Ryanair - Comments & Feedback Thread

jammin_2

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

They're more likely to simply require non-EU nationals to board last so that their eligibility to enter the country they're flying to can be checked.

Side note, but..

If I were a non-EEA national, I wouldn't be too pleased (to put it mildly), with my eligibility to enter a country being decided by Ryanair airport staff.

gozomark

jammin wrote: »

Side note, but..

If I were a non-EEA national, I wouldn't be too pleased (to put it mildly), with my eligibility to enter a country being decided by Ryanair airport staff.

it happens now at the check-in desk

jammin_2

gozomark wrote: »

it happens now at the check-in desk

Precisely. At the check-in desk there's more time.

Online check-in for everyone is the only way forward.

brightonman123

re security, i think it's a visual one- just the person checkingin look nervous, agitated etc?

any bulky clothing, wires poking out etc?

and probably most important, does their face (and ticket name) match the passport?!

gozomark

jammin wrote: »

Precisely. At the check-in desk there's more time.

Online check-in for everyone is the only way forward.

OK, understand - when you wrote "If I were a non-EEA national, I wouldn't be too pleased (to put it mildly), with my eligibility to enter a country being decided by Ryanair airport staff." - Its still Ryanair staff at the check-in desk, so still being decided by Ryanair airport staff, just at a different location

gozomark

brightonman123 wrote: »

re security, i think it's a visual one- just the person checkingin look nervous, agitated etc?

any bulky clothing, wires poking out etc?

and probably most important, does their face (and ticket name) match the passport?!

remember there is still the airport security check for everyone separate to anything done by the airline staff

PolishBigSpender

jammin wrote: »

Side note, but..

If I were a non-EEA national, I wouldn't be too pleased (to put it mildly), with my eligibility to enter a country being decided by Ryanair airport staff.

It already happens, why else would Ryanair bother to check passports at the gate?

Ryanair would be well within their rights to deny boarding to any passenger that they suspected of not holding the correct documents - for instance, a Russian national not holding a Schengen visa when flying to France.

As I said previously - any carrier bringing someone to the UK who is subsequently denied entry is liable for the costs of bringing the person back to where they came from, along with a 2000 pounds fine. In such a circumstance, you can hardly blame carriers for determining your eligibility to enter a country.

jammin_2

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

It already happens, why else would Ryanair bother to check passports at the gate?

To check that the person is the passenger.

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Ryanair would be well within their rights to deny boarding to any passenger that they suspected of not holding the correct documents - for instance, a Russian national not holding a Schengen visa when flying to France.

Wrong. There are many instances where a non-EEA national is absolutely entitled to enter the territory of a Member State, without a visa. Should Ryanair, or any other airline, deny their boarding and thus their right to free movement, the passenger in question is entitled to sue the airline for damages. The European Commission would be absolutely on his side.

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

As I said previously - any carrier bringing someone to the UK who is subsequently denied entry is liable for the costs of bringing the person back to where they came from, along with a 2000 pounds fine. In such a circumstance, you can hardly blame carriers for determining your eligibility to enter a country.

Ansolutely. I can't blame an airline carrier for determining a passenger's eligibility to enter a country. So long as they know the rules and follow them.

PolishBigSpender

jammin wrote: »

To check that the person is the passenger.

And to check entitlement to enter the country that they're flying to. Ryanair have an obligation (backed up with the threat of a 2000 pound fine!) to check these things - they don't have to, but if they don't, they would soon find the fines racking up.

Wrong. There are many instances where a non-EEA national is absolutely entitled to enter the territory of a Member State, without a visa. Should Ryanair, or any other airline, deny their boarding and thus their right to free movement, the passenger in question is entitled to sue the airline for damages. The European Commission would be absolutely on his side.

The European Commission wouldn't be on their side if there was any doubt as to the entitlement of the passenger to enter the country at the other end. But tell me, what non-EEA/Switzerland citizen has the right to enter the territory of an EU member state? They may not require a visa - but the mere presence of a stamp imposes a limitation upon their stay.

There is no 'right' for non-EEA/CH citizens to enter a country. Therefore, if Ryanair (or any other carrier!) is in doubt as to their eligibility, they are quite within their rights to refuse transit. Do you really think Ryanair are going to let a citizen of the Russian Federation travel to the UK without a valid UK visa? Don't be ridiculous.

Ansolutely. I can't blame an airline carrier for determining a passenger's eligibility to enter a country. So long as they know the rules and follow them.

The rules are quite simple. Only an EEA/CH passport entitles you to enter the UK (or indeed, any Member State) without being subject to immigration control. If you enter the UK on a non-EEA/CH passport, this is why you will be granted the 'leave to remain for 6 months, employment prohibited' stamp if you're entitled to enter without a visa. Therefore, if there is any doubt about the eligibility of someone to enter the UK without being subject to immigration control (in practice, anyone without an EEA/CH passport!) - the carrier is entitled to refuse them boarding.

In practice, the Straż Granica in Poland will refuse entry to the non-Schengen zone in airports if you do not hold valid documentation for the country that you wish to visit. Is this discrimination? Of course not - it's just common sense.

On the eastern Schengen border, you will be denied permission to proceed into the Eastern country if you do not comply with their entry requirements. There are exit controls on the border - and you will have to turn around if you do not have the required documentation/visa. Is this discrimination? Of course not - it simply saves people the hassle of being refused by Russian/Belarussian/Ukranian/etc border guards.

jammin_2

PolishBigSpender, have a read of European Directive 2004/38/EC.

Let me know if you're still unclear.