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Ryanair's extra charges are a disgrace

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We recently booked a trip to Spain, which was for 4 weeks and flew via Ryanair.  Even though I am a seasoned flyer and know most of the cons, it does seem you are constantly on a learning curve with respect to the latest Ryanair con and all their extra charges.

We have been flying to Spain for some years and as is law for children to sit in a child seat for the hire car we have always carried the car seat with us.  Previously with most other airlines they will transport the car seat for free but not Ryanair!  Apparently if the child is over 5 they charge 20 each way for the car seat - so that's the first hit on the wallet!

I was also aware of the online booking charges and normally print out both the outbound and return boarding passes in advance.  However, as we were going on this trip for more than 15 days and there is a restriction that boarding passes have to be printed, BETWEEN 15 DAYS before flying, and up to within FOUR HOURS of take-off, it was only possible to print one for our outbound leg and not the return.

Airport departure board. Unfortunately the villa we were staying at was in the Campo (countryside) and although I could get online with my mobile via my mobile operator we did not have access to a printer, nor was there a cyber-cafe anywhere close.

I knew I could still check in online via my mobile device and did so within the designated time slot thinking that at least I had fulfilled this part of the requirement, even if I could not actually print out our boarding passes.  On arrival at the Ryanair check-in area, we had to pay an extra charge of 120 (40 per person) because even though we had checked in we could not print our booking passes within the required time slot.  This seems to be a ploy guaranteed to net in more covert charges to the unwary - or in my case naive as to this crucial 'procedure'. 

BE WARNED!  Make sure you print your boarding passes or you'll be subject to these extortionate charges!  (oh and apparently it has to be on A4 paper!) Surely this is bordering on criminal extortion?  Ryanair need to be jumped on from a height and brought to order.

By: John


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Freddie

Freddie

Have I ever said that? Don't believe I have actually! I cycle for leisure, nothing else.

I don't fly for pleasure though, I do it for work and to be honest although I suspect it is very polluting I don't know how much but let's face it, it isn't helping.

I'm actually sick of airports this year!
17/11/11 Freddie
4
Chris 2

Chris 2

More than two flights a month Freddie? Do you have any idea how polluting that is?

I thought you cycled because it is "good for the environment"?
17/11/11 Chris 2
0
Freddie

Freddie

By the time I get to the end of this year I will have taken 27 return flights in 12 months. A large majority of these have been with easyJet but for the last 8 weeks I've flown exclusively with BA ( only because of the routes not being covered by easyJet) and my faith in them has been restored. I'll still use easyJet but will always check to see if BA fly to the particular destination first. As regards Lyingair, they can keep their 'cheap' flights for others. I won't be using them.
16/11/11 Freddie
1
McFly

McFly

I've always backed up Ryanair as it is still good value compared to the cost of the same flight pre-budget airline days. Even when I had to claim £250 back through the small claims course I still didn't cut off my nose to spite my face in not using them again. However the last flight I went on decided to send half our luggage to Dublin and got to our destination the following day. They then refused to send it to our resort meaning I had to pay over €60 and my time to go to the airport to collect after some very poor customer service with the airport and then they're refusing to refund this money as I haven't complained within 7 days of my return after hiding behind a clause in the 1999 Montreal Convention ryanair. However, they own website states that '..arrangements will be made to have it delivered to your local address' if a baggage delay occurs which is a complete lie. We will struggle to justify to use this company again if they're happy to steal €60 from me.

Easyjet are far superior and I've only had one issue with with a change of flight time in which they changed the flight with no problems (and I've probably flown with them 50 times).

Flyglobespan were terrible both times I used them so refused to use them as I assume others did and have since gone bust.
15/11/11 McFly
-3
Lance

Lance

Indeed, you get what you pay for. Flown Ryanair plenty of times for about £20 return and I think anyone expecting more than the most basic of service at that price are being naive. To me it's really no different from taking the bus. I do think that Easyjet are better than Ryanair overall, though I wouldn't categorize the difference as being night and day. But I guess that's a matter of personal opinion.

Been flying regularly for more than a decade now with many different airlines and I've yet to experience any major screw-ups, outside the odd delay here and there. But I've probably just been lucky :-)
04/10/11 Lance
-7
MikeP

MikeP

Lance : over 73 million people flew with Ryanair last year, so they must be doing something right, even if it's only pandering to the lowest end of the market by appearing to offer the lowest fares on certain routes where they compete with other carriers. In the last 4 years their traffic has grown by 20%, 15%, 14%, and 8% year on year, which indicates that a lot of people are happy to give their money to an airline which offers rock bottom service levels which may be acceptable until something goes wrong. The difference between Easyjet and Ryanair is like the difference between night and day, but then some of the traditional carriers are little better than Ryanair, so your point is valid.

Not only this, but some of Ryanair's business practices are questionable and their attitude towards customers when something does go wrong is despicable.
04/10/11 MikeP
3
Lance

Lance

Thanks but I always read the small print, whomever I book with.

I don't think there's a big difference between Ryanair and other lowcost airlines, or even with economy flights on the traditional airlines to be honest. I find that none are particularly comfortable or enjoyable so I wouldn't say I'm happy flying with Ryanair. It's just a means to an end for me, as it is whenever I fly :-)
04/10/11 Lance
-1
MikeP

MikeP

Read the small print, very carefully, then read it again, then again. Michael O'Leary gives nothing away, he is as sharp as a sh1thouse rat.

If of course you are one of those individuals who has such low standards that you are happy to fly on Ryanair, then good luck to you.
04/10/11 MikeP
-9
Lance

Lance

Thanks for posting that. I'll definitely be getting one of those cards, quite a bit to be saved if you fly Ryanair often....
04/10/11 Lance
3
MikeP

MikeP

The user guide for the Ryanair Cash Passport reveals that after six months, anyone who does not use the card will be charged £2.50 a month for inactivity, while a ten pound charge will be levied every time the card goes into negative territory because of the inactivity fee.

Customers will also be charged £2 for withdrawing money from cash machines, and £4 if they try to get cash out over the counter.

From November 1, the new prepaid card the only way to avoid a £6 each way charge per person per flight when booking with Ryanair. Previously, customers could use any prepaid Mastercard to avoid the charges.

Unlike a debit card, a prepaid card has to be loaded with money in advance before being used to pay for things and is estimated to be held by only 5pc of the population.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has proposed that charges for paying by debit card should be banned, prior to Ryanair introducing the new card.
28/09/11 MikeP
-7
grumpyoldwoman

grumpyoldwoman

Well I knew what "glubbies" were; especially following on from winter boots & scarves!

It sounds like a good service and airports here may be forced to consider it if our weather keeps getting worse. Mind you, they seem to enjoy putting their customers to as much inconvenience as possible, under the guise of "security".
05/09/11 grumpyoldwoman
1
Boblet

Boblet

Some people condemn things out of hand Petra, an open mind is the best option with a willingness to accept change in this fast moving world.
Carpe Diem.
04/09/11 Boblet
-29
Petra

Petra

Boblet,

I found the airport as I was checking something for a friend who is going to Germany for a long stay later this year.

Her little girl was looking with me and said " you can leave your glubbies!". It means gloves - sorry I could not resist, it was so sweet.

I don't know how helpful it will be to Grumpyoldwoman unless she moves to Germany though! Perhaps she can use the information to suggest it to her local airport? Apparently the coat check service is not at all uncommon in Germany or Canada, but I am not sure if hanging facilities are usually offered.
04/09/11 Petra
6
Boblet

Boblet

Petra you are a gem, it is a breath of fresh air to read your helpful & informative gripes. just one small question what is a glubbie?
04/09/11 Boblet
-6
AlanP1971

AlanP1971

And in that case, cloakrooms may be a good idea. To be clear, I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with the idea, I just doubt the demand is there, at least at the moment.
30/08/11 AlanP1971
23

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