Ryanair to charge for priority boarding...
Ryanair to charge for priority boarding...
From Nov 1st passengers will be able to purchase priority boarding for £2/€3 per person per journey for Ryanair flights. This will apply to people traveling with checked bags as well as those with just hand baggage. The announcement is included in a press release about other matters: http://tinyurl.com/yymbbz
It is not entirely clear whether one will be able to Check 'n Go without paying the priority boarding fee nor how exactly checked baggage/priority boarding will work. However it specifically states that there will be no pre-boarding of families with young children, they will have to pay the fees to get on first.
This may not be of much interest to some of us soon as, talking about the ongoing Spanish baggage handlers strikes, a Ryanair spokeswoman is quoted in the Daily Telegraph as saying:
"If the unwarranted and unjustified disruptions to flights in Granada, Seville and Jerez do not stop, then we will be forced to cease operating routes to these airports at the end of November."
It is not entirely clear whether one will be able to Check 'n Go without paying the priority boarding fee nor how exactly checked baggage/priority boarding will work. However it specifically states that there will be no pre-boarding of families with young children, they will have to pay the fees to get on first.
This may not be of much interest to some of us soon as, talking about the ongoing Spanish baggage handlers strikes, a Ryanair spokeswoman is quoted in the Daily Telegraph as saying:
"If the unwarranted and unjustified disruptions to flights in Granada, Seville and Jerez do not stop, then we will be forced to cease operating routes to these airports at the end of November."
Brian.
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I have been informed by Easyjet that they are introducing a priority boarding scheme along the same lines as Ryanair.
The first 20 people applying will be able to "called first" to the plane by paying between £2.50 and £7.50 according to the length of the flight and the airport. It is called "Speedy Boarding".
The first 20 people applying will be able to "called first" to the plane by paying between £2.50 and £7.50 according to the length of the flight and the airport. It is called "Speedy Boarding".
What's the point of priority boarding? Don't they allocate you a seat when you check in? If not, why not? Mytravellight used to do unallocated boarding. All it did was lead to an undignified scrum to get on the plane, which caused more trouble than it was worth and had the potential to delay the flights. Unfortunately if you treat people like cattle they tend to behave like them. The penny dropped and the airline abandoned the practice.
Grouser
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From my experience Monarch, BMIbaby, Jet2 all allocate you a seat number when you check in and Eazyjet didn't last time I used them.
I agree with Grouser about the rush for seats when they are not allocated first. This is especially true if you have a baby or kids as you don't want to be spread out all over the plane.
I agree with Grouser about the rush for seats when they are not allocated first. This is especially true if you have a baby or kids as you don't want to be spread out all over the plane.
I'm not fussed whether I have priority boarding or not; if it's offered I'll take it but I don't want to pay for it. Until now, with Check 'n Go, we got priority boarding, at Stansted at least, as an incentive. Now that they want two quid for it I would pass but I still want web check in so if there is no option I'll pay for that as it saves a LOT of hastle.
Why don't Ryanair allocate seats? It's because they don't use a computerised check in system. It's all manual on sheets of paper so, when using more than one check-in desk, it would be impossible do so without double allocating seats. More chaos!
Why don't Ryanair allocate seats? It's because they don't use a computerised check in system. It's all manual on sheets of paper so, when using more than one check-in desk, it would be impossible do so without double allocating seats. More chaos!
Brian.
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I think the logic behind the 'free-for-all' boarding as used by easyJet and Ryanair is that it encourages passengers to a) check in early, and b) get to the gate in good time, so as to be sure of getting seats together. The downside appears to be that the actual boarding of the aircraft takes longer than if you have people boarding by seat row number.
The whole priority boarding system is a farce at places like Bristol where often they call you up on the A, B, C system but then once through the gate everyone has to get on to a bus to take them to the plane so the priority system is useless. Making you pay extra for this in this situation would be a waste of time and money.
Good grief if that's the case my opinion of Ryanair just dropped even lower. Perhaps rather than wasting time and money on cr*p publicity stunts O'Leary should buy a few workstations and a software package.Why don't Ryanair allocate seats? It's because they don't use a computerised check in system. It's all manual on sheets of paper so, when using more than one check-in desk, it would be impossible do so without double allocating seats. More chaos!
Grouser
Well, I was an avid 'fan' of Ryanair up until I heard the hullaballoo that they have caused with the baggage handlers strikes - and the reasons! My estimation of them has gone right down. They sell their flights as 'free' (0.01£) plus, plus, plus and now even families have to pay to have priority boarding - disgraceful! If I booked my flight via the Internet and never looked at any updates regarding priority boarding, baggage allowance - what would I be able to do if:
1. My checked baggage was over 15kg, thinking it was still 20kg
2. Our family, with a 4 year old child, for example, travelled after 1st November and did not know about the 'priority boarding charge' so checked in as normal and then we were split up (i.e. child at one end of plane on own, parents spread out), then child complained they had been 'molested' by another passenger - then what???? I dread to think....
And then to say that they may consider discontinuing flights to Granada and other Spanish airports at end of November (when we have booked for then -Spain to UK!) if baggage handlers continue to strike - what do we do? Re-book now with Monarch from/to Almeria (nearest airport after Granada) or hang on??? They will probably tell us last minute and then we will be stuck with paying high fares at such short notice - I think we should re-book with Monarch from Almeria - what do you all think??
Ryanair are going to get a big wake up call before long... and I hope it's going to be sooner than later.
1. My checked baggage was over 15kg, thinking it was still 20kg
2. Our family, with a 4 year old child, for example, travelled after 1st November and did not know about the 'priority boarding charge' so checked in as normal and then we were split up (i.e. child at one end of plane on own, parents spread out), then child complained they had been 'molested' by another passenger - then what???? I dread to think....
And then to say that they may consider discontinuing flights to Granada and other Spanish airports at end of November (when we have booked for then -Spain to UK!) if baggage handlers continue to strike - what do we do? Re-book now with Monarch from/to Almeria (nearest airport after Granada) or hang on??? They will probably tell us last minute and then we will be stuck with paying high fares at such short notice - I think we should re-book with Monarch from Almeria - what do you all think??
Ryanair are going to get a big wake up call before long... and I hope it's going to be sooner than later.
A hint of paranoia here methinks
The idea of "priority boarding" is really aimed at passengers who may need assistance with boarding (and may take a bit longer to settle) rather than giving a choice of seats or the ability to "sit together".
If you are concerned at being able to sit together, and in the absence of pre-allocated seating, then the answer is to both check-in early and get to the gate early enough to be at the front(ish) of the queue. All airlines, in my experience, will go to great lengths to make sure young children are not separated from one of their parents - but they will not necessarily clear a block of seats so the whole party sit together.
Gus
The idea of "priority boarding" is really aimed at passengers who may need assistance with boarding (and may take a bit longer to settle) rather than giving a choice of seats or the ability to "sit together".
If you are concerned at being able to sit together, and in the absence of pre-allocated seating, then the answer is to both check-in early and get to the gate early enough to be at the front(ish) of the queue. All airlines, in my experience, will go to great lengths to make sure young children are not separated from one of their parents - but they will not necessarily clear a block of seats so the whole party sit together.
Gus
Don't you? This is from their website:
This will be particularly advantageous for families and groups who wish to travel together.
From 1st November, families with children will no longer be pre-boarded however they will have the option of online check-in and priority boarding if travelling without checked in luggage or priority boarding purchased at the airport if travelling with checked in bags.
Announcing these new routes and additional service enhancements, Michael Cawley Ryanair’s deputy CEO said:
“We are also pleased to extend the option of priority boarding to all passengers, including those travelling with checked in bags. This will make the airport experience much more pleasurable for all of our passengers, allowing them to go to the front of queues at departure gates and choose their preferred seats on board. From 1st November for just £2/€3 per person per flight, families, groups and friends will be able to guarantee their seats together on board."
No matter how early you check in, it all depends on how quickly you can get to the gate to board first and as always, people act like cattle when having to rush to do something!
Why the h**l should you have to pay to sit families together???? OK, so I wouldn't be bothered if travelling on my own with a friend, but with a child you want to sit together.
This will be particularly advantageous for families and groups who wish to travel together.
From 1st November, families with children will no longer be pre-boarded however they will have the option of online check-in and priority boarding if travelling without checked in luggage or priority boarding purchased at the airport if travelling with checked in bags.
Announcing these new routes and additional service enhancements, Michael Cawley Ryanair’s deputy CEO said:
“We are also pleased to extend the option of priority boarding to all passengers, including those travelling with checked in bags. This will make the airport experience much more pleasurable for all of our passengers, allowing them to go to the front of queues at departure gates and choose their preferred seats on board. From 1st November for just £2/€3 per person per flight, families, groups and friends will be able to guarantee their seats together on board."
No matter how early you check in, it all depends on how quickly you can get to the gate to board first and as always, people act like cattle when having to rush to do something!
Why the h**l should you have to pay to sit families together???? OK, so I wouldn't be bothered if travelling on my own with a friend, but with a child you want to sit together.
Re: Ryanair to charge for priority boarding...
So the problem may go away soon anyway.... Then we'll be happy?rafiki wrote:"If the unwarranted and unjustified disruptions to flights in Granada, Seville and Jerez do not stop, then we will be forced to cease operating routes to these airports at the end of November."
Brian.
Imagine this scenario - you have boarded the plane and are looking forward to a relaxed and quiet flight and there is an empty seat next to you. The stewardess plonks a 2 and a half year old in that seat.
Do you
a. Adopt the child for the flight, take it to the loo, feed it etc.
b. Offer to swop seats so that the mother or father can sit there
c. Ignore the child and do nothing
Do you
a. Adopt the child for the flight, take it to the loo, feed it etc.
b. Offer to swop seats so that the mother or father can sit there
c. Ignore the child and do nothing
I used to be indecisive but now I´m not so sure.
Be careful before you do this, Monarch are reducing the number of flights into Almeria over the winter. They have just cancelled my return flight in November and the only alternative they could offer was 2 days earlier or 2½ days later. I've had to cancel & rebook with another airline to Alicante adding ½ a day to the return journeyanewlife wrote: And then to say that they may consider discontinuing flights to Granada and other Spanish airports at end of November (when we have booked for then -Spain to UK!) if baggage handlers continue to strike - what do we do? Re-book now with Monarch from/to Almeria (nearest airport after Granada) or hang on??? They will probably tell us last minute and then we will be stuck with paying high fares at such short notice - I think we should re-book with Monarch from Almeria - what do you all think??
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Of course there is always the alternative, pay extra and fly scheduled with Iberia, BA, etc.
It really p****s me off when I hear people moaning that they want as cheap a flight as possible, but dont want to pay for any extras.
I believe that if someone wants to travel light, with no luggage, and they dont mind where they sit, they should pay less than someone with loads of luggage, often with pushchairs and cots for the kids, and who want to sit at the front.
It really p****s me off when I hear people moaning that they want as cheap a flight as possible, but dont want to pay for any extras.
I believe that if someone wants to travel light, with no luggage, and they dont mind where they sit, they should pay less than someone with loads of luggage, often with pushchairs and cots for the kids, and who want to sit at the front.
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