Reply to: Ryan air

[Cyberman]

BA have never asked me to check in baggage - as long as it fits in the slot you're ok, as they never weigh it. They are one of the best airlines for this IMO.

There was the issue with only one carry on which was a PITA last year but it's been relaxed now.

My case would not fit in their slot, although it is not a big case, but is within the limitations of Ryanair's allowance. Therefore Ryanair's service is better as it allows bigger bags and therefore less inconvenience at destination. BA are also renowned for losing bags and for theft, so the opportunity to keep it with you should not be undervalued!!

[Moscow Mule]

BA often force you to check-in your small baggage and then suffer the inconvenience of waiting ages at the other end to collect it.

BA have never asked me to check in baggage - as long as it fits in the slot you're ok, as they never weigh it. They are one of the best airlines for this IMO.

There was the issue with only one carry on which was a PITA last year but it's been relaxed now.

[Cyberman]

I flew Ryanair for the first time 42 quid to Bratislava return from Stanstead in March. Lufthansa offered the flight from Heathrow at 180 quid. I had no problems at all apart from the fact that it was a very early flight. As I booked and checked-in online I also had priority boarding.

You pay for what you get and Ryanair are extremely good value. If you want to take masses of baggage + kids then obviously the major airlines should offer better service for their prices, but in my experience that is definitely not always the case.

Ryanair openly encourage you to take less baggage and also as hand-baggage on board, which is great as far as I am concerned. BA often force you to check-in your small baggage and then suffer the inconvenience of waiting ages at the other end to collect it.

[IH33]

I've flown with Ryanair and Easyjet for a few years now and have never had any problems. If you do the proper research, you'll have no problems. I flew out to Mallorca in Janaury, £20 return + £8 baggage, taxes all inclusive.

I think when the general folk who pay and expect the service to be on the level of normal airlines are the ones that get pissed off.

Everything is perfectly clear what they charge, as long as ensure you're on time and don't go over the baggage allowance, then you'll be fine. Regarding the airports, well Luton and Stanstead are around 1hr drive for me, I don't see a problem with this. Location of airports is all relative, depending on where you live. I thought us contractors had more brains sometines

[Rantor]

They're my most loathed company, it's like their whole ethos is set up to rip as much cash as they can from their passengers, by any means possible, and generally treat them like scum.

I made the mistake of flying with them with my daughter (The airport in Scotland is very close to my home), and they truly are awful if you've got kids.

Yep, I flew back with my wee boy last weekend and the whole "pure dead brilliant" Prestwick/Ryanair experience leaves something to be desired!

After a nightmare return journery from Treviso a few yrs back I said I would never fly with them again but they are the only direct flight from Belgium to the West of Scotland at the moment. I can't believe they haven't got round to charging for using the bogs on the planes yet

[expat]

Oh Lordy

When I was flying from Bristol the Sleazyjet queues were unbelievable. This was at 0600 in the morning. I used to wince when I saw the poor souls snaking around the airport to try and check in at the only two Sleazyjet Desks. This was all while I swished through the BA business desk. Oh well.

Check in? Wash out your mouth!

[Jubber]

Oh Lordy

When I was flying from Bristol the Sleazyjet queues were unbelievable. This was at 0600 in the morning. I used to wince when I saw the poor souls snaking around the airport to try and check in at the only two Sleazyjet Desks. This was all while I swished through the BA business desk. Oh well.

[Advocate]

I think (on balance) I would rather cut my nuts off with a spoon than fly Ryan Air.

Similar feelings for Sleazyjet, Monarch or any other charter airline.

I've found that cutting your nuts (and legs) off with a spoon may be an actual requirement to sit in the seats of the abovementioned airlines.

[expat]

I usually take the easy airport option for the first few months of a contract: drive to Luton, park short-term, fly Easyjet with "speedy boarding". Then when I can't take that any more, I do the drive to Heathrow (2 hours plus) and hack that awful airport, in order to fly with a real airline. Then when I've had enough of that, I drive instead if the client is in NE Europe, otherwise train to Birmingham and fly from there.

Then after I've done that for a while, I think "this is ridiculous, Easyjet can't be that bad" and go back to Luton for a while. Then I look for another contract.

I'm beginning to lose the ability to convince myself that this is a rational way to spend my life.

[hyperD]

Nice to see your use of the word 'apron' there, hyperD. You can tell you are an aviator.

I'd be more of an aviator if the price of flying wasn't escalating to ludicrous levels. I'm going to have to ditch the wife at this rate...

[Bagpuss]

I once flew back from Brussels Charleroi, 5 euros to Stanstead no tax

£12 to go 7 miles on the train from Stanstead


flight out was 99p, £15 tax!

[Xenophon]

Nice to see your use of the word 'apron' there, hyperD. You can tell you are an aviator.

[hyperD]

Wife and I once flew with RyanAir - there appears to be a special dispensation for tracksuits.

Most amusing is the call for boarding where there's this charge down the ramp to the apron and the scrambling for seats. I even saw one idiot run under the plane to get to the rear entrance, closely followed by two marshalls screaming at him.

They cancelled the return evening flight without explanation and we had to get a hotel, train to another airport and a BA flight back to Blighty (which we should have done in the first place).

I'd like to say you pay for what you get, but you don't.

Never again.

[Moscow Mule]

I think (on balance) I would rather cut my nuts off with a spoon than fly Ryan Air.

Similar feelings for Sleazyjet, Monarch or any other charter airline.

[Tensai]

i flew with these for first time at beginning of April to Nimes from Liverpool.

never again! their baggage allowance for checking baggage is 15kg per person. my small hand luggage case (the one i use for working away etc) came to 14.6kg. i'll not say how much the main case came to. the allowance isnt much when there is you, the mrs and a 6mth old baby.

they really screwed us. never again will i fly with them.

WHS.

I've got to the point where I won't fly with an airline based on price alone. I've got a family in tow these days so it's worth paying a bit extra to remove the hassle that goes with the no-frills (i.e. customers come second) airlines.

Clearly my rate is too high these days