Ryanair priority boarding

[mondler]

Hi, I'm flying with Ryanair feom stansted soon and haven't flown for a long long time and am probably overthinking everything!

I've booked priority so I can take 2 bags but I've heard that the overhead cabins fill up fast and even with priority you aren't guaranteed to avoid having to check your bag. I really want to avoid checking my bag into the hold and I wondering how early I need to get to the gate? Is it true unofficial queues start before boarding opens?

Also, probably an even more stupid question but my boarding pass says to board from the back of the plane. Is there more than one queue or does it just filter front/back when you get to the plane?

Thanks 😊

I always fly with easyJet priority boarding, best to take a bag to go under seat, and overhead .
You board first ( I also do as special assistance), try not to stress

@mondler Good luck with Ryanair. You are presumably seated near the back so just push your way to the front of the queue like everyone else. You are just ahead of the rest of the scrum who also won’t put bags in the hold. It’s never pleasant.

Oh gosh I'm nervous about this too. We are a family of 4 but only need two small suitcases (plus hand bags) so we've only booked 2x priority as that's the only way to add cabin suitcases.

I assume this means we cannot actually take up the "priority" part as we are a 4some.

And we only have 3 hours between landing and catching the next flight so wanted to avoid having to put luggage in the hold.

Ryan air priority boarding is a a scam- as is just the way of saying take a cabin bag and a small bag - No priority is involved as nearly everone on the plane has it ! So its first come first served

Usually they have two stairs, use the rear. One bag goes under your seat and the other above, I've never had an issue getting mine on. Flights aren't always full.

Why are people so against having their bags in the hold?

Last time i flew with Ryanair, there was a queue to board but then loads of people pushed in so we were being handed out stickers to put on our bags for the hold as there would be no space left in the overheads. As a result, the people in front of us argued with the Ryanair staff about how they were first and wanted to put their bags in the overhead lockers not in the hold.

Due to this 'altercation' the staff set them aside and said they wouldn't be boarding at all. They were told to sit at the side like lemons. Eventually the staff said they'd had permission from the pilot (?) to say they could board but this was after 20 mins.

I do wonder how genuine this whole thing was and if it was to teach the rest of us a lesson not to moan at the staff!

I have 2 flights for Ryanair coming up. I hate them but also love their prices so it's a toughy for me🤣

"Why are people so against having their bags in the hold?"

Because they hate hanging around Arrivals waiting for the baggage carousel after the flight? Why would you want to do that if you don't have it? It's usually tedious and can take longer than you think.

Surely two of you board with the cases and two of you follow on later.

@NatMoz

*Due to this 'altercation' the staff set them aside and said they wouldn't be boarding at all. They were told to sit at the side like lemons. Eventually the staff said they'd had permission from the pilot (?) to say they could board but this was after 20 mins.

I do wonder how genuine this whole thing was and if it was to teach the rest of us a lesson not to moan at the staff!*

Sounds fair enough and credible , play stupid games with gate/ground staff etc and you'll win stupid prizes (as in potentially being denied boarding).

Yes maybe. Basically accept your cheap flights but keep quiet and head down!!!

I didn't consider this, so the bags are on mine and dh reservations. Can't leave the dc in the departure lounge

Why are people so against having their bags in the hold?

In our case its because we only have 3 hours from touch down to the next flight departing.

@NatMoz

TBH Not sure it’s simply a case of cheap flight/be grateful/keep your head down.

Kick off at the gate on any airline and you’re at best going to get a time out and the captain (and probably whoever is head of the cabin) are going to be asked if they are willing to accept you onboard.

I fly frequently with Ryanair for work. Book 10kg cabin bag/priority and book seat 2A and get on first if you can. Never had any problems.

I just flew back from Spain yesterday into Stansted with Ryanair who are not my favourite airline. I mistakenly booked my bag (10kg) into the hold on this trip, outward and inward.
I never usually book priority boarding as I think it’s a scam too. I don’t get the rush to get on the plane - it’s not going anywhere until everyone’s on , your seat is reserved and there are quite often people who’s bag goes into the hold anyway as they overbook - I tend to hang back until most people on to avoid the crush.
I self checked my bag at stanstedt which was really quick and then went through security with a shoulder bag. No 100ml stuff to worry about or lug around afterwards. Bag under seat on plane.
Case immediately available at the other end. Out the airport really quick. Same on the flight back. Found it much less hassle and stress free tbh. Will be doing it again.

Flew Ryanair priority this week. It was really good and well managed:
They have 2 queues, priority and regular, and were strict about it. To board the plane they had steps at the front and back so back just means use the rear stairs, not that you will board last. Overhead space was not an issue since most people only had under seat bags and the crew were really strict about pulling these out of the overheads when people tried to place them there.

The only point I’d raise is that if you don’t pay for seats and you are adults then they will deliberately scatter you. And the seats are hard so my arse was sore after only 2 hours which has never happened before even long haul 🤣

Don’t know how old your kids are but they were letting families with babies use the priority line on my flight. Maybe because they had the pram to fold and gate check though? I’d probably try it on with the priority line. Worse they can do is tell you to wait and then you do so politely. But if it reassures you, on my flight no one couldn’t find space. One lady that was one of the last on was struggling and the flight attendant pulled 3 large rucksacks out of the bin and shouted ‘whose bag’ and told the owners they had to be under the seat. So problem solved.

There will be a priority and non priority boarding queue. Just join the priority one.

boarding from the back means you will walk on tarmac to plane and it won’t be an airbridge. Therefore front and back doors will be open for boarding so you go up the back ones.

I fly Ryanair a lot and never not got my priority bags onboard with me.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz the problem you’ll have with only half your party having priority boarding is you’ll need to queue in separate queues and the priority cases can only go on with those in that queue.

Or we can just queue in the non priority?

It's a pain as we don't want priority, we just want cabin suitcases but you cannot add cabin suitcases without priority.

I e never not been able to use the over head locker

Or that! Or maybe you with 1 case in the priority and DH and DC in the non priority. That way you only need to find space for 1 bag.

Thanks everyone for your advice! Normally I wouldnt mind putting my bag in the hold but I'm only away for a night and have medications and a present I want to give to a poorly friend. If my bag went missing it would ruin the trip!

@mondler You can take a small cabin bag and one in the hold can’t you? How much medication are you taking?

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz Can you not get a through flight? You don’t see the luggage again at the hub airport. It just goes through.

@TizerorFizz thanks yeh I'm going to take a small drawstring bag as my rucksack is too big for the underseat measurement. My medication would fit in there (I've read insulin isn't allowed in the hold as it can freeze) but it's more the present I can't risk going missing and that won't fit in my drawstring.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz how old are your children? Are you ok with the fact you likely won't be sitting together?