Ryanair Baggage labels - do you now have to DIY at the airport?

agarnett

Lorian wrote: »

I fly a lot. Rarely is there a queue at these machines where I fly (not stanstead). If there is its usually just formed by bemused people.

Go to weighing machine machine (often there is little/no queing ettiquette for machines)
Scan boarding pass
Put case on scales
confirm there are no prohibited items
wait for lable to be printed
(on some) peel off backing of label
attach label to handle of case (wrap around and stick two halves together)
Confirm label attached
Keep receipt safe
Take bag to bad drop PAST the scales - manned (Queuing Ettiquette applies here)
(present boarding pass and ID) put bag on conveyor.

It takes longer to type this than to actually do it

Hi Lorian

At your airport (not Stansted) are you saying there is a completely separate bag drop for DIY labelled bags? Obviously if it is truly a way to avoid queues at the normal bag drop desk, then it makes supreme sense to do as you say, but at Stansted, I have never noticed a separate bag drop, other than the oversized or fragile items one, and I don't think many travellers even know that one is there either! It is possible that is exactly the conveyor at Stansted which DIY'ers can use, but I wouldn't mind betting that anyone using machines at Stansted (that is if they still exist - I even have half an idea they may have removed them at one point!) might still blindly queue up with everyone else dropping off bags at the desk and expecting the staff to do the labelling!

All Ryanair airports are different (even the bag sizers according to one recent thread!)

Lorian

Seagull27 wrote: »

Thanks for describing the full procedure. That makes it very clear. And no doubt if the back pack cannot go on the manned conveyors, the people there will tell you to take it to the "oversized" area, which is what usually happens in the past. I think it is because of all the straps on the bags which means they might end up getting caught in the machines...

You are correct. This happens to people in front of my quite often. Anything heavy, funny shaped or with strings/straps

fpcat

Sorry to resurrect an old thread. We flew from Stansted with Ryanair last year, and used the self service baggage machine. I checked the checkin board and was directed to the self serve machines. As far as I could see there was no option of using checkin desks. At 0500 a.m. there was a queue of at least 200 people, and the queue was moving so slowly, caused not by people not understanding but by the checking of paperwork done by Ryanair staff before you got to the machines. After getting through that, and security we had to run to the gate. We are going on the same journey again in a few weeks, and don't want to have the same hassle again.Has anyone used Stansted's self-service machines recently, and is this how it is now, with no option of a desk, or am I getting worked up over a one-off event?

richardw

Avoid STN and Ryanair at the crack o dawn, there are too many flights and people, it will always be painful.

fpcat

Yes, Ryanair and Stansted at 05.00 are painful. Unfortunately they only fly at 07.30, or BA from Gatwick also about that time. We don't have a choice, except booking a holiday which works out so much dearer. But thanks for your reply, I quite agree with you, we started going when Ryanair had flights in the afternoon. I don't really like Stansted since they revamped their airside shop area. I shall just have to put a brave face on it.

richardw

Can you get there at 4.30am to use the machine?
Where are you flying to ? I will have a look at some future alternatives.