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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to fly with Ryan air? Anyone had any experience, good or bad?

168 replies

dandycandyjellybean · 07/04/2011 08:38

prob wrong place but need a quick response. Trying for a cheap holiday and their fees seem very good. I know you have to pay extra for baggage, but are there any other hidden extras? Any advice gratefully received. Smile

OP posts:
MrsP2006 · 07/04/2011 15:25

I wouldn't fly with them if you paid me. I'm Irish and living abroad so have used them in the past on many occasions, each time was worse than the time before so would never use them again. Also, the cabin crew are rubbish and it makes me shudder to think that people's safety is in their hands!

Wallace · 07/04/2011 15:26

Can't find it..did I imagine it? Hmm

WinterOfOurDiscountTents · 07/04/2011 15:27

you all sound like a bunch of moaning minnies to me, wah wah the cabin crew were mean to me boo hoo!

More cheap flights for the hardier souls among us! Grin

Bucharest · 07/04/2011 15:42

Winter, if this lot of whingers fly with someone else, we won't have to bother paying for priority anymore either.

WinterOfOurDiscountTents · 07/04/2011 15:46

I don't anyway, I have pointy elbows and am way nastier than any flight attendant. I have no need for your priority boarding

Grin
jasminetom · 07/04/2011 15:48

Fly Dubai are just as cheap and are lovely. I may be a moaning Minnie but at least I am prepared to pay Business on a flight over 1 hour long and not expect civility, cleanliness and safety to be included in an economy ticket.

prettybird · 07/04/2011 16:00

As reiterate SofiaAmes' point - good manners cost nothing :)

I once arrived at Gatwick late, having been delayed two hours on the train. The Easyjet check in had been closed for about 10 minutes - but I went and asked nicely if it was possible to get on the flight. I am sure it was because I was nice and didn't assume - and that I didn't have any handluggage - that I and another guy who had also been on the same train as me, was let on to the flight to Glasgow (last flight that nght)i.

I am positive that that would not have happened with Ryanair.

(BTW: we still got to the boarding gate before they had actually started boarding)

CurrySpice · 07/04/2011 17:01

DP is 6'4" and literally cannot get his knees into the Ryanair seats Shock

lurkerspeaks · 07/04/2011 18:31

I will never ever ever fly with Ryanair ever again after they failed to check me in on time for my flight despite the fact that I queued for check in for well over 2hrs.

I alerted the 'customer' service representative numerous times to my rapidly approaching flight and he did nothing.

The problem was that there were a large number of people with excess baggage who were refusing to pay.

I subsequently complained and despite several letters (one of which was recorded delivery) they didn't even have the courtesy to reply.

I have flown some slightly crazy routes since to get around this (eg. home-paris-berlin rather than home-berlin direct) but I'm just not prepared to give them the business.

I also don't fly Lufthansa.

annielouisa · 07/04/2011 20:05

I think I am quite a hardy soul who does not want all the frills but RYANAIR are rubbish. I and DH were left stranded at Girona airport after flights were cancelled due French air traffic control strikes. Other airlines paid extra to use other airspace but not RYANAIR. It was Tuesday and the next flight we were offered from Girona was Friday. We were then offered alternatives flights out of Reus airport on Wednesday night.

We had to get our own hotel accomodation and meals and had some scrawled directions in Spanish (which actually directed us to Barcelona not Reus). We got horribly lost and it was only thanks to the kindness of some truly lovely Spanish people we got to Reus airport.

I was so relieved to be on the plane but as we began to taxi another RYANAIR plane began to descend for a landing and had to abort his landing. I do not know who was more scared us or the plane trying to land passengers.

We were fortunate to have credit cards but many people were left stranded at Girona airport with young children and dwindling funds. It also took ages to get RYANAIR to admit the delays and cancellations so we could claim on our insurance!

Give me Easyjet any time or BMI I will never fly with RYANAIR again!!!

katiepotatie · 07/04/2011 20:10

Have flown with them once with children, to Ireland. Had no complaints, other than the extra money for baggage and the baby car seat. We had a double buggy that went for free though.

Ariesgirl · 07/04/2011 20:10

AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL! We were two minutes late getting to regional airport in France after hitting terrible traffic. They shut the gate and the queue was literally two feet beyond it. I could have reached over and touched the end of it, but non, you are too late, madame.

We had to get back for a family occasion. We had to buy two flights to another UK airport and then may a premium to hire a car to drive back to the airport we had departed from. This cost us in all 400 euros. I was weeping with rage. And the food on board is shit. And a rip off.

EasyJet on the other hand, are fine.

tyler80 · 07/04/2011 20:26

Southwest airlines just had a hole rip open in one of their planes! I've flown with them and their planes generally look pretty old and grotty inside. I'll take the newer plane and unfriendly air stewardesses over that thanks Grin

I love Ryanair. Mainly because it means we can afford to go visit the grandparents more than once a year and go on holiday somewhere else as well. We've never had any problems at all.

BatFlattery · 07/04/2011 20:28

Have flown Ryanair quite a few times between the UK and France, never had a problem, even when DH injured his knee a few days before we had to fly, and ended up in a splint with crutches. The ground staff and cabin crew couldn't have been more helpful, even reserved 3 seats for us so DH could sit with his leg straight (we didn't even ask for this!).

Agree with many people above - don't expect too much, take your own food, etc...

This summer we will be flying Ryanair with our DS who will be 6 months, and I have no concerns about the flight WRT service, etc...

MCos · 07/04/2011 21:50

I flew to Spain with them last year, with my 2 DDs, age 6 & 8. I was nervous that we wouldn't get seats together. But flight wasn't full, so we did. However, we went to airport early, queued at gate to ensure early boarding. AND THEN they changed the boarding gate JUST as we were to board - so all the people at the back got to front of new queue, and those of us who were there early ended up at the back of the new queue.

Also - the luggage weight allowance is a few kgs lighter than many other airlines. I managed to keep within it, but was a bit nervous that I might be overweight on the flight home (I was Ok).

Oh, and the quequeing for baggage drop took ages (> 30 mins) - because even though everybody has already checked in on-line, lots of people had overweight luggage...

Other than that - flight was fine, same as any other short haul flight, really.

However, this year, I'm flying with AerLingus, just so I can select my seats the day before when checking in on-line. Price difference was minimum, as I booked early.

MCos · 07/04/2011 21:52

Forgot to add: But if price difference between Ryan Air & Aer Lingus was much greater, I would have flown Ryan Air again...

Original poster
dandycandyjellybean · 07/04/2011 21:53

Thanks everyone, wow, was not expecting such a plethora of replys. I think, based on a long, careful study of what folks are saying, that we will risk it. This holiday wasn't planned or budgeted for, it's all abit last minute and the cheapness of the flights is a real deal maker for us. Have read and reread the small print and we are all aware of the baggage limits; will also be buying a hand held baggage scale for the return journey. My dh is disabled, so have requested help, which according to the info, which I will print out and carry with me, seems to indicate that we wait until everyone else has boarded, but that they will reserve seats for our party on the plane. Worst case scenario we are all separate except someone with ds who is 5.

Will book/fly and report back. [fwightened emoticon]

OP posts:
SugarPasteFrog · 07/04/2011 22:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MCos · 07/04/2011 22:18

Op - go on, go for it. And have a lovely holiday!

nijinsky · 07/04/2011 22:21

Sounds like there is a great market opportunity for someone who can run a similarly cheap airline company but convince the cstomer they are getting a courteous and polite service...

CurrySpice · 07/04/2011 22:26

Have a lovely time OP!

Tryharder · 07/04/2011 22:35

I work at an airport and one of the in-jokes in our office is that RyanAir always manage to land the plane in the most awful weather conditions when other airlines don't bother and divert their flights. Fog, blizzards, 10ft of snow..... doesn't matter - Ryanair will get their plane down. Whether this is due to their superior flying skills or complete disregard for passenger and crew safety, I can make no judgement.

Obviously, it costs money to divert to another airport and then put on coaches back to the original destination. Smile

madhairday · 07/04/2011 23:36

We're flying with them next week and I hadn't given it much thought until I read about horrendous queues - I can't stand for long so will look into their disabled policy too (really could do with sitting next to dh as he helps me when I need it) but certainly can't stand for 2 hrs. Will also report back on the experience [nervous emoticon]

everyspring · 07/04/2011 23:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LovePotatoes · 07/04/2011 23:50

I flew with them to Morocco with 7 month old and it was much better than I expected.
We checked in online o/w have to pay 'extra'.
Do not go over weight allowance- they are very strict about that.
We did not priority tickets but due to baby they let us board after the priority boarders and so we got seats together. Just ask them to give you special consideration when you are about to board.
Make sure you take snacks with you all for the flight.
The cabin crew were friendly.
Was able to breast feed on flight - just took a shawl with me.
I would fly with them again.