A Merry F**king Christmas to Ryanair.

Leaving at 1pm was way too late for a last check-in of 2.05pm. Ryanair have its policy of closing the gate 40 minutes prior to take off. They very rarely move from this policy, blaming traffic holdups in Dublin City Centre is not going to cut it and it is not really unexpected.

They could have dealt with it better but ultimately, it was your own fault you missed that flight!

Ryanair have been the reason I have flown back to Dublin from Prestwick much much more since they flew here as I remember what it was like flying with Aer Lingus as the only operator to Glasgow. It was bloody expensive and I probably travel 3 times as much to Dublin than when AL had the monopoly.

Everyone else seems to have something to say, so I'll join in.

Big Chief, they could have been nicer to you given the day that was in it, but rules are rules. Let you through, and next week its somebody who has to make a flight for a funeral/wedding/interview. Or "I'm meeting somebody the other side, and they're driving for three hours to collect me, and I have no way to contact them".

Leaving the City at 1pm for a 2.05pm check-in is lethal. You have no idea what you will encounter along the way. What if there'd been a major accident at the Port Tunnel works and the traffic was at a stand still? What if you'd spent 30 minutes waiting on a bus because the one you'd expected to get broke down around the corner? Todays lesson is...plan to arrive at the airport at least 1.5 hours before the flight departs, 2 hours if possible. Give yourself time to recover from a mishap.

You reckoned you'd make it to the gate in 35 minutes? I spent 40 minutes queing to get through security in Stansted during the summer, what if you'd encountered a similar delay? More importantly, the check in staff have no way to trust that you will go straight to the gate, rather than an amble through duty free or a quick pint or three. They let you through and you're a late arrival at the gate? Possible slot missed, and they will get a severe dressing down. Would you risk losing your job to help a complete stranger on Xmas Eve?

Finally, if people were unhappy with Ryanair they wouldn't fly with them. The airline has prospered for the last ten years, because it gives the vast majority of its customers exactly what they want. I've had bags lost by British Midland, flights cancelled with SAS, and I've been snarled at by Aer Lingus staff. The worst I've got from Ryanair? A couple of minutes late, and thats after 30 or so flights with them. That said, if things do go wrong I don't expect any compassion, but then I doubt I get that for my €40 flight.

Glad you got out with EI by the way, hope you enjoyed the Xmas.

/me crosses fingers that 11.30 to Stansted departs on time tomorrow, else I ain't seeing Spurs vs Palace...

i thought over an hour was ample time for getting to the air port from leeson street air coach since i stay in the city centre

sorry that this happened to you, but that was your mistake right there. Even if the road was clear from the city centre all the way to the airport, I'd still give that trip 2 hours minimum.

Ryanair are very clear about their check-times, it can suck sometimes, especially like what happened to you, getting caught by only a few minutes, but thems the rules.

i usually try and plan to be at the checkin desk about 30 mins befor it plans to open . i cant rember a flight i was on where i was not at the desk after the member of the flight crew .

tbh tho u should of know bing x-mass the roads would of been jammered with ppl trying to get home its the same every year and u did leave it a bit late to leave .

but for the sake of 5 mins i cant see why the girl couldnt just let u on ? should of looked to speek to her manager or simular unless the q's for security were 30 mins long .

at liest u rebooked with a propper airline .

I know someone that used work for ryanair.... They are put under soooo much pressure by management. They get bollocked if they dont call some one Sir or madame, even if they are talking to a friend that is flying with ryanair. Also they have to fill out massive amounts of paper work if they slip. In the end of the day, it's more important to keep the plane running on time for 150 people that are on time then to make it run late for one wanker that arrives late.

I can see how check in people get stressed some times, they get a lot of grief from people who don't read the rules of carraige before packing... they then arrive with 12 bags, each of which weights near on 2 tonne, and they bitch and moan when they get charged for being over weight.

John

I would never take a flight on Christmas Eve.
Too many things can go wrong.

In the UK there is "Airport" on TV, why doesn't RTE or TV3 do a series "IRISH AIRPORT" or something and then the likes of Ryanair will get the real publicity they deserve for their lack of customer service.

Gilgamesh wrote:

don't think that they are making a forutne by allegidly ripping people off.
if a person is 20 minutes late getting onto the plane, they loose their take off window and it can cost them a fortune for therefore interrupting flight traffic on an airport.

Airlines aren't fined by airports for being delayed. At most, a delay from a Ryanair flight leaving Dublin would most likely affect another Ryanair flight that might have to wait for the stand to be vacated. In extreme cases, in heavy traffic periods the delayed flight might take a slot from another aircraft, but any flight missing an allocated CTOT is put to the back of the queue anyway, so that would be minimal.

The impact on Ryanair (and other low fares airlines) would be to cause a knock-on delay for the airline all day, as they rely on fast turnaround times to enable the maximum usage of their available aircraft. A delay in departure to Glasgow means a probable delay in departure for the GLA-DUB leg, and delays for subsequent flights that the aircraft has been assigned to.

Do you people actually fly regularly... Aerlingus No longer offers snacks on short haul flights... you have to pay for them... like you have to do with Ryanair. Also it's free seating on Aelingus flights... Like Ryanair... Also on aerlingus you have to walk out to the plane... Guess what, Like Ryanair... they are generally 50 euro more expensive per return flight to the uk. Also... Ryanair allow you 10Kg baggage on the flight, once it's in a bag that fits into the over head lockers.

I fly a lot... I hate Aerlingus, that is all.


John

Well the last flight to the uk I was on with aerlingus it was free seating... Anyway, who cares if its assigned seating, you're always going to get a seat on the plane... god love you if you have to actually look for a free one. I don't really care, I have issues with aerlingus, I think they are rude and unhelpful, and as you pointed out they are less punctual... it does actually make more of a difference to me to be on time since I'm normally meeting a train etc on the other end of my journey.

I prefere Ryanair... I can't afford Aerlingus.... I fly ryanair.

I dont care what other people do really.

john