pogoism

Photo by johnc24

I’m usually a big fan of Ryanair, with their cheap flights, and their no-frills approach. I even put up with their fanfare (and sometimes song) when the flight landed on time.

However, my experience yesterday will make me think twice about booking any more flights with them.

It started at the check-in, I was leaving NI for the year, and I had all my things that I’ll need when I’m away. I put the bag on the check-in scales to find out that they were 7kg overweight. Fine, I thought, that’ll only be about £40. Nope, they charge £12 per extra kilo – total £84.

Reluctantly, I paid, thinking that it was about time I got stung by them, and I have had many a cheap flight. Indeed, it’s still cheaper than bringing a car over by boat and collecting it that way.

Then, through security to find the departure lounge packed, for no obvious reason (it being a Monday evening). After struggling to find a seat we found that the plane had been delayed by 45 minutes, due to their tight turn-around times. Then, to queue up at the departure gate before even the plane had arrived.

The flight itself was wonderful, until the end. We landed, only to be informed that there wasn’t a gate free, so we couldn’t get off the flight. There were a lot of irate people by now, including the guy next to me who seemed particularly wound-up.

Anyway, maybe I’ve been very lucky in the last few years of frequent flying, but I’ve not had such a disasterous flight as this one. In the future. I’ll certainly think twice about flying with Ryanair over Flybe on the Belfast City – Stansted route.