1778 Ryan Air

Cannot get involved in a debate re Ryan Air as have never used them!!!!!!!
Always use Easyjet with no problems......so far.

[QUOTE=DavidandLinda]Cannot get involved in a debate re Ryan Air as have never used them!!!!!!!
Always use Easyjet with no problems......so far.[/QUOTE]

Am I missing something here :confused: I didn't think that Easy Jet flew to either Bari or Brindisi ... only Ryan Air.

Bad wine or not Elaine. It's cheap and it's the only 'game' in town. Bring your own wine and sarnies ;)

Wow Elaine, £65 return, your obviously rollin in it :p , my last ones cost me £3.98 return (plus the £12 tax) and Feb paid £2 return. Saw some for Xmas shoppin in December for 6p return.......... :D

[QUOTE=Susan P]Am I missing something here :confused: I didn't think that Easy Jet flew to either Bari or Brindisi ... only Ryan Air.

Bad wine or not Elaine. It's cheap and it's the only 'game' in town. Bring your own wine and sarnies ;)[/QUOTE]

Sorry maybe we misunderstood thought the thread was Ryan Air generally not just Puglia region!!!!!!

[QUOTE=paula hampson]Wow Elaine, £65 return, your obviously rollin in it :p , my last ones cost me £3.98 return (plus the £12 tax) and Feb paid £2 return. Saw some for Xmas shoppin in December for 6p return.......... :D[/QUOTE]

That's incredible Paula. How far did you have to book in advance to get those prices. I thought that I'd done well ... I was wrong :o

For instance I have just this minute looked their website as we missed picking up our deeds for the house this time round (forgot about the holidays at the begining of this week) and need to go back for a long weekend just hubby and I (excuse really). Going out between 10th and 29th Nov there are 7 available flights at 1p from Stansted to Brindisi. Coming back between 22nd Nov and 10th Dec there are 7 available flights at 1p. All we do is choose the cheapest out and back which we'll now be able to do for the expensive price of 2p return (plus £12) Just use the "find cheapest flights" option on their home page. :D

[QUOTE=Susan P] How far did you have to book in advance to get those prices. I thought that I'd done well ... I was wrong :o[/QUOTE]

Somewhere on Ryanair's website there is a link to where you can request to be put on their e-mailing list. Once you are on this list you will automatically recieve notification of all their special offers. The downside is that you also receive e-mails re car hire, hotels, insurance etc, but the HUGE bonus is that you find out about their free or 99p offers in advance so do not have to constantly check the site for any offers.

Regards
Anne2

Ah Ryanair Now you've started something........... Does anyone out there know how to contact them. I have read in this forum that many (me included )would like to fly to Ancona from somewhere other than Stanstead. Could we as a collective write to Ryanair with a request to fly there from Liverpool or somwhere central. What do you think????

[QUOTE=anne2]Somewhere on Ryanair's website there is a link to where you can request to be put on their e-mailing list. Once you are on this list you will automatically recieve notification of all their special offers. The downside is that you also receive e-mails re car hire, hotels, insurance etc, but the HUGE bonus is that you find out about their free or 99p offers in advance so do not have to constantly check the site for any offers.

Regards
Anne2[/QUOTE]

Many thanks for that information Anne. I'll have a look and try to register.

Chris, I regularly send a mail message requesting a Liverpool to Brindisi/Bari route but to no avail (yet :D ), I've registered, so every time they mail me I just send a reply back with my request. ;)

There's good and bad in Ryanair like most things. We've already had a nice colourful discussion on the forum about the company's approach to disabled travellers.

I would say it's great if you don't have school-age children. Those 1p bargains are strictly for midweekers flying at less popular times of the year. People forced to fly during traditional holidays subsidise those who don't have to (no complaints I guess - that's the market, folks).

One thing that's always bugged me is unallocated seating. Those scrums at check-in!

Worth starting a family for to get to the head of the queue, though... :)

Mike

I oscillate between BA and flythomson ([url]www.britanniadirect.com[/url])

flythomson cos they fly from Coventry and BA cos I can get a train from Bedford direct to Gatwick without changing - Stansted - is just a pain in the glass

And the flights I tend to book are last minute - and Ryanair aint always that cheap (to Pisa)

[QUOTE=GlenB]
flythomson cos they fly from Coventry [/QUOTE]

Not in the winter they don't!

One thing to be said for Ryanair - they've stuck with the Stansted-Pisa route year-round.

Mike

I prefer to use Aer Lingus where possible - seats allocated in advance, no stampede at departure gate, more comfortable (and prices seem to be dropping).
However, I use Ryanair just as much. Everyone I know who uses them complains about their experience to varying degrees (including me), but everyone will continue to use them.

[QUOTE=DavidandLinda]Sorry maybe we misunderstood thought the thread was Ryan Air generally not just Puglia region!!!!!![/QUOTE]

My apologies David and Linda, you're right. I'm afraid I'm a bit Puglia fixated at the moment :o

Can't understand the check-in scrum. Everyone has a seat or you wouldn't be let through.

I prefer to stay at the back and take whatever is available. The less choice the better for me. If faced with an empty plane I wouldn't know where to sit. We've often got the emergency exits getting on towards the back of the queue. I actually prefer the orginary seats. Feel too exposed with more room (how ridiculous but that my psyche for you).

If you have children and its essential you sit together you're let on first anyway.

I flew back on Tuesday evening with Ryanair, alone with 4 kids and couldn't believe some folk. The first in the children's que was a couple with one baby but with them was another three couple all childless who could have gone through with everybody else. They let them all through first then followed by another couple with two small children and then myself with my brood. Whilst we were shuffling forward a woman actually climed over the barrier and tried to get behind the first lot of people and pretend she was with them :mad: . This woman must have been 50 if she was a day but she had a full head of dreadlocks and looked a fright :eek: (appologies to any dreadlock hair'd members) and obviously thought she took preference. She was spotted and pulled to one side. I hope she was kept until the last ;) .

[QUOTE=elainecraig]However, nice one Ryan Air! Its changed its vile red wine. I was beaten by this poisonous 'drink', the only thing apart from my putrid Marasalla wine called Terra Arse that I couldnt drink, even meths was delicious compared to this battery acid. But its changed and for £5 I should co-co!!![/QUOTE]

Elaine, you'll be delighted to hear that on the very day you posted that, Ryanair started its very own Wine Club.....
[url]http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=05&month=nov&story=gen-en-031105[/url]

[QUOTE=Marc]Elaine, you'll be delighted to hear that on the very day you posted that, Ryanair started its very own Wine Club.....
[url]http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=05&month=nov&story=gen-en-031105[/url][/QUOTE]

And soon to introduce in-flight gambling, so I read in the papers a couple of days ago. Forget 1p a flight, according to a Ryan Air spokesman, all flights could be free of charge. Just turn up at the airport and queue for your destination, first come, first served.

I bet that would cause a few 'scrums' at the check in ;)

Whilst i agree parents and their children,disabled people should board first, rightfully so, but when you get a handful of so called disabled people, practally running with their walking sticks on the tarmac to the plane, makes you wonder.......... even though they are ahead of everyone else, lt was hilairious watching it. :rolleyes:

Ryanair are great until things go wrong (if thats not stating the bleedin obvious). Some friends of ours were due back on the Ancona flight on the Wed of half term week. Apparantly due to weather conditions they cancelled the flight and a whole plane load was stuck at Ancona - because all flights were fully booked there was no other Ancona or Pescara flight for 5 days, nothing from Rome or Bologna - the only thing they were offered was a Milan flight to Glasgow making their own way to Milan the next day. Or their money back.
Eventually they chartered a coach with some other passengers to Calais and made their own way home from Calais at significantly more expense than the refund and huge hassle all round. In effect they were dumped by Ryanair - I think they will have a go at getting recompense but I doubt they will get anywhere. I doubt insurance will pay either - that only covers the cost of your original flight - not a replacement journey.You can only fax Ryanairs customer relations dept - no email address or phone numbers. I think other airlines would have attempted to get seats on rival carriers for passengers (I've been bumped off BA flights in the past and put on other lines) but Ryanair do not seem to have these reciprocal arrangements.
I wish I could 'pay me money and make me choice' but only they fly the southern Italy routes.
It would be fantastic if they made more flights out of Liverpool or Nottingham and I don't mind paying a bit more if it meant they took a bit more care of you when things went wrong..

M

If you pay peanuts you get monkies.Can anyone give me an Italian translation of that one?

I find if you get the Ryan air flight from Stanstead to Pescara in the summer you need to be there before 5.30am or you may not make it to the gate in time due to the queues!Several missed the last flight I was on. Has anyone got news on that flight now and times to arrive to catch it.

Oueueing brings out the worse in all of us......our first ever viewing trip to Abruzzo coincided with the Pope's funeral and I dont think that Pescara Airport has ever seen so much action as they were coping with flights diverted from Rome !!Still we did get a chance to chat to some HAI clients in the queue which was helpful.I find the cafe in the airport is excellent and I usually stay there filling up on coffee and cakes until 20 mins before dept.

The Auchan store opens at 8.30am and it takes 2 mins to walk there from the airport .You can stock up on food and may even find some wine for your flight!!

Sorry to talk ony about Abruzzo

Ciao Becky

Great responses and some good ideas for other flights, I did'nt even know that Thompson had flights only (duh). Theres nothing, no bar, no food, no seats, once you go through Brindisi airport so taking your own refreshments is something I've got to remember :rolleyes:

This is going to be very controversial, but I do agree parents with children and the disabled should board first, but sometimes I wish there were an option for adult only flights when going long haul. I'd pay more for a long kip then if you get a 'family' flight then fair enough if you kept awake by a single 'free' flight screaming baby. Sorry chaps I did have the flight from hell going to Bangkok, and looked like the living dead on arrival and rather spoilt the short time I had there catching up on kip...gosh stop whinging lainie stop whining... ;) must go...

[QUOTE=elainecraig]..... I wish there were an option for adult only flights when going long haul..[/QUOTE]

OK, it's not going to help you once you board but you might always like to conisder the [url=http://secure.baa.com/baabook/baabook.asp?p=l&src=WSTN73]lounges[/url] that are at nearlly every airport (but only usually open to business/first class passengers. On many you can take advantage of them if you pay a couple of bob.

It gives you the opportunity to get out of the hub-bub & into a much more scerene environment; whilst it costs a few bob, it's a barrier from the ghastly masses ;)

If you look at

[url]http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/flightchecker/[/url]

they deal with most uK budget flights [excluding Easyjet - who won't play ball] - so you can work out when its cheapest to fly

[QUOTE=tuscanhills]OK, it's not going to help you once you board but you might always like to conisder the [url="http://secure.baa.com/baabook/baabook.asp?p=l&src=WSTN73"]lounges[/url] that are at nearlly every airport (but only usually open to business/first class passengers.[/QUOTE]

I'll have to keep my eyes open next time for the Ryanair 'Club Class' lounge. Haven't spotted that one yet. ;) Do they sell scratch cards there too?

Derek

Manopello
The Pescara flights have gone to much more civilised times this Winter but only 3 days a week - not sure what they are doing for next Summer yet. Its now a midday takeoff I think and late afternoon back..Much netter for me coming from Manc to Stansted, hope they stick with it.

M

Frantiani, I nearly wet myself laughing then because it reminded me of our local Social Club. 95% of the folk in there are on disability pension but by god they can't half dance with the artist once they've had a few. We've even know some to go back the next night to collect their walking sticks they'd forgoten the night before :D ;) :rolleyes: ;)

Paula what a fab idea since I am sooo much older than you I can buy a walking stick or crutch, make reassuring 'ooooww' and 'ouch' noises and then hobble onto the plane first no problem. Its either that or I borrow my nieces 'crybaby' doll, clutching it tightly to my chest, although I'm certain its possessed like Chucky!!!! :eek:

Nice one Elaine ;) , then once you've baged the best seats, switch off at the back and throw the thing in the overhead locker. Wish some of the passengers on our flight could have done that with their kids. One bloke let his little girl stand accross the isle on the seat arm rests. Can't repeat what I was thinking at the time :mad:

[QUOTE=Susan P]My apologies David and Linda, you're right. I'm afraid I'm a bit Puglia fixated at the moment :o[/QUOTE]
Thats Ok no problem. We are all passionate about our own particular regions.

Just wanted to say thanks to Ryan Air - without them I couldn't have lived in Italy and worked in the UK. They really are a godsend, and I must be doing it so much as I've started to recognise the staff.

Thanks so much for making my life much easier and what a great bus service it is. I even did a day trip to Rome to meet my daughter a few weeks ago - really tiring, but what an adventure.

ohmygosh!

Praise for Ryanair :D

Actually, I ahve to agree with VillaSibillini, the availability of Ryanair helped us with our move too......... but I wouldn't be British if I couldn't moan about SOMETHING!

[QUOTE=Marinaw]Ryanair are great until things go wrong (if thats not stating the bleedin obvious). Some friends of ours were due back on the Ancona flight on the Wed of half term week. Apparantly due to weather conditions they cancelled the flight and a whole plane load was stuck at Ancona - because all flights were fully booked there was no other Ancona or Pescara flight for 5 days, nothing from Rome or Bologna - the only thing they were offered was a Milan flight to Glasgow making their own way to Milan the next day. Or their money back.
Eventually they chartered a coach with some other passengers to Calais and made their own way home from Calais at significantly more expense than the refund and huge hassle all round. In effect they were dumped by Ryanair - I think they will have a go at getting recompense but I doubt they will get anywhere. I doubt insurance will pay either - that only covers the cost of your original flight - not a replacement journey.You can only fax Ryanairs customer relations dept - no email address or phone numbers. I think other airlines would have attempted to get seats on rival carriers for passengers (I've been bumped off BA flights in the past and put on other lines) but Ryanair do not seem to have these reciprocal arrangements.
I wish I could 'pay me money and make me choice' but only they fly the southern Italy routes.
It would be fantastic if they made more flights out of Liverpool or Nottingham and I don't mind paying a bit more if it meant they took a bit more care of you when things went wrong..

M[/QUOTE]

They seem to be having a good go at forcing Ryanair to compensate them. ;) I saw your friends on the television news today.... and the story is on the BBC News website [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4416804.stm]here[/url] as well.

Aha! actually thats not my friends but its obviously the same coach they hitched a lift on. Thanks for spotting it - I'll be very interested to see if they win anything back.
Good for them for having a go though..
M

Yippee! Just bought flights to go back to Italy 9-13 Dec for £0.01 each way (£25 including taxes) :D

We've never had any problems with Ryanair at all ( lucky I guess ) ..and we used them loads when we were looking in Abruzzo and in Puglia. The flights were cheaper than a return train ticket from our UK town to London!
When we moved for good in April it cost the two of us £50 and the dog came with Alitalia via Rome and cost £700 !! :eek:
I used to be a travel agent and have flown with loads of different airlines...ooooh the stories i could tell !!! ;)