Transfer time at Stansted for Ryanair
May 8th, 2004 | 11:46 AM
#1
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Joined: May 2004
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Transfer time at Stansted for Ryanair
I plan on flying Ryanair to Rome from Dublin via Stansted, and I needed to know how much time to allow at Stansted for the transfer.
Can I assume that Ryanair will transfer or bags since both legs are with them, or is that assuming too much?
Can I assume that Ryanair will transfer or bags since both legs are with them, or is that assuming too much?
May 8th, 2004 | 12:43 PM
#2
Joined: Oct 2003
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Hi rightted,
The first point to note is that Ryanair is a "point to point" airline. This means that the two legs of your trip will be treated as completely separate journeys & so it will be up to you to collect your bags at Stansted from the Dublin flight & then check in again for the flight to Rome. It also means that if your flight from Dublin is delayed for any reason Ryanair will not be responsible for making alternative arrangements should you miss your Rome flight.
As Ryanair's check in closes 40 minutes before departure I think you should be looking to give yourelf around 90 minutes minimum between the flights & longer if possible.
Jim
The first point to note is that Ryanair is a "point to point" airline. This means that the two legs of your trip will be treated as completely separate journeys & so it will be up to you to collect your bags at Stansted from the Dublin flight & then check in again for the flight to Rome. It also means that if your flight from Dublin is delayed for any reason Ryanair will not be responsible for making alternative arrangements should you miss your Rome flight.
As Ryanair's check in closes 40 minutes before departure I think you should be looking to give yourelf around 90 minutes minimum between the flights & longer if possible.
Jim
May 8th, 2004 | 12:46 PM
#3
Joined: Feb 2004
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It's been well documented that Ryanair does not do connections. It's stated on its website. That means
- they don't transfer bags
- they don't issue connecting boarding pass
- you need to go through UK immigration
- you still need to arrive at check-in desk 40 minutes prior
- if you miss the flight because of delay of the first flight, you need to buy a new ticket
- they don't transfer bags
- they don't issue connecting boarding pass
- you need to go through UK immigration
- you still need to arrive at check-in desk 40 minutes prior
- if you miss the flight because of delay of the first flight, you need to buy a new ticket
May 8th, 2004 | 11:13 PM
#4
Joined: Apr 2003
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Small point for the record. All the above is true, but you don't go through UK immigration. The UK and the ROI are a common travel area. There's a police control desk as you come off ROI flights, which is normally unmanned. Occasionally, usually when there's a terrorist threat, it'll be manned and you'll be asked to show ID. But I've never known it take any time.
BUT Stansted baggage claim is the real difficulty. There have been claims in the UK travel press of delays up to 90 minutes. How isolated these cases are isn't clear (neither Ryanair nor the airport company are being straightforward about this). But I'd allow at least 2 hours: there's no doubt Stansted has London's worst baggage clearance.
BUT Stansted baggage claim is the real difficulty. There have been claims in the UK travel press of delays up to 90 minutes. How isolated these cases are isn't clear (neither Ryanair nor the airport company are being straightforward about this). But I'd allow at least 2 hours: there's no doubt Stansted has London's worst baggage clearance.
May 8th, 2004 | 11:24 PM
#5
Joined: Jun 2003
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It sounds like one could be faced with the need to abandon the wait for one's luggage at the baggage claim in order to make the next flight.
Suppose you do that and your bag ultimately does arrive at the baggage claim. Will Ryanair send it along to you? (Ha, ha, ha, I'm sure some people are thinking.)
How long are you reasonably expected to wait for your luggage?
Suppose you do that and your bag ultimately does arrive at the baggage claim. Will Ryanair send it along to you? (Ha, ha, ha, I'm sure some people are thinking.)
How long are you reasonably expected to wait for your luggage?
May 9th, 2004 | 03:05 AM
#6
Original Poster
Joined: May 2004
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Looks like Ryanair is not worth the hassle for this trip.
Now I'll have to post about easyjet from Belfast to Rome via Luton, unless anyone here can provide advice. I've flown easyjet from point-to-point, but never with a connection. Are they similar to Ryanair in that they don't transfer luggage, etc.?
Now I'll have to post about easyjet from Belfast to Rome via Luton, unless anyone here can provide advice. I've flown easyjet from point-to-point, but never with a connection. Are they similar to Ryanair in that they don't transfer luggage, etc.?
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May 9th, 2004 | 05:01 AM
#8
Joined: Jan 2003
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rightted,
In case you haven't seen it, I posted to your other thread re: Alitalia. There are 2 other carriers on the nonstop Dublin-Rome route: Aer Lingus and JetGreen.
www.aerlingus.com
www.flyjetgreen.com
If you are travelling one way only, JetGreen has a fare of EUR 105.71 all in (EUR 89 base fare) for this route on some random dates in October. Aer Lingus has a EUR 99 base fare, but for round trip travel only, except for Tue, when one way is allowed (can you believe it??)
Hope this helps,
Andre
In case you haven't seen it, I posted to your other thread re: Alitalia. There are 2 other carriers on the nonstop Dublin-Rome route: Aer Lingus and JetGreen.
www.aerlingus.com
www.flyjetgreen.com
If you are travelling one way only, JetGreen has a fare of EUR 105.71 all in (EUR 89 base fare) for this route on some random dates in October. Aer Lingus has a EUR 99 base fare, but for round trip travel only, except for Tue, when one way is allowed (can you believe it??)
Hope this helps,
Andre
May 13th, 2004 | 02:55 AM
#12
Joined: May 2004
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<a href="http://washingtontimes.com/business/...t;>JetGreen has collapsed</a> and won't be paying passengers any compensation.
I've transferred in Stansted with Ryanair (Dublin-Stansted-Perpignan) and I wouldn't recommend it, it just isn't worth it. You need to be looking at leaving at least 3-4 hours on the connection and spend most of the day travelling. If you must do it, leave this amount of time, and only bring hand baggage (we did only have hand baggage and still nearly missed the connection). Note that flights are more likely to be delayed at the end of the day than the start, so you'll have a better chance in the morning than the evening. My father went to Milan and missed the connection on the way back, and had to find a hotel in Stansted for the night *and* buy a new ticket back to Dublin. This cost him a small fortune (far more than it would have cost to fly direct with Aer Lingus or Alitalia).
I flew to Rome with Aer Lingus last year for around €100. YMMV. IIRC, the fast train from Milan to Rome only takes 3 hours and it can be easy to get a cheap (direct) flight to Milan (although it too can be delayed – there was an hour delay when we were there.) You’d be better off doing that than trying to transfer through Stansted. Also note that as you are not doing an official transfer you have to pay the full airport handling fees/taxes in and out of Stansted (twice) that are particularly expensive in UK airports since the abolition of duty free (not to mention paying Ryanair’s booking charges/wheelchair levy twice.)
Ryanair are a great point to point airline and have done great things for air travel in Europe (just back from their new route to Reus) but they themselves strongly recommend that you not attempt transfers with them for a reason. I’d take that advice.
I've transferred in Stansted with Ryanair (Dublin-Stansted-Perpignan) and I wouldn't recommend it, it just isn't worth it. You need to be looking at leaving at least 3-4 hours on the connection and spend most of the day travelling. If you must do it, leave this amount of time, and only bring hand baggage (we did only have hand baggage and still nearly missed the connection). Note that flights are more likely to be delayed at the end of the day than the start, so you'll have a better chance in the morning than the evening. My father went to Milan and missed the connection on the way back, and had to find a hotel in Stansted for the night *and* buy a new ticket back to Dublin. This cost him a small fortune (far more than it would have cost to fly direct with Aer Lingus or Alitalia).
I flew to Rome with Aer Lingus last year for around €100. YMMV. IIRC, the fast train from Milan to Rome only takes 3 hours and it can be easy to get a cheap (direct) flight to Milan (although it too can be delayed – there was an hour delay when we were there.) You’d be better off doing that than trying to transfer through Stansted. Also note that as you are not doing an official transfer you have to pay the full airport handling fees/taxes in and out of Stansted (twice) that are particularly expensive in UK airports since the abolition of duty free (not to mention paying Ryanair’s booking charges/wheelchair levy twice.)
Ryanair are a great point to point airline and have done great things for air travel in Europe (just back from their new route to Reus) but they themselves strongly recommend that you not attempt transfers with them for a reason. I’d take that advice.
May 13th, 2004 | 05:23 AM
#14
Joined: Jan 2003
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I fly Ryanair a lot and you can get stuck on a connection in Stanstead...they are more difficult I feel at Stanstead than any other Airport.
Last May I flew back from Milan to Stanstead and we were to check in to our flight for Dublin. The luggage was delayed ny 50 minutes...I started to get very ill from food I has at the previous airport and the snotty information lady (I use the term loosely) told me I should leave more time when I went to check out the baggage prob. We has LOADS of time but the delay made everything tight.
When we finally got our bags and arrived to check in to the Dublin flight she did not want to check us in but another girl started to already and then they took a small case with wine and made us check it in. They did not do this in Italy....I am still sick at this point and we ran 10-15 minutes to the plane. We just made it from the looks on the crews face and I nearly died...well all that rush and there were still people coming in after us and we did not move for 1/2 hour. It was the only problem I ever had with them but they are bloody tough and will not cut you any slack.
Usually from Ireland you do not have to go through customs but I lost my Irish Passport and was travelling on my U.S. one. We did go through some sort of checkpoint (returning from Italy) and I had the explain why I have been in europe so long from the date on my passport (I am legal but it looks like I am not from the U.S. passport). The woman actally had the same name as me....weird. This did delay me a bit so maybe its just occasional but be prepared to stop for this.
Last May I flew back from Milan to Stanstead and we were to check in to our flight for Dublin. The luggage was delayed ny 50 minutes...I started to get very ill from food I has at the previous airport and the snotty information lady (I use the term loosely) told me I should leave more time when I went to check out the baggage prob. We has LOADS of time but the delay made everything tight.
When we finally got our bags and arrived to check in to the Dublin flight she did not want to check us in but another girl started to already and then they took a small case with wine and made us check it in. They did not do this in Italy....I am still sick at this point and we ran 10-15 minutes to the plane. We just made it from the looks on the crews face and I nearly died...well all that rush and there were still people coming in after us and we did not move for 1/2 hour. It was the only problem I ever had with them but they are bloody tough and will not cut you any slack.
Usually from Ireland you do not have to go through customs but I lost my Irish Passport and was travelling on my U.S. one. We did go through some sort of checkpoint (returning from Italy) and I had the explain why I have been in europe so long from the date on my passport (I am legal but it looks like I am not from the U.S. passport). The woman actally had the same name as me....weird. This did delay me a bit so maybe its just occasional but be prepared to stop for this.
