Ryanair - whats the point?

I've had no difficulties with Ryanair. The experience was exactly the same as every other airline to be honest, same seats, same service, same everything, no extra hassle.

For flying to the big cities, the prices are close between the airlines, but if you want to go to a smaller town or anywhere else Ryan is often a third to a quarter the price. And they land directly at the main airports of these smaller places.

IngazZagni wrote: »

I've heard someone say that before as well and I think it's nonsense. They have the same and sometimes shorter block times than other airlines on the same route. The advertised times include taxi times as well as time in the air. Sometimes airports can be busy thus it takes longer to get in the air. The big thing is the wind. A strong headwind could add a significant amount of time to the journey. All these things have to be taken into account so on your typical day it should take a few minutes less than advertised. the added time is there as a buffer in case any of the above scenarios are present which is quite often as well.
And anyway so what. They advertise to get you there at "that" time. What are you complaining about?

I never complained about the advertised time. Just an observation from the times I have used them, and from when other people used them. In most cases we/they were at the gate before the advertised time, and the possible explanation for this. Easyjet or AerLingus have rarely got me there before the advertised time, but mostly on the advertised time, but ocasionally late. And they too, the same as RyanAir experience taxi-ing, the weather, and missed take off slots as well

My complant about Ryan Air is how passengers are herded on/off the flights, hence my comparsion in my first post on the subject.

Ryanair are an Irish success story and as such I applaud their business acumen. But I avoid flying with them for three very strong reasons.
1. I find their sporty take off and landings downright frightening. I have flown all over the world, with numerous carriers, and never had that experience. I hate white knuckle flying.
2. Flying with small kids on Ryanair is a miserable experience. Is it really so difficult to allocate a seat. Why must we queue up for an hour before the flight takes off just so that our kids can sit beside a parent.
3. I always feel that the staff view the customers with utter contempt. Contempt permeates the company from the very top layer. And the attitude is, if we are foolish enough to pay them, then we deserve to be treated that way.

AnonoBoy wrote: »

I find the best thing to do with Ryanair is wait. Just let everyone else stand for ages and queue up, then when the queue has dwindled simply join it and make your way on. There's still seats and you don't feel like you're in a herd of cattle.

Last time I used them it was coming back from Ibiza. Week of drinking and no sleep, I wanted a window seat with leg room to sleep without interuption. So made sure I was near the top. So only had my self to blame in regard to being hearded.

At least with AerLingus I can get an assinged seat at check in at no extra cost, and wait until the queue has gone down, safe in the knowledge that I have my window/exit seat (assuming it was available at check in).

Unfortunatly the no frills bookings have created a herd mentality as well with some people, regardless of the airline. I flew with AerLingus from Knock on Christams Eve, the flight was initally delayed 20 minutes (eventually about 3 hours), and was about a 1/4 full. But even at that inital delay, with assingened seats, there was still people starting to queue at the gate before the advertised board time.

fully agree with all of that Sean W. I fly myself and the wife and 4 kids out of Germany to Spain almost every year. Can't beat Ryanair pricewise for that route. However back and forth to IRE I would always check Aerlingus first - for exactly all of your reasons. BTW anybody flying RA to Alicante - don't bother with the priority boarding - we mortals will be joining you all again at the bottom of the stairs because the doors out onto the apron are locked !! tee hee !

horses4courses wrote: »

fully agree with all of that Sean W. I fly myself and the wife and 4 kids out of Germany to Spain almost every year. Can't beat Ryanair pricewise for that route. However back and forth to IRE I would always check Aerlingus first - for exactly all of your reasons. BTW anybody flying RA to Alicante - don't bother with the priority boarding - we mortals will be joining you all again at the bottom of the stairs because the doors out onto the apron are locked !! tee hee !

Similar experience in Ibiza as well. Those with Priorty Boarding only got them on to the Apron Bus first. Alot of people flew by them once the bus doors opened. Even the Pilot nearly had to fight his way up the steps.

Confab wrote: »

I have never had an issue flying with Ryanair.



Oh come on. Sporty? They take of and land exactly like other airlines. There are a set of procedures for takeoff and landing, they don't just make it up on the spot. I understand that you may know nothing about the technicalities of flying airliners but your statement is ridiculous.

Ryanair have a reputation for hard landings. Maybe they smack the plane down as a safety procedure to reduce the risk of overshooting the runway. Or maybe it's to carve a few minutes off the turnaround time. There is much debate on the subject. I just know that it makes me feel sick everytime they do it. And for that reason I don't fly with them.

Depends where you're flying to tbh, if its anywhere near where Ryanair actually land then yay, if not then fly with someone else as the difference will be made up in the extra transport costs. I guarantee everyone who doesnt like flying with them would have a sh1t attack if they went out of business and flights to the UK went back to being hundreds of euro again. they changed how we get around Europe, that much can't be denied.



their colour scheme inside the planes is still appalling though, sickly yellow on blue, never fly with them hungover the inside of the plane will give you a migraine.