Ryan Air?
Feb 4th, 2005, 09:05 AM
#21
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I don't think you're comparing like with like.
The budget airlines don't pretend to offer the same service as other carriers - that's why they charge so little.
You can't expect assistance when something goes wrong if you're paying next to nothing to start with - that's the deal.
I've used RyanAir and Easyjet for several years now in preference to scheduled carriers and have never had a cancelled flight - nor any other problem. They've always been pretty punctual too ...
RyanAir is one of the fastest growing airlines in Europe - so they're surely doing something right.
Steve
The budget airlines don't pretend to offer the same service as other carriers - that's why they charge so little.
You can't expect assistance when something goes wrong if you're paying next to nothing to start with - that's the deal.
I've used RyanAir and Easyjet for several years now in preference to scheduled carriers and have never had a cancelled flight - nor any other problem. They've always been pretty punctual too ...
RyanAir is one of the fastest growing airlines in Europe - so they're surely doing something right.
Steve
Feb 4th, 2005, 07:23 PM
#22
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I was in Europe in June and I flew from London to Rome on Easy Jet. It was about $60 roundtrip. I have heard really good things about Ryan Air though. I'd say whichever airline is most cost-effective you should go with.
Feb 4th, 2005, 09:35 PM
#23
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ryanair is fine, but don't expect anything. that's how they keep the fares low...think whatever bugs you about flying normally and then consider them luxuries compared to ryanair. but rome to london was quick and easy.
but it takes a bit of time to get to those secondary airports and it costs a bit as well...so factor that into your overall price. i train london to paris as it's city center to city center.
but it takes a bit of time to get to those secondary airports and it costs a bit as well...so factor that into your overall price. i train london to paris as it's city center to city center.
Feb 7th, 2005, 10:54 PM
#24
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If you do fly Ryan Air be sure to arrive in plenty of time to check in - if they say the gate closes 40 minutes before a flight, they will not let you on the plane if you arrive 39 minutes before. Don't go over on the baggage allowance or you will pay through the nose. Otherwise it's cheap, if not exactly cheerful, and gets you there. What more do you want!
Feb 13th, 2005, 08:28 PM
#25
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We flew to Rome from Stansted last month. Everything went well. It is a no frills flight and prety crowded. You don't get an assigned seat so it is good to be at the front of the line when chcking in if you want to sit with someone else. I am sure our checked luggage was over weight when we left Rome and they did not weigh our carry on, but they didn't say anything. Our flight home was delayed and hour but then my flight home to the States from London on British Airways was 6 hours late. You just have to be prepared and give yourself some extra time if changing flights.
Feb 14th, 2005, 03:30 AM
#26
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>Has anyone ever flown on Ryan Air?
Hello. Yes I have. Ryan air brings all new meaning to cattle class! They don't allocate seats. Attempting to board the plane you can expect:
1) the person behind you to crawl up your arse
2) the person next to you to push in front of you
3) and pretty much everyone else will be jumping on top of each other trying to get on theplane first.
You can also expect constant flight delays (though the longest they've delayed me is 1.5 hours).
Even for a discount airline they're bad.
Not sure where you come from, but in my home country it is illegal to quote a price other than the end price that the consumer will have to pay. When you select a €1 ryan air flight, expect it to cost you at least €50.
Having said that, it's still cheap! Just don't be relying on ryan air to get you to a conncting flight! And since i've prepared you for discomfort you won't be dissapointed =)
Go Ryan Air.
Hello. Yes I have. Ryan air brings all new meaning to cattle class! They don't allocate seats. Attempting to board the plane you can expect:
1) the person behind you to crawl up your arse
2) the person next to you to push in front of you
3) and pretty much everyone else will be jumping on top of each other trying to get on theplane first.
You can also expect constant flight delays (though the longest they've delayed me is 1.5 hours).
Even for a discount airline they're bad.
Not sure where you come from, but in my home country it is illegal to quote a price other than the end price that the consumer will have to pay. When you select a €1 ryan air flight, expect it to cost you at least €50.
Having said that, it's still cheap! Just don't be relying on ryan air to get you to a conncting flight! And since i've prepared you for discomfort you won't be dissapointed =)
Go Ryan Air.
Feb 14th, 2005, 04:29 AM
#27
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I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this but Ryanair's selling point is that they are a "lost cost, no frills" airline. I've flown from Dublin several times and have had no problems. I think they're perfectly fine for short trips in Europe.
Feb 14th, 2005, 06:01 AM
#28
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Ryan Air was looking cheap for Paris to Rome until I noticed it didn't include tax, and, of course, was quoted in Euros. So the 40 euro price tag that looks cheap on line turns into $70+ when taxes are added and it's converted to USD. Still not terribly expensive, but adding up.
Feb 22nd, 2005, 05:14 AM
#29
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>I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this but Ryanair's selling point is that they are a "lost cost, no frills"
Yep but they're also the worst low cost, no frills airline i've ever flown with. How does not allocating seats save them money? It taints the experience and saves them nothing.
My idea of low cost no frills is:
1: No free food in flight
2: Trying to sell stuff to you constantly
3: No in flight entertainment
Anyway, having said that, the choices are pretty much easy jet or ryanair and they're as bad as each other. If you're used to no frills low cost airlines in the US or Australia you will be disapointed with Ryanair.
Yep but they're also the worst low cost, no frills airline i've ever flown with. How does not allocating seats save them money? It taints the experience and saves them nothing.
My idea of low cost no frills is:
1: No free food in flight
2: Trying to sell stuff to you constantly
3: No in flight entertainment
Anyway, having said that, the choices are pretty much easy jet or ryanair and they're as bad as each other. If you're used to no frills low cost airlines in the US or Australia you will be disapointed with Ryanair.
Feb 22nd, 2005, 02:38 PM
#30
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(extract from one of my early posts)
2nd, Ryan (a trip in itself) only flies out of Stanstead, about 1100 miles (3 days) East of London. OK, ok...I exaggerate, but not by much. There's no easy..or cheap..way to get from London to Stanstead before 7am. (Our flight was at something ungodly....like 6am....which meant we had to leave London at 3:30am.... Just try to find a cab in London at 3:30am... (the trains don't start running until something like 6am..)
3rd....Ryan is trés bizarre. Yes...the flight is really cheap...until you add the take-off fare, the co-pilot charge, the crew supplement, the airport tower fee, the take-off fuel suppplement, the landing tax, the Italian pay-off, the union kick-back, the foreign translation charge, the aircraft operation manual printing charge..and, before I forget, the excess baggage charge. Your ticket only allows you to take 27 ounces of weight in addition to your person. Each additional ounce costs about what filet mignon costs. So our one-way ticket to Genoa, at a listed price of something absurd, like $9.00, ended up costing about $125.00(don't quote me on this...I can't actually remember what the true cost was..), which is what a normal airline would charge to go the equivalent distance.
2nd, Ryan (a trip in itself) only flies out of Stanstead, about 1100 miles (3 days) East of London. OK, ok...I exaggerate, but not by much. There's no easy..or cheap..way to get from London to Stanstead before 7am. (Our flight was at something ungodly....like 6am....which meant we had to leave London at 3:30am.... Just try to find a cab in London at 3:30am... (the trains don't start running until something like 6am..)
3rd....Ryan is trés bizarre. Yes...the flight is really cheap...until you add the take-off fare, the co-pilot charge, the crew supplement, the airport tower fee, the take-off fuel suppplement, the landing tax, the Italian pay-off, the union kick-back, the foreign translation charge, the aircraft operation manual printing charge..and, before I forget, the excess baggage charge. Your ticket only allows you to take 27 ounces of weight in addition to your person. Each additional ounce costs about what filet mignon costs. So our one-way ticket to Genoa, at a listed price of something absurd, like $9.00, ended up costing about $125.00(don't quote me on this...I can't actually remember what the true cost was..), which is what a normal airline would charge to go the equivalent distance.
Feb 22nd, 2005, 02:45 PM
#31
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I assume that these most recent rants are intended to be parodies of themselves. I <b><i>love</i></b> Ryanair, and I owe it to them to have seen many parts of Europe which I might otherwise not have been able to visit.
Best wishes,
Rex
Best wishes,
Rex
Feb 23rd, 2005, 04:46 AM
#32
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I have to agree with Rex on this one.
RyanAir - and EasyJet (- and others ...) are the best thing since sliced bread IMO
I am perfectly happy to put up with any minor inconvenience to travel roundtrip to Italy for £30.00, instead of the £150-200+ which BA, Alitalia et al were happy to charge me little more than a decade ago.
On a shorthaul flight I don't need an inflight meal, allocated seat ... or any of the other minor extras for which scheduled airlines justify charging double, treble or more.
As for punctuality, I have flown with both many times now - and have more often arrived early than late.
I think their punctuality is better than many scheduled airlines ...
Steve
RyanAir - and EasyJet (- and others ...) are the best thing since sliced bread IMO
I am perfectly happy to put up with any minor inconvenience to travel roundtrip to Italy for £30.00, instead of the £150-200+ which BA, Alitalia et al were happy to charge me little more than a decade ago.
On a shorthaul flight I don't need an inflight meal, allocated seat ... or any of the other minor extras for which scheduled airlines justify charging double, treble or more.
As for punctuality, I have flown with both many times now - and have more often arrived early than late.
I think their punctuality is better than many scheduled airlines ...
Steve
Feb 23rd, 2005, 05:27 AM
#33
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Ryanair may not be convenient for the international traveller with lots if luggage but it never was intended to seek this market. It has changed travel for us all in Europe. Business travel is cheap and more efficient by ordering tix on the web. As well most of us don't need heavy luggage requirements if we are flying off to a weekend away or a holiday home in another country. These are their customers as well as many who commute during the week to Paris, London or Dublin. I worked with several people who did this and spent the week in Dublin and went home to London the weekend.
Feb 23rd, 2005, 05:52 PM
#35
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we've never flown ryan air but know lots of people who have taken advantage of their really cheap fares and been happy with the deal.
we did however take easyjet belfast-luton and luton to athens and found it perfectly fine. i don't particularly want airline food so didn't mind paying for a coffee or two. and i actually liked the seats not being allocated - you just pick wherever you want to sit and there you are. on our flight back from athens stellious (the owner of easyjet) was in the queue to board too and just did the whole routine we paying passengers did. no big deal at all.
one warning though. DO NOT arrive late for your check in time. you will not get on - they have a 20 minute turnaround time on the tarmac to save airport costs.
easyjet now fly into cork and shannon in ireland along with belfast.
we did however take easyjet belfast-luton and luton to athens and found it perfectly fine. i don't particularly want airline food so didn't mind paying for a coffee or two. and i actually liked the seats not being allocated - you just pick wherever you want to sit and there you are. on our flight back from athens stellious (the owner of easyjet) was in the queue to board too and just did the whole routine we paying passengers did. no big deal at all.
one warning though. DO NOT arrive late for your check in time. you will not get on - they have a 20 minute turnaround time on the tarmac to save airport costs.
easyjet now fly into cork and shannon in ireland along with belfast.
Feb 24th, 2005, 12:05 AM
#36
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>one warning though. DO NOT arrive late for your check in time. you will not get on - they have a 20 minute turnaround time on the tarmac to save airport costs.
Yep. Even if the flight is delayed by an hour they still won't let you through. I know someone who showed up 5 mins late for the same flight I was catching. I was sitting in the terminal at luton for over an hour due to a flight delay. They weren't allowed through.
Yep. Even if the flight is delayed by an hour they still won't let you through. I know someone who showed up 5 mins late for the same flight I was catching. I was sitting in the terminal at luton for over an hour due to a flight delay. They weren't allowed through.
