Ryanair really are going to charge to use the loo (& take out 2 of the 3 on each plane)

[Ponders]

credit card slots on the doors???

"We are flying aircraft on an average flight time of one hour around Europe. What the hell do we need three toilets for?" (er - 2 or more people on the same flight with upset stomachs maybe? )

'Boeing's research department would now be able to work on the toilet concept because "war in Iraq and Afghanistan is winding down".'


People have got to stop using Ryanair however cheap they are

[ladylush]

Disgusting. I won't fly with them. On principle.

[FairyMum]

The problem is with expectations. You cannot fly Ryanair and expect the cabin crew to smile. Last time I flew with them they were shouting at me. I really don't mind. I don't want to pay £100 more for my ticket to get a smile from a flight attendant. I think Ryanair is for frequent flyers. People who are really used to flying and treat it as they would a train journey.

[trixymalixy]

When they first brought out the priority boarding, you got it free if you checked in on line, so most of the pane was in the priority boarding queue and there was about 10 people in the plebs queue.

I totally brass necked it and walked up to the front of the queue with my 6 month old and said there had been a tannoy announcement about people who needed assistance and they let me through first .

It's not so bad now they charge everyone for priority boarding.

I just don't understand why they don't just charge for a seat number, I would quite happily pay £10 for an allocated seat.

Easyjet's system is so much better in that they do allow people with children or who need assistance to baord first. It's just common courtsey IMO which is why I hate Ryanair so much.

I think O'Leary has even gone as far as saying that he wants to disourage people with kids to use Ryanair. That seems mad to me because last time I flew with them my baby's fare was more than mine AND he didn't get a baggage allowance!!!

[Ponders]

Separate buses for the goats & sheep? That makes more sense.

Excellent point about the stampede DB (I have done that, though not with duty frees, just food, but we were paged & got some very dirty looks when we got on)

[DamonBradleylovesPippi]

recently the priority boarding ones get into the bus on their own, which makes sense.
I reckon he doesn't do that because they want the stampede so that the plane fills up quickly and they stay on time. If you know you've got your own seat you are going to take your time in the shops like the olden days when you'd see people strolling into the plane after half an hour full of duty free bags.

[Ponders]

and if there's a bus out to the plane you only get onto the bus first - what happens at the aircraft steps is anybody's guess.

bmibaby let you book your seats, for about £8 each (more for the ones with extra legroom) - dunno why O'Leary doesn't do that.

[DamonBradleylovesPippi]

I haven't flown with a 'proper' airline in years so I wouldn't know how better they fare tbh. I guess they are better and more helpful etc but with two children travelling literally across london to get to the airport plus again 2 hours car drive seems to me worse than ryanair bustrip, which again as long as you do not expect business class travel it's fine-ish.

Priority boarding is already a joke tbh as about half buy it so if you want to get in first you still have to queue like the olden days.

[Morloth]

I would never ever fly on a Budget airline, heard too many stories from friends etc.

If we can't afford the flights on a "proper" airline then we don't go. This has happened a few times, but thems the breaks.

[GetOrfMoiLand]

Iam sure though one day everyone on the flight will have paid for priority boarding - I would like to see the scrum when that happens!

I fly with Ryanair quite a bit as they are the only international flights which go to Rodez in France. Plus I generally get to fly for pennies. As long as you know (a) you must NOT go over 15kilos per nag or they charge you a king's ransom, you also cannot pool your bagggage allowance with your families like every other airline (b) the food is extorionate and disgusting so take your own or do without and (c) you will be herded like sheep it's fine. It is emphatically not like flying with any other airline, but as long as you're forwarned it's not too much of an issue.

Stand by my post above, I very much doubt that the loos will be taken out, it will cost more to reconfigure the plane than he will ever gain in revenue from seats/loo charges. It is just his way of getting in the papers and everyone talking about his planes.

[FairyMum]

I have never had any more problems with Ryanair than with other airlines. Always pay for priority boarding. Basically, if you fly Ryanair you have to know what you are letting yourself in for. I often fly for £20 return with them. You can get some amazing bargains.

[hellywobs]

And they really aren't that cheap. BA are so much better!

[hellywobs]

So what happens if you vomit or your child pees in the aisle? Will they then get you arrested at the other end for dispoiling the aircraft? Anyone who flies with them is mad. I never have and never will (unless I got stranded somewhere and they were the only way out).

[MrsGuyOfGisbourne]

HAve not read whole thread (or ever travelled on RA for all the reasons stated) but I have heard that in China when they have to make long journeys and the trains are jampacked so no-on can get to loo everyone (really!) wears nappies

[MadameDefarge]

I have a love/hate thing about Ryanair. Have sworn many times never to use them again, but found myself booking them again yesterday for a week in Majorca for me and ds, as they were the only flights available at a reasonable hour for a child travelling, and cheaper.

I know I will pay for it in another manner, but could not face trying to get an 8 year old to stanstead for four o'clock in the morning, or arriving in majorca at midnight...those being the choices for any reasonably priced seats with other companies.

[trixymalixy]

Lol, people will just pee in bottles and leave them under the seats leaving Mr O'Leary with higher cleaning bills and turnaround times as his planes start to smell of wee and worse!!

[julesrose]

I was thinking about Ryan Air yesterday for I don't know what reason. Easy Jet man (is it Stavros?) is so Mr Nice Guy, all warm and cuddly, it seems O'Leary is taken the opposite stance just to be different. I wonder if it is a business thing - having to stand out from your competitors. It is mighty strange as he's so obviously despised...

[Portofino]

I used to love them, but now think they are taking the piss! I don't mind paying extra for a defined seat, but bollocks to paying just to go on the plane first! Especially with a small child. And all the other rubbish. I really hope people vote with their feet - their profits are already vastly down.

[LightShinesInTheDarkness]

Thanks, DBlP. I have taken out an Annual Cover policy with AMEX, which does cover cancellation, lost baggage etc.

Not much I can do about it all now though - will just have to grin and bear it!

[DamonBradleylovesPippi]

Oh yes you can take your own food although I bet this is going to be the next O'Leary big idea and you must. It's about 3.5 pounds (sorry haven't got the pound sign on this sodding laptop) for a coffe or a fiver for any sandwich and rubbish too.

I fly with them every two months (apologies for carbon footprints but kids need grandparents and extended family and friends) with kids in tow and they are always on time and like I said a good bus service as long as this is what you expect. If you expect flying like the old golden days in BA you are in for a stomac ulcer. I got cancelled once and yes it is a nightmare as Ryanair just leaves you there with little of no info and zero help. But it did happen once in 7 years I fly with them. If you have travel insurance you should at least get the money back. We didn't and we only managed to get them back through the irish small claim court.

[SJisontheway]

I think they're OK. Good safety record - usually cheap, no frills. However I do not trust them and never use them if I HAVE to be somewher (connecting flight etc.) They cancelled a flight on me once too. Just about got on a later one. Mind you I've flown with them dozens of times and the rest of the times have gone smoothly.

[OmicronPersei8]

The best bit was when they were all asked if they would be willing to fly on a plane with no working toilets (1 or 2 hour flight), the alternative being to go on the next flight... in a week's time. Everyone put their hands up to go (and cross their legs). They then got on the plane and sat there for an hour. My dad spoke to the captain and pointed out that the longer they waited, the less likely it would be that they could keep their promise.

My dad then made a joke about sending the drinks trolley round. But then that's just my dad, really!

[LightShinesInTheDarkness]

DBlP - do you mean you can actually take your own sandwiches and drinks and stuff on the plane?

OP8 - now you are really scaring me.

[OmicronPersei8]

My parents (both retired) had a Ryanair flight cancelled, coming back to the UK after a holiday last week. The smallish airport they were at closed at 1.30am and they were taken off the plane at 12.30am. They were lucky to find a hotel (but had to share their room) but some people had to sleep on the streets.

There was no help from Ryanair. The reason for the cancelled flight? The toilet was out of order.

[Ponders]

(NB that was one of their no taxes deals)