Not been abroad for 20 years

NoodleDoodleMan

As already said, you really need a backup source of funds, a "user friendly" credit or debit card, preferably both.

Anyway here endeth the lesson - enjoy your holiday.

SUPERGIRL2020

NoodleDoodleMan said:

As already said, you really need a backup source of funds, a "user friendly" credit or debit card

I'm gonna take cash and my credit card

SUPERGIRL2020

My cousin has booked the flights with Ryanair she said she added priority and 2 cabin bags. Ive just been googling Ryanair they have some bad reviews! Oh dear lol  

eskbanker

SUPERGIRL2020 said:

My cousin has booked the flights with Ryanair she said she added priority and 2 cabin bags. Ive just been googling Ryanair they have some bad reviews! Oh dear lol  

Things have probably moved on quite a bit from your previous experiences if they were 20+ years ago!  There has been a significant change in the aviation industry where there are now many cheap and cheerful low-cost airlines who prioritise price over service, and so don't pay a huge amount of attention to negative publicity, with Ryanair in particular thriving on it - however, IMHO there's nothing wrong with the actual travel experience of flying on these airlines as long as you don't expect to be indulged and waited on, so just accept that the flights are a means to an end....

NoodleDoodleMan

As above, Ryanair are OK (everything is relative) as long as you play by their rules.

10 kg cabin baggage could be a challenge I'm thinking for a week in the Canaries.

 

zagfles

SUPERGIRL2020 said:

My cousin has booked the flights with Ryanair she said she added priority and 2 cabin bags. Ive just been googling Ryanair they have some bad reviews! Oh dear lol  

Ryanair are fine provided you understand how they operate. I've been on dozens of flights with them in the last few years. Main things to be aware of are:

1) You will almost certainly be split up if you don't select seats (this is a chargeable extra). Other airlines, even budget ones, will usually sit you together even if you don't pay to select seats. One way to get sitting together a bit cheaper on Ryanair is to allow seats to be randomly allocated at check-in, then you can move one person to a seat next to the other if there's an empty seat there (there always has been when I've tried it, if there isn't then you'd have to pay to move both, but it's worth a try). 

2) Make certain you check in online more than 2 hours before the flight, if you don't they charge a large fee to check in at the airport. You can't check in online under 2 hours before the flight. 

3) Use the app or print boarding passes, you can't use a pdf on your phone but you can use the app. Screenshot of the app boarding pass works. 

4) Don't exceed the dimensions/weight they specify for the bags. They don't always check but sometimes do, and sometimes they'll be fussy about size and other times weight. Include wheels on trolley bags in the dimensions. 

5) They don't usually (ever?) use airbridges so you board from the tarmac, so you'll have steps to climb and may get wet if it's raining. Their business model is fast turnaround limes so they'll board from both ends of the plane usually. It does make boarding and disembarking quicker. 

They're an efficient and IME reliable airline. Most annoying thing I find is lack of seat pockets, but that's because clearing them of rubbish will impact their turnaround times. 

SUPERGIRL2020

eskbanker said:

SUPERGIRL2020 said:

My cousin has booked the flights with Ryanair she said she added priority and 2 cabin bags. Ive just been googling Ryanair they have some bad reviews! Oh dear lol  

Things have probably moved on quite a bit from your previous experiences if they were 20+ years ago!  There has been a significant change in the aviation industry where there are now many cheap and cheerful low-cost airlines who prioritise price over service, and so don't pay a huge amount of attention to negative publicity, with Ryanair in particular thriving on it - however, IMHO there's nothing wrong with the actual travel experience of flying on these airlines as long as you don't expect to be indulged and waited on, so just accept that the flights are a means to an end....

I flew with BA last time I went to Spain it was a lovely experience the plane was quiet we got fed well and the staff were very nice 

SUPERGIRL2020

NoodleDoodleMan said:

10 kg cabin baggage could be a challenge I'm thinking for a week in the Canaries.

 

I was thinking the same but my cuz assures me I'll be fine, last time I went to Spain nobody did this cabin luggage thing and I took the kitchen sink 😂😂😂

eskbanker

SUPERGIRL2020 said:

eskbanker said:

SUPERGIRL2020 said:

My cousin has booked the flights with Ryanair she said she added priority and 2 cabin bags. Ive just been googling Ryanair they have some bad reviews! Oh dear lol  

Things have probably moved on quite a bit from your previous experiences if they were 20+ years ago!  There has been a significant change in the aviation industry where there are now many cheap and cheerful low-cost airlines who prioritise price over service, and so don't pay a huge amount of attention to negative publicity, with Ryanair in particular thriving on it - however, IMHO there's nothing wrong with the actual travel experience of flying on these airlines as long as you don't expect to be indulged and waited on, so just accept that the flights are a means to an end....

I flew with BA last time I went to Spain it was a lovely experience the plane was quiet we got fed well and the staff were very nice 

Flying with BA has also changed over those 20 years - you certainly won't be 'fed well' (in Economy) unless you put your hand in your pocket!

SUPERGIRL2020

zagfles said: 
Don't exceed the dimensions/weight they specify for the bags. They don't always check but sometimes do, and sometimes they'll be fussy about size and other times weight. Include wheels on trolley bags in the dimensions. 

This really worries me Ive bought a small suitcase this is the size