Flying with Ryanair? I'm scared of getting stung?

Dogger69

NFH wrote: »

The thing I fear most about flying with Ryanair is that they'll weigh my cabin baggage at the gate and then sting me with a surcharge for putting it in the hold. In practice, they're much more interested in size than weight, but it can happen. 10kg isn't a lot for cabin baggage; mine is usually around 15kg. Be prepared and work out in advance which heavy items you can remove from your cabin baggage and put in your pockets if this happens to you.

Then you need to learn to pack properly! I can manage for a week on 10kg, and I still take way too much.

Again, if you stick to the rules you won't have a problem.

paulineb_2

NFH wrote: »

Did this cause a problem? Did Ryanair refuse accept it?

No they did accept it but obviously the return boarding pass was useless and they got a bit of a lecture for being so daft.

paulineb_2

NFH wrote: »

The thing I fear most about flying with Ryanair is that they'll weigh my cabin baggage at the gate and then sting me with a surcharge for putting it in the hold. In practice, they're much more interested in size than weight, but it can happen. 10kg isn't a lot for cabin baggage; mine is usually around 15kg. Be prepared and work out in advance which heavy items you can remove from your cabin baggage and put in your pockets if this happens to you.

Ive found sometimes that the cage you put your case in to see whether it fits before you can take it on as hand luggage varies a lot from carrier to carrier. I had real trouble getting mine to fit on bmi baby whereas Ive never had any issues with ryanair or easyjet.

And my case was under the required weight but wouldnt fit in the cage. Some airlines make you weigh the case before you get on the plane in front of staff, others dont.

I saw a woman once be charged 40 quid by easyjet because her case was the wrong shape, it was kind of egg shaped, she could have carried it on board but they wouldnt allow her to take it on as hand luggage.

NFH

Dogger69 wrote: »

Then you need to learn to pack properly! I can manage for a week on 10kg, and I still take way too much.

I don't travel lightly and don't want to. British Airways allows 23kg of cabin baggage (subject to the normal size rules) and I don't have to pack my laptop into my main case; this is a reasonable policy. I therefore fly with British Airways whenever possible and fly Ryanair only if there is no other option.

Dogger69 wrote: »

Again, if you stick to the rules you won't have a problem.

It is Ryanair's rules that are the problem!

Bob_the_Saver

Stick to the size and weight you've agreed to in the booking
conditions and no problem, if you try to cheat Ryanair by taking
oversize/overweight cabin bags and get caught don't complain
just pay up the very large penalty they will charge you with a smile.

And quite right too.

NFH

paulineb wrote: »

Ive found sometimes that the cage you put your case in to see whether it fits before you can take it on as hand luggage varies a lot from carrier to carrier. I had real trouble getting mine to fit on bmi baby whereas Ive never had any issues with ryanair or easyjet.

Good point. Ryanair's cage is dangerous too. Twice when lifting my case out of the cage, the cage has fallen over because it is not properly weighted or fixed to the floor. Given that the cage is tall and made of metal, this has the potential to cause serious injury.

Bob_the_Saver

NFH wrote: »

It is Ryanair's rules that are the problem!

No that's what you are paying for. If you get in my car you can't smoke (just try it :eek: ) - my car my rules full stop, take the bus.

NFH

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

Stick to the size and weight you've agreed to in the booking
conditions and no problem, if you try to cheat Ryanair by taking
oversize/overweight cabin bags and get caught don't complain
just pay up the very large penalty they will charge you with a smile.

Potential passengers shouldn't have to check the cabin baggage policy of each airline before booking. Passengers have a reasonable expectation that the allowance will be similar across all airlines (with exceptions only for very small aircraft).

For this reason, the European Commission is considering imposing an EU-wide minimum inclusive cabin baggage allowance. It will probably follow the standard IATA size (56x45x25cm) and a reasonable weight allowance such as 15kg. To be fair to Ryanair, it's not the worst culprit here; Wizz has prompted this action.

Dogger69

NFH wrote: »

Potential passengers shouldn't have to check the cabin baggage policy of each airline before booking. Passengers have a reasonable expectation that the allowance will be similar across all airlines (with exceptions only for very small aircraft).

Why shouldn't they have to check? Does every retailer have the same terms and conditions? I have no expectation before I familiarise myself with the rules of the individual service provider, that way there are no nasty surprises.

If someone cannot follow very basic instructions, perhaps they would be best to stay at home?

NFH

Dogger69 wrote: »

Why shouldn't they have to check?

Because the primary purpose of unusually low allowances (and consequent at-the-gate surcharges) is to generate an additional revenue stream for the airline and to subsidise other passengers' lower headline fares. If it was about the fuel cost of carrying the additional weight, they'd be surcharging obese passengers too.

Unreasonably different allowances and surcharges distort competition. It would be a more level playing field if airlines competed on headline fares and quality of service, rather than less-than-obvious surcharges.