Ryanair - Grrrrrr.

The_Conductor · 16-08-2004 10:40AM

gobby wrote:

Anyone ever tried this? I'm not sure if they would be looking out for people that do this and I really cant afford to lose a flight!

I brought 2 10litre kegs of beer from a private brewery in Freiberg on an Aerlingus flight from Frankfurt in hand luggage (in a regular sized but unusually bulky shaped backpack). It was put through the x-ray machine and I was quized a little, but let go. I did not have the hmmm zapfanlage with me- the thingy for siphoning off the beer- so it was obvious I wasn't going to drink it. My hand luggage weighed in excess of 25Kg. It did still fit in the baggage test thing- with a bit of force, which is why I was let away with it I think.

parsi · 16-08-2004 10:58AM

smccarrick wrote:

Ok- my bitch about Ryanair- is that they quote ridiculous flight times for their flights, so that they can delibertly have amazing statistics for flights arriving on time (note: early is considered ontime). In a sample of 25 consecutive flights between London Stansted and Carcassonne (south of France) the average flight time was 47 minutes shorter than advertised, and the flights landed on average 22 minutes before schedulded (the difference being flights taking off late). Thats an extremely dupliticious manner of having brilliant flight statistics......

Probably - but it does have the advantage of there being a great chance that the plane will arrive at the scheduled time which is what you use when making arrangements to be met or get a train or whatever...

The_Conductor · 16-08-2004 11:05AM

parsi wrote:

Probably - but it does have the advantage of there being a great chance that the plane will arrive at the scheduled time which is what you use when making arrangements to be met or get a train or whatever...

One way of looking at it- another is waiting for 40 minutes in 38 degrees centigrade heat in a converted hanger without airconditioning in the middle of the Mediterranean while your friends take their sweet time arriving to collect you.......

Victor · 16-08-2004 04:20PM

gobby wrote:

I was thinking though, whats to stop someone from taking some of the heavier things out of hand luggage bag, stashing the stuff somewhere, getting the bag weighed and then just go back and put your things back into the bag!? I have a quite a few cd's with me and a hdd. Together they weigh a couple of kilos. I was thining of even just putting them in my pockets at the check in desk and then when I'm past it just put the cd's and hdd back into my bag.

Ryanair are covered for this, everthing has to be included in the weight, including the boxers you are wearing at time of check-in.

parsi wrote:

Probably - but it does have the advantage of there being a great chance that the plane will arrive at the scheduled time which is what you use when making arrangements to be met or get a train or whatever...

Or alternatively, they loose customers because the scheduled arrival is too late.

simu · 16-08-2004 04:49PM

What can I say - they're annoying but they're cheap(ish). It's good that they're there as an option but in many instances and especially if you're booking well ahead of time, I find it's less hassle to use Aer Lingus/Air France or other more traditional airlines.

The_Conductor · 16-08-2004 05:42PM

simu wrote:

What can I say - they're annoying but they're cheap(ish). It's good that they're there as an option but in many instances and especially if you're booking well ahead of time, I find it's less hassle to use Aer Lingus/Air France or other more traditional airlines.

You said it Simu- I agree 100%
Now that Aerlingus have mostly gotten their act together, and we have Cityjet for France etc- we do have options- something that was in serious constraint previously.

Btw- a tiny little press release winged its way across my desk earlier- Air Luxor are pulling out of both Ireland and the UK on competition grounds. They are claiming they are unable to fairly compete on specified routes and are closing all their UK operations as of 30/09/04 and all their Irish operations as of 31/10/04, with no plans to reinstate their services in the new year. All passengers with bookings are to be accomodated on schedulded flights from other carriers.......

Why do I get a sense of deja vu?

Shane

Trojan · 16-08-2004 05:47PM

gobby wrote:

I've flown in and out of Frankfurt Main with AerLingus for about €200 return. My final destination was also Darmstadt. I have also visited Darmstadt but flying with Ryanair. Trust me, Aer Lingus bring you way closer. Ryanair's idea of Frankfurt isnt even Frankfurt! Its a 3 hour bus journey away from Frankfurt Hbf. Which is the last thing you could want after having to make a stopover in London.

Actually, I have taken this route once the AerLingus way but maybe three or four times with Ryanair. Baxtards are just so goddamn cheap.

Curious, what were ye at in Darmstadt? (I lived there for a while)

I used to work for Software AG (in Dublin).

tovalee · 16-08-2004 09:59PM

smccarrick wrote:

Re: your list of prohibited items above- last time I checked Laser devices they were not ballistic. Ballistic relates to the motion of items under their own momentum and the force of gravity- i.e. it definitively does not apply to "light".......
Shane

I dunno, I copied and pasted right out of the list, that particular item was listed under Guns Firearms and Weapons.. here

gobby · 17-08-2004 08:01AM

Trojan wrote:

I used to work for Software AG (in Dublin).

Hmmm... Haven't heard of them. Are they anything to do with Continental AG?

Did ye spend much time in An Sibin? Great spot...

The_Conductor · 17-08-2004 08:20AM

tovalee wrote:

I dunno, I copied and pasted right out of the list, that particular item was listed under Guns Firearms and Weapons.. here

Hmmm- paranoia on the part of Ryanair.....
Lasers are definitively not firearms- and I'd love to see someone manage to lift a laser device of sufficient strength to be used as a weapon...... Unless you threw it at someone......

Then again- reading their terms and conditions they make a massive hullabullooo about "laser controlled devices"..... What are these guys- in the stone age?

Imposter · 17-08-2004 08:25AM

Victor wrote:

Ryanair are covered for this, everthing has to be included in the weight, including the boxers you are wearing at time of check-in.

How exactly can they do this? Unless of course they way every single person before getting on the flight and only allow people under a certain weight on. Now that would be funny.

The_Conductor · 17-08-2004 09:02AM

Imposter wrote:

How exactly can they do this? Unless of course they way every single person before getting on the flight and only allow people under a certain weight on. Now that would be funny.

What you're suggesting is a little too close to the truth.....
Northeastern- one of the Airlines on which Ryanair bases its low fares model, has introduced a new fare structure whereby anyone over a certain bmi is charged a surcharge- as they effectively take up two seats......
Highly popular move with any of the population who have come to hate being wedged into their seats by their obese neighbours, but a highly contentious move, given the massive increase in obesity.......

Like to see Ryanair try that here!

gobby · 17-08-2004 10:13AM

Victor wrote:

Ryanair are covered for this, everthing has to be included in the weight, including the boxers you are wearing at time of check-in.

I dont think that they are gonna be putting me up on the scales tbh. I'm not exactly huge or anything.

But still, lets say someone just stashed some small but heavy things, checked in and then went back, found the small but heavy things and then just popped them back into the hand luggage.

Is this a possibility. I mean they only weigh your bags once right?

RuggieBear · 17-08-2004 10:36AM

gobby wrote:

I dont think that they are gonna be putting me up on the scales tbh. I'm not exactly huge or anything.

But still, lets say someone just stashed some small but heavy things, checked in and then went back, found the small but heavy things and then just popped them back into the hand luggage.

Is this a possibility. I mean they only weigh your bags once right?

Depends on the airport as each have their own rules. I know Gatwick are very strict on the weight of each individual piece of hand luggage but will let you take on 2 pieces as long as each piece is under the weight limit. There is another security checkpoint towards the boarding lounges in Gatwick where i have seen people get spot checked....

At Liverpool, I had to put my normal (Schoolbag sized) backpack thru the excess luggage check in because it was 1.75kg over the weight limit and it had straps...basically the check in girl was being a biatch.

As for the weighing of passengers...i'd be screwed. I'm 5'11'' and 18.5 stone, altho i am a relatively thin 18.5 stone

What i can't stand is halotosis from my seat mates....

p

Victor · 17-08-2004 10:50AM

gobby wrote:

I dont think that they are gonna be putting me up on the scales tbh. I'm not exactly huge or anything. But still, lets say someone just stashed some small but heavy things, checked in and then went back, found the small but heavy things and then just popped them back into the hand luggage. Is this a possibility. I mean they only weigh your bags once right?

The idea is if you start screwing around, they can screw you back. Of course, you would only be able to add your heavy object to your hand baggage, not any checked baggage.

gobby · 19-08-2004 08:02AM

Victor wrote:

The idea is if you start screwing around, they can screw you back. Of course, you would only be able to add your heavy object to your hand baggage, not any checked baggage.

Well I'm talking about a hdd and some cd's. Perhaps. I dont know if I will bother. I'm definitly gonna be overweight either way. The case that I'm using is heavy enough on its own.

When I came out I was charged €60, €30 in Dublin and equivalent in London. But now they have changed their pricing etc.. I reckon I could end up paying an extra €100.

The_Conductor · 19-08-2004 08:14AM

gobby wrote:

Well I'm talking about a hdd and some cd's. Perhaps. I dont know if I will bother. I'm definitly gonna be overweight either way. The case that I'm using is heavy enough on its own.

When I came out I was charged €60, €30 in Dublin and equivalent in London. But now they have changed their pricing etc.. I reckon I could end up paying an extra €100.

Gobby- if you're really worried about it- its only about 30 Euro /Sterling £20 for up to 20kg with TNT from the UK to Ireland. Have used them before in cases like this (also for getting bulky stuff delivered to Portugal/South Africa etc.

Once its marked as personal possessions, a valid contents listing is filed and a proper customs declaration is attached- you're home and dry. If you're seriously worried- as it appears you are, I think getting it couriered over might be a realistic proposition for you (and its a hell of a lot cheaper than you might imagine!).
The postshops have a business discount with TNT- they are your best bet (and they're registered as collection points).

Shane

gobby · 19-08-2004 08:44AM

Cheers for the suggestions Shane. Problem is I dont have enough time to sort anything like this out. I'm in work at the mo and will be tomorrow. Then I fly on Saturday morning.

I think I will just end up paying ryanair. Its my own fault really, I should have looked into this a lot earlier. Did I metion that I'm returning early as I have to sit a repeat exam? Just another reason as to why I dont have a lot of time at the moment.

Sttrrrreeesssss......

eth0_ · 19-08-2004 09:03AM

gobby wrote:

But still, lets say someone just stashed some small but heavy things, checked in and then went back, found the small but heavy things and then just popped them back into the hand luggage.

Is this a possibility. I mean they only weigh your bags once right?

That's what I usually end up doing, stashing heavier things in my hand baggage. I don't remember the last time an airline asked to weigh my hand baggage - in fact, it was an Easyjet employee who gave me that tip when I was checking into a flight with them at Gatwick

gobby · 19-08-2004 09:18AM

eth0_ wrote:

That's what I usually end up doing, stashing heavier things in my hand baggage. I don't remember the last time an airline asked to weigh my hand baggage - in fact, it was an Easyjet employee who gave me that tip when I was checking into a flight with them at Gatwick

Ryanair do weigh hand luggage.

(unfortunatly)

Sleepy · 19-08-2004 10:17AM

smccarrick wrote:

What you're suggesting is a little too close to the truth.....
Northeastern- one of the Airlines on which Ryanair bases its low fares model, has introduced a new fare structure whereby anyone over a certain bmi is charged a surcharge- as they effectively take up two seats......
Highly popular move with any of the population who have come to hate being wedged into their seats by their obese neighbours, but a highly contentious move, given the massive increase in obesity.......

Like to see Ryanair try that here!

To be honest, I think it's a perfectly fair measure, why should I pay more because some fat basta*d can't resist that third Big Mac?

RuggieBear · 19-08-2004 10:29AM

Sleepy wrote:

To be honest, I think it's a perfectly fair measure, why should I pay more because some fat basta*d can't resist that third Big Mac?

Mate it's not just obese people.....Look at atheletes and rugby players....I'll admit i've gone a bit soft now but when i was playing rugby i was 17stone...

luckat · 19-08-2004 10:33AM

If they really want to cut down weight, they should refuse to allow people to buy stuff in the duty-free.

I believe bottles of alcohol whizzing around and smashing on tall guys' heads are the main cause of injuries in turbulence and crashes.

eth0_ · 19-08-2004 10:34AM

gobby wrote:

Ryanair do weigh hand luggage.

(unfortunatly)

Well they've never weighed mine the last couple of journeys i've taken with them, honestly. WHy would I lie about baggage being weighed or not being weighed?

I never check bags in when i'm just going to the UK, and the last 3 or 4 trips i've taken to the UK (all with Ryanair), I have NEVER been asked to weigh my bags.

BuffyBot · 19-08-2004 10:37AM

Northeastern- one of the Airlines on which Ryanair bases its low fares model, has introduced a new fare structure whereby anyone over a certain bmi is charged a surcharge- as they effectively take up two seats......

That's actually slightly innaccurate.

First of all, I presume you mean Southwest Airlines? If so, it's not a new policy. They've had it for some time. A person is charged for a second seat if they are big enough to require an extra seat. If they are able to fit in a normal seat, no matter what their size is, they only pay for one seat.

The full policy is here http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/additional_seat.html

gobby · 19-08-2004 10:41AM

eth0_ wrote:

Well they've never weighed mine the last couple of journeys i've taken with them, honestly. WHy would I lie about baggage being weighed or not being weighed?

I never check bags in when i'm just going to the UK, and the last 3 or 4 trips i've taken to the UK (all with Ryanair), I have NEVER been asked to weigh my bags.

Hold on, I'm not saying that you are lying. You didnt mention that it was ryanair you were flying with.

eth0_ wrote:

That's what I usually end up doing, stashing heavier things in my hand baggage. I don't remember the last time an airline asked to weigh my hand baggage - in fact, it was an Easyjet employee who gave me that tip when I was checking into a flight with them at Gatwick

This gave me the impression that it was easyjet and not ryanair you were talking about.

I flew to Germany 6 months ago. In Dublin - All bags weighed, In Stansted - All bags weighed. In Dublin and Stansted - Charged for being overweight.

Sorry if it seems that I was calling you a lier, I wasnt...

eth0_ · 19-08-2004 10:46AM

gobby wrote:

I flew to Germany 6 months ago. In Dublin - All bags weighed, In Stansted - All bags weighed. In Dublin and Stansted - Charged for being overweight.

Sorry if it seems that I was calling you a lier, I wasnt...

Ok, fair enough, just a misunderstanding.
Perhaps they don't bother weighing hand luggage on UK and Ireland domestic flights? I've never flown further than the UK with ryanair.

Sleepy · 19-08-2004 10:48AM

pekelly wrote:

Mate it's not just obese people.....Look at atheletes and rugby players....I'll admit i've gone a bit soft now but when i was playing rugby i was 17stone...

Ok here's a first for boards, I'm about to admit I was wrong, kind of.

There is no way this could be fairly implemented as some perfectly healthy people are larger than they could be down to no fault of their own. That said, they did suggest doing so off bmi (which is admittedly a rather arguable standard), but were you to suggest running this off of some form of measurement to identify lard arses I'd be all for it.

RuggieBear · 19-08-2004 10:53AM

Sleepy wrote:

Ok here's a first for boards, I'm about to admit I was wrong, kind of.

There is no way this could be fairly implemented as some perfectly healthy people are larger than they could be down to no fault of their own. That said, they did suggest doing so off bmi (which is admittedly a rather arguable standard), but were you to suggest running this off of some form of measurement to identify lard arses I'd be all for it.

Most international rugby players are classed obese by the BMI...admitedly i'm using a very elite sample there!!! But i get where your coming from, i hust think it's to difficult to be fair to charge people by weight. (But then i'm a fat bastard!!!!

)

p

The_Conductor · 19-08-2004 10:55AM

Wahooo!
One of us should call Ryanairs marketing department with suggestions :-)

Personally I'm 5'8"- not particularly overweight (about 11.5 stone) with a BMI of 22 and I certainly feel uncomfortable sitting in Ryanair's seats at present (although to be totally honest its more the elbow and legroom I personally have issues with). Stuck between a rather large gentleman and a woman who insisted on reading a broadsheet in the aisle seat was absolutely no picnic on the last flight from Stansted to here...... If I wanted to be treated like a goat I'd go to Turkent- and travel with everyone else in the hold....... Pile them up and sell them cheap- Ben Dunne's philosophy- doesn't translate too well in airlines.

In future- I'll happily bite the bullet and pay my extra few pence. There is sweet damn all difference in the price these days anyway.

S.

Ryanair - Grrrrrr.

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