Flying Ryan Air From Stansted

[Dee Sa]

I am going to visit friends in France the nearest airport is Limoges which is covered by Ryan Air, I am an OAP and scared, I normally fly scheduled flights from Heathrow or Gatwick and I am quite confident, I am going for 2 weeks so will need to take a smallish suitcase and I am hearing all sorts of stories, they charge you more at the airport for hold luggage, if you don't print your boarding card its extra cost, you have to check your luggage on line, I am having nightmares, pls can some kind soul take me thru this step by step or has anyone any tips pls ? thank you.

[whiskeryron]

I haven't traveled with them so got this off Google hope it helps.

http://www.ryanair.com/en/terms-and-conditions#regulations-tableoffees

WR.

[naomi24]

Your boarding card is easy enough to print off - but make sure your hand luggage is within Ryanair's limits for weight and size. One item of hand luggage only - and that really does mean one. (You won't have an allocated seat - so don't expect it. It's like getting on a bus - first come first served).

[Dee Sa]

thank you both Deex

[zebo]

If you are being dropped off, there's a drop-off area, charges £2 for 10 minutes, then you need to walk up the ramp into the departure area. However, if your driver goes to the Mid-term carpark there's a free drop-off area and then you can take the carpark bus to the terminal door. It's not a matter of the £2, the bus drops you on the right level.

[gness]

Dee...someone will be along with step by step instructions I'm sure but I always fly Ryanair with no problem at all. In fact I can only speak highly of them for the way they treated me when MrG died just before we were to fly to Ireland.
One thing I do which costs about £10 I think is book a legroom seat. It's reserved for you and makes traveling alone easy.
If you don't get instructions here I will mail you later. x

[LazyGun]

@ Dee Sa. Some good advice here. The restrictions upon your luggage revolve mostly around the dimensions of your on-board bag or case, rather than, say a small suitcase to go in the hold.

Printing off your boarding pass should be relatively straightforward, assuming access to computer and printer of course :)

I would only add one further thing; You can pay a extra for "preferential boarding" - I would advise doing that...

[jno]

here's yet another little thing to beware of

http://www.bitterwallet.com/save-money-on-ryanair-fares-by-deleting-your-cookies/42133

[jno]

LG, I'm not sure about preferential boarding - sometimes all it does is let you board the bus first; it doesn't let you off the bus first... but others may be able to report if they've changed this.

[sunny-dave]

Ryanair are fine - if you follow the terms and conditions.

1. Weigh and measure your hand luggage - must be under 10kg and no more than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm. Everything (including handbags and cameras etc) must be in the single case.

2. Weigh your hold (checked) luggage) - must be under 15kg or 20kg depending what you have paid for. Overweight will be charged for at a silly price - so just don't risk it. You must book and pay for hold luggage online, before you print your boarding pass. Just turning up with it at the airport is seriously expensive,

3. Print your boarding passes on A4 paper - they must be clear and readable by humans and machine.

4. If legroom is an issue (or you must have a reserved seat) pay the £10 for each flight and select one before you print your boarding passes. I think the alternative of a £5 priority boarding fee is less useful - just get in the main queue nice and early.

5. Enjoy the flight - I always do - it's not like BA, but I happen to think it's more fun.

You have my email (or go via gness) if you need more help.

Dave xx

[gness]

Dave...I may be wrong but doesn't paying the £10 for leg room and a reserved seat give you priority boarding too?
I always get put in a different queue when I pay the £10...but maybe I just accidentally get in the priority queue....:-( x

[naomi24]

I've paid for preferential boarding, which is fine when it works - but once on a return journey I was told it didn't apply at that particular airport. If you are going to do that, make sure you're early in the queue because once boarding begins and people start to pile on, you've had it.

If you're travelling with Ryanair you have to take it for what it is .... a flying bus.

[sunny-dave]

Yes - the £10 includes priority boarding for your reserved seat.

I meant that the alternative of just paying the £5 for priority was less useful (especially for foreign airports, as Naomi has just said)

[gness]

So you did....:-(...See can't even read a post properly so Lord knows how I manage to fly anywhere....
Dee.........Dave is best for email info.....I would get you on the wrong plane..:-( x

[LazyGun]

My comment is drawn only from my own experience last year jno, and the one and so far only time i have flown ryan air.

Yes, it is a bus undoubtedly. My preferential boarding payment allowed me to board earlier, and therefore get a greater choice of where to sit,which in turn facilitated early exit. It also covered the return trip from Dinard.

[naomi24]

I can't honestly remember if preferential boarding allowed for preferential exit. It's a long time since I've flown with Ryanair. I don't like buses.

[jno]

LG, no, by bus I meant the one across the tarmac to the plane (since Ryanair seldom pay for a slot by a terminal door). You might get onto it first but if for instance you sit on the wrong side (and you have no idea which side is the right side), then you'll be last off the bus onto the plane.

[LazyGun]

@ Jno ahh, thought the bus reference was wrt ryanair flights themselves.

No bus at Dinard - and bear in mind this is my one and only experience of ryan air - plane lands within easy walking distance of terminal building, and being first on allows you to be one of the first to disembark and get through passport control etc....