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Original poster

Ryanair Priority Boarding

29 replies

NappyChange · 14/03/2007 13:09

It seems you now have to pay £2 each for each flight to get priority boarding. BUT, if you have a baby you cannot get it??? I thought babies/pushchairs got priority boarding anyway...anyone flown recently and can advise?

OP posts:
mrsflowerpot · 14/03/2007 13:10

I flew with them a couple of months ago - they did the paid for priority boarding first, then people with small children and needing assistance.

geogteach · 14/03/2007 13:12

Flew recently but without my kids so not 100% but it seems you have to pay for everything including checking in a bag and each bag (even if shared by 2 people) must weigh under 15kg. We were made to take stuff out of our bag on our return even though nobody had mentioned it was over weight on the way out.

ChippyMinton · 14/03/2007 13:13

Same experience as Mrs FP, in November - the staff went along the queue inviting people to come to the front.

KTeePee · 14/03/2007 13:16

As far as I know (last flew with them in Nov) no-one gets priority now unless they pay for it....

I was a bit worried how it would work out (didn't pay the extra for priority boarding) but on our flights hardly anyone had paid to get priority. They didn't then call the passengers with babies and young children - it was just a question of queuing up with everyone else. We didn't have any trouble getting seats together though, but were further down the plane than we would have been under the old system. You could just hang out by the check-in desk and barge your way through of course!

ChippyMinton · 14/03/2007 13:18

Loiter at the front and look as harrassed as possible...

GameGirly · 14/03/2007 13:47

And make sure your children scream, cry and throw the biggest tantrums possible in front of the staff, then they're bound to hurry you along. Then again, they might try to stop you flying at all, I suppose ...??

RTKangaMummy · 14/03/2007 14:08

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RTKangaMummy · 14/03/2007 14:09

I CUT AND PASTED THE MESSAGE

MuminBrum · 14/03/2007 14:11

I had to use my DS (who was then 2.3) as a battering ram to get to the front last summer! There were loads of horrible rude families with huge children who obviously thought they qualified for special treatment and were mobbing the check-in desk.

Skribble · 14/03/2007 21:32

They do tend to call families with young children and infirm first, but can be difficult to get through all the regular business people who know where to stand.

Differs at the airports too, but flying out the stewardesses were very strict and turned peopled back that tryed to board along with the families, coming back from beuvais it wasn't as controled as it was all open and harder for the stewerdesses to control. You can't really blame them it is all the thoughtless people that barge forward or stand right infront of any entrances for hours.

As I have said before make like a French of German mum and march to the front head up and elbows sharpened, not like us brits all heads down and blushing because we don't want to appear rude for trying to get to the front.

mrsmalumbas · 14/03/2007 21:41

I do think this is such a wanky policy - was once travelling to visit my parents in France with two kids, you know the score, lots of bags, stroller, and two tired and fractious kids, no proper departure lounge just a seating area with harassed staff and far too many people, boarded the plane with difficulty and almost all the rows had one or two people in - was faced with the possible scenario of DD2 and I having to set about 3 or 4 rows away from DD1 - poor girl was terrified - luckily someone was kind enough to move but it was very stressful. Aircrew no help whatsoever. Was also once returning from France heavily pregnant and with a toddler in tow and in the departure lounge at Poitier it was roasting hot with no aircon, no spare seats, and no-one offered me a seat - wankers - due to aching back and throbbing varicose veins I was desperate to sit and I ended up sitting on the floor (which was none too clean) trying to amuse a hot and fractious DD. No-one offered to help me board or carry the stroller down the steps for me despite my big bump and small child asleep in my arms. Not Ryanair's fault specifically and probably partly mine for not having a hissy fit and demanding the help I needed but I will not travel with them again.

Ceolas · 14/03/2007 21:44

I think their priority boarding is a joke anyway.

We flew with Ryanair a couple of years ago. 3 children - 2,3 and 5 and a buggy. We stood near the front but when they announced boarding for babies, young children, etc, everyone rushed forward.

The staff did NOTHING about it and just let everyone board regardless.

movingmadness · 14/03/2007 22:04

Travelled Liv - Limoges in Feb with DD 7mths. No priority boarding at Liv unless you pay £2 each and didn't even do children after priority, it was just a free for all ! Limoges board families first, then priority paying people !! Looks on their faces was great .

babster · 14/03/2007 22:11

We just came back from Dublin and it was an absolute scrum - no special treatment given to families with small children at all.

kickassangel · 14/03/2007 22:11

i did once shove against the back of someone's leg with the pushcahir as the rush to get on was ridiculous & they were saying families only, but no-one was letting us trhough, so big group of people going nowhere as the staff were waiting for families who were stuck at the back!
i don't quite understand it - you know the plane will be full so just accept the fact & let families sit together.

friendlyedjit · 14/03/2007 22:20

DON'T GET THIS- ITS A MONEY MAKING RUSE ME THINKS- lottery tickets musn't be selling well!

what if everyone on flight spends £2, then there's no priority for anyone.
Thought they used to get kids and those needing assistnace on so that boarding process speeded up, not to piss off those without sprogs- afterall, the seats are all the same, and cannot now race for seats with more room beside the emergency exits.
Now what happens, when you're trying to get on with the hoards when there, musical chairs. Cannot have minors sitting in different aisles away from parents although sometimes I wish!!!

friendlyedjit · 14/03/2007 22:21

sorry so incensed typo rate has increased!

ChippyMinton · 15/03/2007 07:40

If there are two adults, one of you has to join the scrum to nab some seats. Leaving the other adult to deal with buggy and children at their own pace.

mylittlestar · 15/03/2007 08:50

flew with ryanair 2 weeks ago - people who paid for priority boarding went first. i was on my own with 18mo ds, big bag and a buggy - but no priority boarding for families. just had to fight with everyone else. absolute nightmare!

actually it was quite funny looking back... i was trying to collapse the buggy out by the plane, whilst holding onto ds (he'd have run away if given half a chance!), bag on my shoulder kept sliding off, all hot and bothered...

i then trapped my fingers in the buggy, ouch! so i was leaning over (big fat bum sticking in the air, bag on the floor in a puddle, hand trapped in buggy, ds in a head lock shouting 'airplane' 'airplane'), and some a* hole knocked me over in his rush to get up the stairs to pick one of 200 identical seats!! not a good experience all round! lol!

BizzyDint · 15/03/2007 08:54

deh runs ahead and gets the seats, i plod along at the back with dd. no problem. we take our time.

prettybird · 15/03/2007 09:05

... and there I was half thinking of over turning my self imposed ban on flying Ryanair! .......

friendlyedjit · 15/03/2007 14:45

yep may have to have self imposed ban regarding ryan air and get the boat, which is probably much more civilised.

Or start taking DH if we fly as usually allow him to follow us a week later by himself as find travelling with 4 children too difficult!!!!!!!

maisym · 15/03/2007 14:47

my kids always throw up on planes now - so I have to hand round the sick bags - anyone who doesn't move to let us all sit together is just asking for trouble!! having a kid be sick isn't pleasent & they do miss the bags!!

ChippyMinton · 15/03/2007 14:55

That would be a good tactic, even if they don't get sick

maisym · 15/03/2007 14:56

used to say loudly - have you got your sick bag.....then it became reality!!!

plus kids are a trump card as no one would want a flight sitting next to a kid who drops pens, gets covered in their snack & now throws up!!

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