Ryanair - My Doctor's Opinion

[Renato1]

A while back I noticed that Ryanair operates out of Venice-Treviso airport and seemed to have quite a few interesting direct flights. So I did a Google search of "Ryanair review" and came up with litanies of pure venom, interspersed with a few comments of "So long as you just read all the rules, and follow them, Ryanair are okay/good".

That didn't seem very positive, so keeping in mind the complaints I'd just read, I read all of Ryanair's rules. The biggest complaints were being charged a 100 Euros to change the name on the ticket to that on the passport (i.e. someone writing Mick instead of Michael) and 50 Euros to print out a boarding pass.

So I bit the bullet and booked an upcoming return flight with Ryanair from Treviso to Budapest for me and my wife. And I paid an extra 11 euros each, each way, to pick the best seats at the front. Though it all cost more than I thought, because their website only allowed for them to convert to AUD at a lousy rate and charge me, rather than just charging the amount in Euros to my credit card.

And then a few days later I went to see my GP to get test results of my annual test. My Doctor and I are always discussing travel at each visit.

In sharp contrast to the internet reviews I had read, his opinion of Ryanair is that they are great. Really great. He said, so long as you pay extra for the premium seats, they treat you really well compared to the budget travellers down the back of the plane. And he thought other carriers like Wizz Air were excellent too - provided one pays the extra money.

I found his opinion on my travel to be very comforting, and removed some of the trepidation I'd been having.

Though I recently discovered another catch which was strangely missing in the internet reviews. Ryanair allows 10kgs of carry-on luggage - which I thought was very generous. So I only booked for one piece of check-in luggage at 20kg, figuring that the combined 40kgs between the two of us would be enough for a week in Budapest. Then some weeks later something niggled at the back of my head, and I looked up the allowable size of carry-on luggage. And when I did so, it's about the smallest size wheeled luggage one can buy - which is very hard to get more than four or five kilos of normal stuff into - so that Ryanair is very good if one wants to carry lead bars on one's travels. So now I have to go spend extra money for another 20kg piece of check-in luggage (well, we could have done without it technically, but my wife said "Where are the souvenirs going to go?")

Does anyone else have any thoughts or experience of Ryanair?
Regards,
Renato

 

[Deleted member]

I've not used them. But flew Easy jet LHR - NCE. Low expectations were met when only one of 3 bags arrived. I'm not a fan of LCC's. Rather than save on airfare I would rather drive or train ( ocean crossings notwithstanding )

Edit: the other issue is the airports they use. I just recall flying Easy jet to Rome . NEVER again. cough arrival times. cough transport options. And frankly low class (lager louts) bums as travelling companions.

 

[moa999]

Just flew Monarch LGW-NCE.. And boy Gatwick is a cough airport, apart from the duty free which looks amazing.

Put simply, much like JQ and TT follow the rules and you will be fine.

For Monarch I queued about 20min to check in (at 5.05am). Was all fairly efficient but both check and carry were weighed (don't think dimensions were worried about).. Easy looked like they had some automated check in and bag drop for those who had done online (query if it could handle AU passport)

 

[blackcat20]

I've not used them. But flew Easy jet LHR - NCE. Low expectations were met when only one of 3 bags arrived. I'm not a fan of LCC's. Rather than save on airfare I would rather drive or train ( ocean crossings notwithstanding )

Edit: the other issue is the airports they use. I just recall flying Easy jet to Rome . NEVER again. cough arrival times. cough transport options. And frankly low class (lager louts) bums as travelling companions.

I did easy jet Paris to Rome and thought it was fine. Got me there on time, in one piece and with luggage. Like they say, follow the rules and you'll be fine.

 

[Anna]

I've flown Easyjet and Ryanair when there was no other choice, and they were ok. But LCCs are always my last preference because of the appalling treatment you can get from them if something goes wrong, eg flight delays, cancellations etc.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Having flown dozens of flights on Ryanair & Easyjet..... I can safely say that I survived them all.

However, I'm of the firm opinion whether one loves or hates Our own LCC's here in Australia, they are a step up from pretty much all of the LCC's based in Europe.

Easyjet ( Luton & Gatwick hubs) & Jet2 ( Manchester & Newcastle hubs) are very good IMHO.

 

[Alanslegal]

Have flown Easyjet and a handful of other LCCs around the world, I have had no issues with neither of them. As long as you read the T&Cs finely and pay for what you need before getting to the airport, then no issues at all.

 

[anat0l]

As with almost every LCC, Ryanair is not much different, and many here are spot on. If you read the rules and are aware of the charges applicable, you'll be alright.

Realise you're not getting much for your money except a quicker bus ride (pretty much literally, otherwise the route by road would take considerably several more hours).

You don't really have people who are enamoured with LCCs (hell, anyone in love with any full cost carrier, really?). They are a boon for Europe and Asia as they have both enabled people who wouldn't normally have a chance to afford to fly to do so, plus many regional airports (or even smaller "main" airports) have been able to benefit from air traffic and tourists thanks to LCCs. That all said, you have some who have had a sour experience with an airline and swear them off so help them. Happens with Jetstar, Tiger... can also happen with Ryanair (or even Easyjet for that matter).

Sometimes the sour experience is more to do with not realising the conditions of travel or being charged for something they weren't aware of. A popular one on the LCCs in Europe is people who haven't read all the allowances for their carry-on - e.g. number of pieces, size and weight - and then being pulled up at the gate for it. Another one is not printing your boarding pass in advance of arriving at the airport, then having to do it at the airport - the latter incurs a large fee.

I think there's a greater acceptance of LCCs in Europe compared to Australia. Someone who gets charged for not following the LCC rules in Australia is usually sympathised because the airlines are greedy and unfair. In Europe, it's more likely that a person who is charged for something they didn't know is simply a poor idiot who didn't do their homework, i.e. such is the price of stupidity. As for cancellations and schedule changes, they are a problem no matter if it's a full service or low cost carrier. At least in Europe, there is the regulation to provide some protection, though exacting your rights in the case of irregular operations can depend on carrier (including Ryanair or other LCCs) and the jurisdiction you are currently in.

Bottom line - I've flown Ryanair twice before and they got me to where I want, on time, and no more or less. The rules have changed, but back then it was strictly one piece of cabin baggage per passenger, max 10 kg. So I made sure it fit that, or used tricks (e.g. filling up pockets in a coat). The price I paid each way was about that for a decent main course at a mid-priced restaurant, i.e. pretty much bargain basement fares, so what can you expect, really?

 

[Mr_Orange]

I flew Ryanair once, many years ago. It made Easyjet look like Virgin Upper Class. 'Nuff said!

 

[knasty]

I'm glad I read this thread. I have a Ryanair flight as part of a Europe trip in a couple of weeks. I elected not to buy checkin luggage as I can easily travel for 5 days with a 'normal' carry on bag. But yes these dimensions are definitely not normal hence I will be handwashing by day 3 now...

 

[BD1959]

Flew them EMA/DUB/EMA once.

Flights were on-time. Was amazed at the advertising blast: from the posters on the outside of the bins to the cabin ad announcements ... It was like I'd stepped into a Channel-9 Ad break and was unable to get out. Found the inability to print return BPs while travelling a bit of a bind - had already paid to airport check-in.

Survived!

Regards,

BD

 

[Deleted member]

which airport in Rome? the one where there is plenty of transport options? or the one where you land at midnight and there are no taxis , busses etc? and its Bl**dy miles from the city?

 

[mannej]

which airport in Rome? the one where there is plenty of transport options? or the one where you land at midnight and there are no taxis , busses etc? and its Bl**dy miles from the city?

CIA is closer to Rome as a city compared to FCO is it not?

 

[openseat]

CIA is closer to Rome as a city compared to FCO is it not?

Closer, but public transport is not as good.

 

[dajop]

Haven't done Ryanair, but have done Easyjet a couple of times and Vueling, both were OK. Easyjet is very strict with the number of pieces of hand luggage (you can't take a handbag + carry on, it has to go into the carry on). But there is no weight limit on carry on only size limit which is certainly very management with international carry on (56x45x25cm).

 

[VPS]

I've flown Ryanair about five times and they aren't the greatest but if it's only an hour flight it's fine - yes do read all the rules - although you can take 10kg of luggage on, the truth is they only allow a certain number of carry on and even if it's under the size and weight requirements they will still put it in the hold - if you've paid for upfront tickets you should be fine - the other thing is that even if you only have carry on and don't have an EU passport you must check in at the desk because otherwise they won't let you board (friends personal experience). When I flew MAN to DUB you had to go up and down quite a few steps after standing in line for over an hour so not for anyone with mobility issues. I would certainly fly them and Easyjet again if the schedule and costs suited

 

[Renato1]

Rather than save on airfare I would rather drive or train ( ocean crossings notwithstanding )

I'd rather have driven to Budapest too. But the car hire companies won't let me drive to Budapest (it would have been only a short drive from Salzberg, where I am driving to). Then I checked the not-inexpensive train trips from Venice to Budapest - it's a longish overnight trip, and the reviews were even worse than for Ryanair. I decided that my wife would kill me if I'd booked that.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

I've flown Easyjet and Ryanair when there was no other choice, and they were ok. But LCCs are always my last preference because of the appalling treatment you can get from them if something goes wrong, eg flight delays, cancellations etc.

Yes, I was worried about flight cancellations too. My travel agent said she thought that I was travelling at close enough to peak period that they shouldn't be a problem. But just in case, I booked on a days when there is a flight going the next day - as I didn't want to get stranded for five days in Budapest.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

Having flown dozens of flights on Ryanair & Easyjet..... I can safely say that I survived them all.

However, I'm of the firm opinion whether one loves or hates Our own LCC's here in Australia, they are a step up from pretty much all of the LCC's based in Europe.

Interesting perspective, thanks.
Renato

 

[Renato1]

Just flew Monarch LGW-NCE.. And boy Gatwick is a cough airport, apart from the duty free which looks amazing.

I've often wondered what Gatwick was like. Now I know. Thanks.
Renato