Denied boarding, is it really my responsibility?

stoneman

This nearly happened to us a few days ago, but our flight did leave with 10 passengers short. ]Arrived at the Ryanair bag drop 2 hours before flight departure at EMA, (check in opens at T-2 hours) there was already a queue of about 300 in front of us. It took 45 minutes to get our bag dropped and as I looked back there was still about 200 clients in the queue. So there is now 1 hour 15 minutes before the flight leaves. Now we hit the line for security, I kid you not this must have had 400 + people in it. It snaked through check-in desks and into the annex terminal. EMA are so aware of the delays that they cause that you can purchase tickets at kiosks for £3 each to do "speedy security"!!! Well that line was a little shorter than ours but we felt that the airport authorities would get us through. No chance, 1 full hour to negotiate security, so now 15 minutes before our flight is due to leave. We have to run the entire length of the airport to gate 24? We are the last but 1 party of passanges to board before they close the doors. we are now 5 minutes past the scheduled departure time. Another 10 minutes go by and we taxi to leave. Talking to the cabin steward I find out that there were 10 passengers left in the terminal and the delay in leaving was due to getting their bags off. When I told him it was a combination of Ryanair and the airport itself that caused the delay his answer was that Ryanair's policy was that it is your responsibility to get to the gate on time.
This lead me to ponder over who or even if the passengers that missed the flight would or could claim from. Surely we did everything that was asked of us to get on the flight. Ryanair suggests that you arrive 2 hours before departure. I am sure that most of the passengers that were denied boarding were almost all right behind us in checking in our bags, but probably had children in tow so would find it impossible to run the full length of an airport and up and down 2 escalators.

Bob_the_Saver

stoneman wrote: »

This nearly happened to us a few days ago, but our flight did leave with 10 passengers short. ]Arrived at the Ryanair bag drop 2 hours before flight departure at EMA, (check in opens at T-2 hours) there was already a queue of about 300 in front of us. It took 45 minutes to get our bag dropped and as I looked back there was still about 200 clients in the queue. So there is now 1 hour 15 minutes before the flight leaves. Now we hit the line for security, I kid you not this must have had 400 + people in it. It snaked through check-in desks and into the annex terminal. EMA are so aware of the delays that they cause that you can purchase tickets at kiosks for £3 each to do "speedy security"!!! Well that line was a little shorter than ours but we felt that the airport authorities would get us through. No chance, 1 full hour to negotiate security, so now 15 minutes before our flight is due to leave. We have to run the entire length of the airport to gate 24? We are the last but 1 party of passanges to board before they close the doors. we are now 5 minutes past the scheduled departure time. Another 10 minutes go by and we taxi to leave. Talking to the cabin steward I find out that there were 10 passengers left in the terminal and the delay in leaving was due to getting their bags off. When I told him it was a combination of Ryanair and the airport itself that caused the delay his answer was that Ryanair's policy was that it is your responsibility to get to the gate on time.
This lead me to ponder over who or even if the passengers that missed the flight would or could claim from. Surely we did everything that was asked of us to get on the flight. Ryanair suggests that you arrive 2 hours before departure. I am sure that most of the passengers that were denied boarding were almost all right behind us in checking in our bags, but probably had children in tow so would find it impossible to run the full length of an airport and up and down 2 escalators.

Correct, and obviously the queues at security were nothing to do with Ryanair, security is for all flights.

You say you travelled a few days ago, like 20 million other people to escape from 'Queenies do' perhaps.
Set off for the airport early and at busy times very early then sit in the bar and relax. Don't listen to the idiots who say what's the latest I can leave for my flight.
Many airports have 'fast-track' lanes to make money from idiots who know no better or can't be bothered to turn up on time, but they offer no guarantee you'll catch your flight.
Glad you didn't miss your flight.
I wish I had a quid for every time I've sat of a flight whilst they off-load bags from Pax that have gone walkabout - often to a bar in another terminal, serves them right. With the airlines facing penalties for late departures they have to do this, passengers can't have it both ways.
I fly a lot and I never miss my flight, why, because I'm paying for it and I don't want to pay for another one. I always assume security will be packed, or the bus will break down or there will be a bomb scare and set off for the airport early.
When I used to travel on business and I wasn't paying for it and I had a flexible ticket I had a slightly more relaxed attitude but I still never missed a flight.

stoneman

But Bob, we and those behind us did allow plenty of time. 2 hours in fact. (Ryanairs own advised time) How long would you advise being at an airport to catch a flight? I like yourself travel a lot, longhaul mostly which usually takes even longer than shorthaul to negotiate bag drop and security, but will admit this was my first time at EMA for a while, usually short haul is from BHX. If checkin doesn't open till 2 hours before the flight to be in the head of over 300 people that were already there waiting for it. Bearing in mind the flight was at 6:30am so we did get there at 4:30am, and only live 30 minutes from the airport. I do not agree that you should expect delays at the airport of those we experienced. So if check in opens 2 hours before the flight and you allow 2 hours for delays when you get there you should arrive at 2:30am. Really, with hand on heart you think that is reasonable?
I never said that it was the sole fault of RA, but do think they were culpable, and sure some of the passengers might have gone walkabout, but fear that many just got caught up in the unacceptable queues for security and bag drop.
And no we did not travel over the festivities, very proud of our Queen and made sure we were home for that

Bob_the_Saver

stoneman wrote: »

But Bob, we and those behind us did allow plenty of time. 2 hours in fact. (Ryanairs own advised time) How long would you advise being at an airport to catch a flight? I like yourself travel a lot, longhaul mostly which usually takes even longer than shorthaul to negotiate bag drop and security, but will admit this was my first time at EMA for a while, usually short haul is from BHX. If checkin doesn't open till 2 hours before the flight to be in the head of over 300 people that were already there waiting for it. Bearing in mind the flight was at 6:30am so we did get there at 4:30am, and only live 30 minutes from the airport. I do not agree that you should expect delays at the airport of those we experienced. So if check in opens 2 hours before the flight and you allow 2 hours for delays when you get there you should arrive at 2:30am. Really, with hand on heart you think that is reasonable?
I never said that it was the sole fault of RA, but do think they were culpable, and sure some of the passengers might have gone walkabout, but fear that many just got caught up in the unacceptable queues for security and bag drop.
And no we did not travel over the festivities, very proud of our Queen and made sure we were home for that

I work on the basis if there is a queue be very near the front, whatever it takes, and I would always arrive more than 2 hours before on the basis that my journey to the airport (however short) might be delayed.
I also have the advantage of often not taking checked-in baggage, even long-haul.
I don't mind sitting in airports, their booze tastes much the same as mine at home.
Glad you're proud of Queenie, I was away that day but did sit in the sun and raise my glass to her, (Maybe Phil the Greek should have done the same!)

Mr_Wang

The problem with local airports and no frills airlines is that there are loads of people that have either never flown before, or have flown twice in the last year and consider themselves frequent fliers and of course no one else has ever even been to an airport.

As a frequent flier myself I absolutely dread airports for this very problem and I am always the guy sat next to the guy that needs to be told personally to put his window blind up, tray table up, mobile phone of etc etc etc. The problem is these kind of muppets think no one else on the planet exists other than them and so lack any sort of urgency whatsoever.

Fill an airport with these idiots and its easy to see why you wait so long. The issue is that knowing this, knowing the amount of pax arriving in any given hour in advance - Should the airport be liable for getting you through security in the minimum time they have allotted. I believe so. Time and time again I have seen just one check in dude checking people in and not rushing them off.

That said, I have flown probably 500 times and never missed a flight and I rarely arrive an hour or so before my flight. However, I rarely need to check in or bag drop.
The problem is idiots (and Indians) will fly, I mention Indians because in the beautiful sub continent you have to dedicate half a day for check in. In many airports you have to queue to get in the airport!

But I have to say, I recall many occasions where people have been called forward of the queue for flights leaving imminently. I guess you might just have been unlucky.

Bob_the_Saver

Mr_Wang wrote: »

I am always the guy sat next to the guy that needs to be told personally to put his window blind up, tray table up, mobile phone of etc etc etc. The problem is these kind of muppets think no one else on the planet exists other than them and so lack any sort of urgency whatsoever.

I'm always sat next to him as well, (don't forget his refusal to put the seat back upright) you'd think he'd have learnt by now.

bagand96

Shoddy airline and shoddy airport. Not much more to say really.

duchy

You flew Ryanair ?????

Really ?

I take the attitude when flying from any airport that serves LCC I allow stupid amounts of extra time -Heathrow I'm more relaxed about (but still build in additional travelling time).

As an example I've just booked concert tickets for January to see a show and visit friends-I could have booked to be away for one night flying out early and back late but as it's a LCC (and January so more risk of weather issues) I'm making it a two night trip so I can hopefully avoid some travel stress and enjoy my trip more.

ferf1223

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

I'm always sat next to him as well, (don't forget his refusal to put the seat back upright) you'd think he'd have learnt by now.

Me too!
This fella gets around a LOT!

Glad you made your flight, stoneman...and thank you for incresaing my paranoia about our flight to the US later this week...first one without status since you and duchy helped us with the platinum challenge...it already feels slightly barbaric...I can't even select any of the seats nearer the front without paying...the horror...what will happen when I have no priority check-in or security?

I think we'll get there 4 hours before.

budgetflyer

With all the security issues these days,the Qs are always horrific. if Im going to a bag drop Im there at least 3 hours b4 regardless of airline. Until Im through security Im stressed.

However, on busy days, both airlines and airport should do a bit more to get passengers moving quicker to gate

stephb34

bagand96 wrote: »

Shoddy airline and shoddy airport. Not much more to say really.

Can't comment on the airline haven't flown with them but they seem to be making a profit in these hard times which is an achievement in itself.
As for the airport, its a lovely regional airport, we're lucky to have a choice of ema, manchester, birmingham and doncaster in our area and most of our customers ask for EMA as first choice each time. We flew from EMA 2 weeks ago and most of the queues at check in and security were down to stupid people that hadn't got their tickets and passports ready, the ones who haven't put their liquids in a clear plastic bag, taken their belts and jackets off ready to be scanned, its these that hold the queues up.
On our return at passport control all the desks were manned by human pleasant people, we were straight through in minutes and our luggage was collected and we were out of there in less than 30 minutes. EMA everytime