getting off a plane last minute
 

can anyone tell me the position if I wish to leave an aircraft before she takes off, I am on a Fr Gatwick to Mad on thurs with a connecting flight MAD to IBZ also with ryanair. the window in MAD is only 1.5 hours and I am hand luggage only, but a delay may mean I miss the connecting flight. Can I get on the first flight and sit waiting for doors to close whilst watching my watch, and request getting off if the delay is too much? Fr don't book connecting flights so its russian roulette to make the connection!

This is going to make you very unpopular for security reasons. There was one high profile case where passengers hid a B-thing in the overhead locker and then left the plane. The aircraft, crew and passengers were all lost. Even if you only have hand baggage how can anyone be sure you haven't stuffed something into a locker or seat pocket before you get off?

popularity is not what i am after, purely making my connection. I will go through all x-ray/metal detectors as required but am not prepared to fly the first leg of my flight to be left stranded in Madrid airport because I missed the second leg of my trip.... both legs being the same airline

The problem is not putting you through metal detectors, but what to do with the airplane. To be properly careful, after you have left they would have to have everyone else disembark with their hand luggage and search the cabin. There is no other way to be sure you didn't leave a surprise.

I get that and I don't want to upset anyone... however as I have 2 flights booked with FR and am sitting on the plane at the gate at Gatwick but feel I am delayed too much to make my connecting Ryanair flight in Madrid, knowing that Ryanair will not look after me at Madrid or even not put me on the next day flight from Madrid to Ibiza, I may as well get off at Gatwick and go home?? Can I do that??

And to the pros out there, how about at the last hold before lining up rather than the apron?

Why not book an airline that caters to your needs then & not a cheap one that will put you and your fellow passengers to great inconvenience?

Or do you simply live in the 'Me, me, me' world?

mmm...clear off will you, I am only interested in facts

Aside from the fact that you appear to care little for the disruption you will cause your fellow travellers, yes you can get off although if we were at the hold then too late chap.

However, why get on? You will know by the point you need to board how late the flight is running. An hour and a half is pushing it for a connection anyway so don't get on if it's running late.

You say you won't risk flying your first sector just in case you miss the next flight and therein lies your answer. Get an earlier flight or get a later connection.

Your flight will leave the gate on time, giving you the expectation of making the connection at MAD. However, as the aircraft approaches the runway, another passenger will throw a massive wobbler, and the Captain will be forced to return to stand to off-load said pax, and have their luggage removed from the hold. The net result is that the flight departs more than 90 minutes behind schedule, and your plans are shot to pieces! :rolleyes:

You must have a critically important business meeting in Ibiza (HAH) for this to be such a worry. "Last hold before lining up"...... you've got to be joking. If it's so important to you to be there at a particular time, leave a day early and stop thinking you're more important than everyone else on the aircraft. Actually you seem to be more a bus person anyway.

Lets look at the scenario in action....
You board the aircraft, take your seat. Handling agent confirms everyone and their bags are on board. Paperwork is complete. Lovely, ready to go! However there were issues during turnaround that have delayed the flight slightly...
You.... quite clearly thinking of only yourself, your boarding an aircraft, not a bus.... decide you wish to offload before doors closed.
Handling agent has to change all figures, notify boarding team. Aircraft may be remote parked, bus may be required to return to aircraft to take you back. Taking up ramp staff and passenger services staff time, which with the weather situation at LGW would be valuable in other areas.
Pilots have to change their paperwork, doesn't take long, but an inconvenience when on a short turnaround.
Hand luggage and security issue has already been mentioned above.

And that is if the aircraft is near to on time BEFORE doors close.

Then you have to worry about de-icing, pushback delays, slot delays, taxiway/runway issues with recent snow...the list goes on.

If you think you might not make a connection in the first place, and know the airline you fly with wont cover you, don't book it!
If you still insist to risk it, at least decide before, or during boarding to offload yourself at the gate, much less hassle for everyone! And you wont look like a **** for walking off the aircraft after already getting on.

Troll, troll, troll......

I agree, think only about your self, cos no one else will
 

you are entitled to disembark yourself at any time, if for any reason you decide not to travel.
if the CC tell you not to leave then this is kidnapping, just tell the CC you are phoning the police, and that they will decide the correct astion, if they wish to detain you without due reason.

Please do not try to tell me that they are the law, until the aircraft starts to move with the intention of flight, then they are NOT the law.

Only you can determine if YOU are happy to travel, and if the aircraft is delayed for any reason, you can remove yourself for the aircraft, assuming the doors are still open.

Why not travel on the lowest practial cost option, in the end of the day it is your choice, so forget the moralist view, as expressed here.

glf

Madrid Terminal 1 has a published MCT of 45 minutes (and that's for people with luggage). An hour and a half should be easily enough.

Especially as FR keep telling us they are Europe's most punctual airline :)

Thanks Gulfstreamaviator, the kind of answer I was looking for. Much appreciated.

Classic R/T call to me on Heathrow Ground from a BA 757 which had pushed back: "We'd like to go back on stand; one of these nutters wants to get off".

A couple of years ago I sat on an aircraft at Manchester for two hours waiting for it to be de-iced before the hop down to Heathrow; I was going to London for a meeting so had only a notebook with me.

Had the flight left on time I would have got to my meeting easily. Two hours later there was no point in making the trip. I explained the situation to cabin crew, who checked with the Captain, and they happily let me get off and go home!

rewdan - do you think you're flying on a private business jet? No, you're booked on a scheduled revenue flight with an airline that runs a point to point service.

I am fully aware of the legal position regarding your request to get off the aircraft should you not wish to travel. But to have the audacity (or lack of common decency) to ask whether you can have the aircraft turned back at the hold because you'll "miss your connection", thus disrupting the travel plans of 100+ other passengers?! You must be trolling.

Has this special case tried getting off a bus between stops?

GSA - you're an idiot to tell him that. Start ranting about kidnapping and he will be carted off in cuffs. Ever heard of the ANO (especially the bit about lawful instructions of the crew) - once the doors are shut - tough titties pal, you're coming with us. If you kick up after my doors are shut, I am going to screw you hard (and probably every passenger on the same plane - if no one has decked him by then )

Well, I am soooo glad he let us all know that on a Ryanair flight LGWMAD on friday, there may be a disruptive passenger - looks like someone just posted themselves into a potential life-time ban from FR (oh crappo that means he might fly with us... nooooo)

Get a life pal, if u need to get somewhere at a certain time, especially with this weeks weather, fly on a commercial carrier or GO BY TRAIN (at least you can get off at the next stop and not pi$$ anyone off)

Rant over - back to the crew room for coffee