Ryanair. Enough said.

[allandwf]

No, absolutely no mistake, 24 hours before flight and it gave no option to proceed without paying for seat allocation, or allocate seat within 48 hours, which throwed you out without check-in... but the flight was in 24 hours. Could have been an error on their website, but what do you do? Elderly dad getting frustrated, easiest option to pay for seat allocation and get on with it.

On top of this he has booked car hire through them, then discovered they want a credit card deposit on car collection...he doesn't have a credit card only debit card. He has spent all last week ringing the car hire helpline...the number is never answered, check it myself too, just rings never answered.
So when he arrives tomorrow night, he doesn't know whether they will let him have the hire car.

Avis used to allow debit cards.

 

[zagatoes30]

Avoid Ryanair whenever I can, there is no excuse for their service other budget airlines do it much better however it is about knowing the system which with Aer Lingus I now have got down to a fine art although I have never got to the reason as to why flights booked in Euro are at exactly the same number as booked in Sterling when Sterling is 10% higher.

 

[montravia]

Just had my dad around to print off his boarding cards for a visit to Spain next week, flying tomorrow, with Ryanair.
Checking in, it was forcing to pay extra for allocated seating.
From what I could make out, to avoid paying for allocated seating you can only check in less than 2 days before the flight, but he is flying tomorrow afternoon.
Haha, both outward AND return flights have to be less than 2 days from checking in, and seeing he returns end of next week, he is forced to buy seat allocation for both outward and return flights, an additional £15, before he is allowed to check-in and print boarding cards.
I never fly with Ryanair unless absolutely forced too.

Very similar to British Airways.

 

[Spartacus]

I'm flying with Ryan air next month with the missus . So are you saying I need to check in with two days to go to avoid paying to have two seats together?

 

[mjheathcote]

Hmmm. I refuse to fly with them. Did you check both flights for check in? That may be why it was throwing up the charge as that is over 2 days away.

That could have been the problem, checking in both flights together and the return over 2 days away. But it still didn't allow the first flight to be checked in without seat allocation and the second having to pay, but I guess probably would if the first flight was checked in alone separately. Never checked. Whatever, Easyjet is far more user friendly for sure.

I'll find out regarding the car hire whether they accepted his debit card. He has hired a car before without a credit card at the airport, different hire company, but always just turning up at the counter without prebooking.

 

[mjheathcote]

I'm flying with Ryan air next month with the missus . So are you saying I need to check in with two days to go to avoid paying to have two seats together?

Less than 48 hours to avoid paying for seat allocation, but you might not then sit together.
You then need to check in for your return flight while away probably, again less than 48 hours to avoid paying for your seat.

 

[Dan!]

I'm flying with Ryan air next month with the missus . So are you saying I need to check in with two days to go to avoid paying to have two seats together?

If you want to choose your seats you always need to pay, regardless of when you check in. You can get free random allocation 48 hours before take off. Seats in the middle of the plane are only 4 quid each.

I always select the last row at the back, 7 quid and you get off the plane just as quick as the people that paid 13 quid to sit at the front.

 

[mjheathcote]

If you want to choose your seats you always need to pay, regardless of when you check in. You can get free random allocation 48 hours before take off. Seats in the middle of the plane are only 4 quid each.

I always select the last row at the back, 7 quid and you get off the plane just as quick as the people that paid 13 quid to sit at the front.

I can't remember, are you less or more likely to survive a plane crash sitting at the back? Thinking tail down while belly flopping odds aren't as good?

 

[Dan!]

Erm, I don't tend to think too much about that if I'm honest. Not sure really matters where you sit if it crashes and turns into a fire ball.

However, I seem to remember hearing/reading somewhere that you have the highest chance of surviving a bus crash if you sit in the middle.

 

[Wanderer]

I can't remember, are you less or more likely to survive a plane crash sitting at the back? Thinking tail down while belly flopping odds aren't as good?

Behind the cockpit, just in front of the wings.

Cockpit is usually crushed, wings full of fuel and heavy bits attached and will be ripped off backwards potentially hitting the rear fuselage and/or burning everyone alive.

2012 Boeing 727 crash experiment - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Gazcw]

If you want to choose your seats you always need to pay, regardless of when you check in. You can get free random allocation 48 hours before take off. Seats in the middle of the plane are only 4 quid each.

I always select the last row at the back, 7 quid and you get off the plane just as quick as the people that paid 13 quid to sit at the front.

I do the same unless there is a toilet at the back. Wherever I sit I always have the screaming baby behind, in front or across the aisle. Sound cancelling headphones are the best.

 

[CatmanV2]

I can't remember, are you less or more likely to survive a plane crash sitting at the back? Thinking tail down while belly flopping odds aren't as good?

Pilots never knowingly reverse into mountains.... (with thanks to David Gunson)

C

 

[Wack61]

With Ryanair and other low-cost airlines they'll charge you for speedy boarding but the trick they're missing is speedy DEPARTURE.

I went to buy a van on my own from Belgium in 2001 ,wasn't bothered about seating or getting on first, it was on easyjet , in the main hall there were 200 people waiting with a corralled area at the front

When they got permission to board they opened the corralle and 20 people started running , when they were 20m from the steps of the plane they opened the main doors and rest started legging it , I couldn't stop laughing , it was my first budget experience

 

[midlifecrisis]

I went to buy a van on my own from Belgium in 2001 ,wasn't bothered about seating or getting on first, it was on easyjet , in the main hall there were 200 people waiting with a corralled area at the front

When they got permission to board they opened the corralle and 20 people started running , when they were 20m from the steps of the plane they opened the main doors and rest started legging it , I couldn't stop laughing , it was my first budget experience

I make a point of getting on last.
Then I can make an entrance, thanking people for waiting for me.

 

[allandwf]

Wherever I sit I always have the screaming baby behind, in front or across the aisle.

You would think they would put them in the hold instead of taking them on as hand luggage!

 

[CatmanV2]

I went to buy a van on my own from Belgium in 2001 ,wasn't bothered about seating or getting on first, it was on easyjet , in the main hall there were 200 people waiting with a corralled area at the front

When they got permission to board they opened the corralle and 20 people started running , when they were 20m from the steps of the plane they opened the main doors and rest started legging it , I couldn't stop laughing , it was my first budget experience

Worried the plane would leave without them.....

C

 

[Contigo]

BA now do this too, it's a joke especially for an airline like them who are now becoming more like the penny-pinching Ryanair and Easyjet budget airlines.

 

[mjheathcote]

Dad didn't need a credit card deposit for the hire car as long as he paid extra for their insurance. So all good.