Not been back to UK for 6 mnths, so surprised to see that when I went to check in for flight at end of week, I cannot now do that unless (a) I buy a seat, cheapest now £10 or (b) wait until 24 hours before the flight !!!
Of course the same applies for any return flight, so you can`t check in for that until 24 hours before departure.
All very well I suppose if you have it all on a phone, but I like to have a piece of paper as my boarding card, so need a printer at both ends.

I'd consider that a fairly small sum to pay for the peace of mind and the preference of having a bit of paper in my hand over the phone option.

I don't think that'll arise with me because I'd never not need the cabin baggage and the option for that seems (from recent experience, although it might have changed or may do in future) to include seat reservation and priority boarding. I find that starting out with the lowest cost option and adding a bag later works out a few bob cheaper than choosing that from the initial options. As does refusing their generous offer to lock you in to a very unfavourable exchange rate.

I suppose if you've got property and clothing etc in both countries, you're trimming even more off the cost by travelling with just the free carry-on. And then paying 10 quid for a seat reservation becomes more of a bone of contention

Exactly that Red....how many more ways can they dream up to simply increase the cost of a flight. But booked seats are now up to £20 each, each way. And when ravelling on your own I dont care what seat I have, cause even if I choose it, for sure the person next to me will have 6 foot arms or snore.....prob is they are still much cheaper for me than the only other option which is Jet2.....eg for this return flight total Ryanair cost is €46.00 and that includes returning with the free hand luggage + the 10kg one, and Priority boarding, no seat chosen by me. Jet2 for same day flying would be €190.00

Under those circs, I would just consider that the headline rate is way underpriced and swallow any extra modest charge(s) as almost inevitable, especially if they make things more convenient for me.

I know how it goes against the grain but after all, you could still travel at the price originally offered.

It has always been the same with Ryanair for years now. Read the T+C`s or go somewhere else. Never had an issue and will continue to check-in within the 24 hours timeslot.

Thank you very much Mr O`Leary, for your usual `courteous` reply.

I quite admire the guy and his business model. Have used his services for some 15 years now without any issues except for a few years ago when out of his control the French ATC`s went on strike. Follow the rules and you get no issues. Just don`t use him if you do not agree with this T+C`s. Its your choice. I also admire Tim Martin. (Hope Paddy O`Leary is reading this and will give me a couple of free flights). (not holding my breath).

I'm flying back to Lisbon on Saturday with Ryanair - because they are cheap and go from Stansted.
Has anyone ever had their cabin baggage (NOT 'small bag') weighed to check it's under 10 kg at Stansted?
I'm not far over, and Just in case, I am going to wear a coat with lots of very big pockets, but I'm just curious

The 24 hour check-in is industry standard. If you want to pick a particular seat prior to that then be prepared to pay for it or have status.

Hi Midgo. Never seen anyone have it weighed. No scales at the point you board. Have taken 13kg before now. At the end of the day, and I have done it your chancing it.

Ryanair at Manchester and Lisbon seem pretty lax these days, unlike past times when carry-on bags used to be checked for size and weight. Often see passengers with excess cabin baggage and they seem to get away with it. Easyjet on the other hand at Lisbon were checking size of carry-ons in frames (one large and one small) at check-in, a couple of weeks ago and charging passengers if not compliant. Passport control also insisted in stamping passports despite showing my residence and wife's citizen cards.

I don't think passport control is in any way connected with Ryanair, Easyjet or any other airline. Just pure incompetence. I wonder if they have a complaints book 😉????

Thanks,
They were checking cabin and small bag sizes, but not weights before the flight to Stansted from Lisbon at beginning of April
I will see how it goes

O'leary was in Dublin vising friends... Saw a poster outside a pub saying 'Happy Hour 6pm -7pm, Guinness €1 a pint'. Checking his watch, it was 6.05pm so he went in and enjoyed a couple of delicious properly poured pints. He asked for the bill just before 7pm and was angered by a bill of €20. 'it says €1 per pint between 6 and 7. I came in after 6 its now before 7 so its €2 for 2 pints not €20!!'.

Barman says 'yes you're right sir, but theres a charge for the glass, the seat you took, labour charge for wiping the bar for the next customer!!!,


(There's a ruder addition to the list above, but I dont want to offend anyone.... )

We all know that lo-cost air travel has its downsides... But it has revolutionised international travel and bought it within reach of millions more. Having travelled biz class+ for a lot of my working life, changing to lo cost was tough at first, (aaah a glass of champers in the lounge.... The good old days ) but I'd rather have that option available to me now in retirement and its virtually all I use now for EU Travel. I do often pay for extras eg priority etc, but if the total price is better, I happily swallow it knowing Ive got more spending money on arrival and a tad more comfortable time in the air for just 2-3hours.

Im sure people would complain more if the lo-cost airlines went out of business, as many have.

However we have agreed to pay €100 more for our airfares to not use Ryanair.. for the hassle (in our particular case) of the time, cost etc to go to/from an out of town airport nearly an hour away.

Happy travels

Jon

Just a little rant about Ryanair and off topic, sorry.

We had flights booked to Faro between Xmas and New Year to view property in advance of our move to the Algarve when Covid struck. All travel was suspended, going abroad was against the law etc, etc.

Our flight was then designated as a mercy flight to bring stranded Brits home and Ryanair refused to refund us because in their view the flight had operated even though travel was against the law. At that time of the year tickets were far from cheap.
Scummy airline.