways DUB/PHL/MCO and return.
They charged for alcoholic drinks across the big pond; and they charged for the one and only 'sandwich' thingy PHL/MCO; there was no choice!!! So much for so called legacy airline. At least Ryanair and Aer Lingus have a choice of ok-ish food. I've never flown EZY so can 't comment; maybe 'you' can? Anyway as one has to turn up much earlier than - say 10 years ago - for flights I go to the airside restaurant(s) and have a reasonable meal in comfort and I can concentrate on reading during the flight. Much more civilised? |
Originally Posted by SXB
(Post 2962419)
Which legacy carriers charge for food and drink ? The only one I know of is Austrian Airlines, though the coffee and water is free.
:E |
Originally Posted by SXB
(Post 2962419)
Which legacy carriers charge for food and drink ? The only one I know of is Austrian Airlines, though the coffee and water is free.
:E Iberia charged for food and drink last year LHR-MAD. |
It's amazing how much the LoCo's seem to create extremes of opinion.
There are folks who don't like LoCo's because of a "bad" experience; there are folks who don't mind LoCo's because they accept what they pay for; there are some folks who just don't like LoCo's for no apparent reason (some just don't like MOL so their angst is generally aimed at FR). I fall into the category of not minding, which I honestly think most folks do: I actually don't see much difference on the service side between LoCo's and legacy carriers anyway. Some thoughts...
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Originally Posted by SXB
(Post 2962419)
Which legacy carriers charge for food and drink ? The only one I know of is Austrian Airlines, though the coffee and water is free.
:E |
Just got back from Marrakesh with Ryanair, £37 return inc all taxes and charges, £5 for a cup of tea and a hotdog each way total £47, Mrs and me got seats together inc a window seat both ways, and flights arrived on time, if anybody can point me to a better deal to North Africa, I would love to hear about it.
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Originally Posted by Smiliesam
(Post 2959822)
and watch the passengers run! When I heard similar gate changes being announced after I returned, I presumed this must be a regular occurence.
Also the strange phenomena of passengers appearing out of nowhere when a check in is opened! They come out of the cracks! Hazel :O |
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