Ryanair Punctuality - Am I Unlucky ?

[Butts]

Normally a BA Man, but I have slummed it on Ryanair a couple of times in the last 10 Days. (running out of Bensons)

Three out of my four flights have been delayed by around 2 Hours.

Last Monday returning from Cork to Edinburgh, Yesterday Edinburgh to Dublin and back the same day all delayed by the mentioned metric.

One thing they normally have going for them is on time arrivals and departures so have I just been the exception to the rule ?


Talking of Ryanair to avoid paying anything extra I selected random seat selection a bit later for the Dublin jaunt and avoided "piggy in the middle" on both flights. On the Cork trip I checked in as soon as possible and suffered the porcine fate on both flights. Was my later c/in process the best way to avoid PITM ?

On the Dublin -Edinburgh leg yesterday I even got a Four Euro Voucher ( just about covers a coffee - should it have been more ?) refreshment voucher.


One good thing I will say about them is that they sell 200 Bensons for Forty Euros onboard which compares very favourably with the 60 odd in Euros or Pounds at the Dublin and Edinburgh Airport Duty Free Outlets. Both DF shops are obviously profiteering at the customers expense.

One final question does anyone know why you go through Passport Control entering Ireland from the UK but not on the reverse journey ?

 

[SeanG]

Check in as late as possible. In essence they put you in the middle seat to encourage you to pay to change it to an aisle/window.
Many people will check in early - some will pay to move and some will not bother and accept the middle seat. Therefore, the later you leave it the more chance that you will be put in an aisle or window.

I often check in (on my phone) on the way to the airport and I have a number of times been automatically given a priority/extra leg room seat

 

[Tetchytyke]

One final question does anyone know why you go through Passport Control entering Ireland from the UK but not on the reverse journey ?

It's to do with how the Irish interpret the Common Travel Area, which is only available to British and Irish citizens. They check everyone to make sure people are eligible.

I don't know why the UKBA don't take the same attitude.

 

[Butts]

It's to do with how the Irish interpret the Common Travel Area, which is only available to British and Irish citizens. They check everyone to make sure people are eligible.

I don't know why the UKBA don't take the same attitude.

Everyone was brandishing their passports but I just used my Driving Licence.

I did have my Passport as for some reason Ryanair insist on one for UK - ROI even when you don't need one -why ?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Aug 2022 ==

Check in as late as possible. In essence they put you in the middle seat to encourage you to pay to change it to an aisle/window.
Many people will check in early - some will pay to move and some will not bother and accept the middle seat. Therefore, the later you leave it the more chance that you will be put in an aisle or window.

I often check in (on my phone) on the way to the airport and I have a number of times been automatically given a priority/extra leg room seat

What's the cut off 2 Hours before ?

 

[SeanG]

What's the cut off 2 Hours before ?

Something like that, but check

 

[frodshamfella]

I fly on Ryanair from Liverpool frequently , I find them very punctual .

 

[Bletchleyite]

I often check in (on my phone) on the way to the airport and I have a number of times been automatically given a priority/extra leg room seat

Very often exit middle will be available as people will pay to book exit window and exit aisle but won't pay for exit middle as you're likely to be stuck between two hefty blokes. I've never wholly understood why exit/front middle costs the same as exit/front window or aisle as it's clearly hugely less desirable.

If you're quite skinny (or just like sitting between hefty blokes ) but tall, this can be quite a good tactic - works with sleasyJet as well. Generally that will be the last seat to be allocated on a full flight so you want to check in as close to the cut-off as possible to have a chance.

 

[Butts]

Very often exit middle will be available as people will pay to book exit window and exit aisle but won't pay for exit middle as you're likely to be stuck between two hefty blokes. I've never wholly understood why exit/front middle costs the same as exit/front window or aisle as it's clearly hugely less desirable.

If you're quite skinny (or just like sitting between hefty blokes ) but tall, this can be quite a good tactic - works with sleasyJet as well. Generally that will be the last seat to be allocated on a full flight so you want to check in as close to the cut-off as possible to have a chance.

I got moved to an exit seat foc and had the row to myself on a recent flight to Cork as did a few other people.

Obviously no one had paid for them and if you happened to be sitting near one the crew asked for volunteers - that got me out of a "piggy in the middle".

 

[richw]

Ryanair have an average delay of just over 4 mins. So yes I’d say you were unlucky. The worse performing airline is Wizzair with average delay of just under 15 mins.

 

[Elwyn]

Everyone was brandishing their passports but I just used my Driving Licence.

I did have my Passport as for some reason Ryanair insist on one for UK - ROI even when you don't need one -why ?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Aug 2022 ==

They have always insisted on a passport (or a national id card for countries which have one) as their only acceptable proof of id. You would need to ask them their thinking. They used to fly Cork – Dublin and you still had to show a passport for that. There were all sorts of complaints from little old ladies in Cork going up to Dublin to visit a friend, and who had never had a passport in their life. “I don’t need a passport on the train to Dublin, why do I need one on the plane?” Ask Mr O'Leary. It was a commercial decision by Ryanair, rather than anything to do with immigration laws. Perhaps intended to deter fraud?

 

[Bletchleyite]

They have always insisted on a passport (or a national id card for countries which have one) as their only acceptable proof of id. You would need to ask them their thinking. They used to fly Cork – Dublin and you still had to show a passport for that. There were all sorts of complaints from little old ladies in Cork going up to Dublin to visit a friend, and who had never had a passport in their life. “I don’t need a passport on the train to Dublin, why do I need one on the plane?” Ask Mr O'Leary. It was a commercial decision by Ryanair, rather than anything to do with immigration laws. Perhaps intended to deter fraud?

I believe it was because when they introduced online checkin the cheapo system they installed for it could only cope with passport numbers, not the lengthy driving licence numbers. Before online checkin they did, if I recall, allow driving licences for domestic including mainland UK<->NI, though I forget about RoI which is an oddity as passportless travel is only available to British and Irish citizens, and the best way to prove you're one of those is...

 

[The exile]

They have always insisted on a passport (or a national id card for countries which have one) as their only acceptable proof of id. You would need to ask them their thinking. They used to fly Cork – Dublin and you still had to show a passport for that. There were all sorts of complaints from little old ladies in Cork going up to Dublin to visit a friend, and who had never had a passport in their life. “I don’t need a passport on the train to Dublin, why do I need one on the plane?” Ask Mr O'Leary. It was a commercial decision by Ryanair, rather than anything to do with immigration laws. Perhaps intended to deter fraud?

Don’t think this one is unique to Ryanair (in respect of UK -ROI flights, rather than internal ones).

 

[Butts]

Don’t think this one is unique to Ryanair (in respect of UK -ROI flights, rather than internal ones).

I've flown BA to Dublin from the UK and they don't require a Passport, not sure about Aer Lingus and Easyjet.

 

[northwichcat]

Three out of my four flights have been delayed by around 2 Hours.

I'd say you were unlucky. Ryanair, having short turnaround times, may not be the most reliable airline but they aren't normally that bad.

Perhaps they are worse on UK to Ireland flights. After all if a plane does a few hops between the UK and Ireland in the same day, then delays at one particular airport will accumulate more.

Check in as late as possible. In essence they put you in the middle seat to encourage you to pay to change it to an aisle/window.
Many people will check in early - some will pay to move and some will not bother and accept the middle seat. Therefore, the later you leave it the more chance that you will be put in an aisle or window.

I often check in (on my phone) on the way to the airport and I have a number of times been automatically given a priority/extra leg room seat

Most people check in 24 hours before going now, as even if you pay for priority you don't get to check in for free until 24 hours before your flight time. Although, paying for priority can mean you get a carry-on suitcase included for less than paying for it separately!

 

[cactustwirly]

BA isn't great, been over an hour late on a few occasions

 

[SeanG]

Although, paying for priority can mean you get a carry-on suitcase included for less than paying for it separately!

Ah not necessarily - sometimes it's cheaper to add a bag separately. I think their pricing is a law unto itself!

 

[northwichcat]

I've flown BA to Dublin from the UK and they don't require a Passport, not sure about Aer Lingus and Easyjet.

Aer Lingus only used to require photographic proof that you are a British or Irish national.

I think Ryanair's policy is down to them not wanting to separate UK flights from EU ones at Dublin Airport. There they use the departure gates furthest from the entrance.

I think easyJet only serve Northern Ireland.

 

[Bald Rick]

Curiously, I’ve had three friends using Ryanair in the last couple of weeks, and all of them have also reported delays of 2hrs or so.

Naturally, I won’t ever be delayed by Ryanair again.

 

[Huntergreed]

Curiously, I’ve had three friends using Ryanair in the last couple of weeks, and all of them have also reported delays of 2hrs or so.

Naturally, I won’t ever be delayed by Ryanair again.

If any of them have a delay of over 3 hours, make sure you remind them of their right to compensation!

 

[Bald Rick]

If any of them have a delay of over 3 hours, make sure you remind them of their right to compensation!

All around the 2hr mark, so nothing*

However I did remind them of their poor life choices when considering air transport options for their holidays.


* it does seem slightly inequitable that a 2hr flight can be 2hrs late and no compensation is due, but a 4h train journey can be 31 mins late and compensation is paid.

 

[P Binnersley]

If any of them have a delay of over 3 hours, make sure you remind them of their right to compensation!

I had a 3hour 10minute delay earlier this month (aircraft fault). To their credit Ryan Air sent an email confirming the delay before we had left the airport and I received the compensation about two weeks later after filling in a simple online form.

 

[Butts]

All around the 2hr mark, so nothing*

However I did remind them of their poor life choices when considering air transport options for their holidays.


* it does seem slightly inequitable that a 2hr flight can be 2hrs late and no compensation is due, but a 4h train journey can be 31 mins late and compensation is paid.

Really annoying that as you may well be hung for a sheep as a lamb !!

2 Hours SFA and 3 Hours 200 odd sovs to ameliorate your mood.

Must be really galling for Ryanair to hand it over if you've only paid a tenner for the flight

 

[306024]

If any of them have a delay of over 3 hours, make sure you remind them of their right to compensation!

Last time I flew Ryanair (from Dublin a few years ago) we were 3 hours 10 minutes late. A huge cheer went up as we approached Stansted, many of the Irish on board thanking Mr O’Leary for subsidising their weekend in London. I had another flight so was less pleased.

Claiming compensation was not easy. Maybe the website has changed but it was no use back then. They then said it was due to weather, so wouldn’t pay. In fact we were late as they stole our aircraft to do a trip to Glasgow and back while we waited at Dublin. Only after sending them a letter, pointing out it was their operational decision that made us late, did they pay up. Even then I had to wait for the money until the last day they had to pay by.

Naturally, I won’t ever be delayed by Ryanair again either.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Claiming compensation was not easy. Maybe the website has changed but it was no use back then. They then said it was due to weather, so wouldn’t pay.

I’m about to go through this aggro with them. Due to fly out of Berlin last Friday teatime. Thundery showers across Central Europe and some delays. We boarded, sat for an hour, watched various aircraft - including Ryanair - take off and then got told our flight was cancelled due to the weather.

Two hour wait on line to talk to the one Swissport member of staff acting on Ryanair’s behalf (no actual Ryanair staff in Berlin and the crew had scarpered).

Told there’d be a “rescue flight” (how dramatic) at some point the following day and we’d get an email to advise the time, which could be as early as 8am, and to sort a hotel and send the receipts to Ryanair.

Ended up paying £200 for a room 15 miles away. €50 each way for a taxi.

Sat up till 2am and still no email, so given it could be an 8am flight we had to set hourly alarms to check for the vital email. Eventually got an email at 430am advising the flight was 14:10. Bliss - four hours sleep now!

14:10 became 15:10 became 15:45 became 17:15 became 17:55……absolute nightmare

On the positive side, because we were cabin bags only it only took us 25 minutes from the wheels touching the tarmac to being at the station

 

[Cloud Strife]

I think Ryanair's policy is down to them not wanting to separate UK flights from EU ones at Dublin Airport. There they use the departure gates furthest from the entrance.

I believe that the reason was simply that Ryanair didn't want the hassle of people using different documents, and so it was easier to impose a blanket passport/national ID card requirement. They were forced into accepting different documents in Italy, but clearly the UK government doesn't care enough about the CTA to do likewise.

 

[island]

One final question does anyone know why you go through Passport Control entering Ireland from the UK but not on the reverse journey ?

Irish airports can't/don't/won't (delete as applicable) segregate passengers arriving from the UK; as they are mixed with other international arrivals everyone goes through the same controls on arrival. In fact Ireland's very few domestic flights also dump you into passport control. You can pass through in these scenarios with other satisfactory evidence of identity and origin, but depending on how officious the person in the booth is, this can be slower. Irish people who cross the Irish Sea frequently will usually have a passport card for the purpose.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Sep 2022 ==

I believe it was because when they introduced online checkin the cheapo system they installed for it could only cope with passport numbers, not the lengthy driving licence numbers. Before online checkin they did, if I recall, allow driving licences for domestic including mainland UK<->NI, though I forget about RoI which is an oddity as passportless travel is only available to British and Irish citizens, and the best way to prove you're one of those is...

For a while after online check-in they allowed driving licences for those routes but required you to check in at the airport (at no charge). This was done away with long ago.

* it does seem slightly inequitable that a 2hr flight can be 2hrs late and no compensation is due, but a 4h train journey can be 31 mins late and compensation is paid.

This primarily comes down to the fact that compensation for late flights isn't actually provided for in statute; the right came about by way of (what imo was outrageous) judicial law-making by the European Court of Justice in 2009, when the court tortured the section of the regulation on cancellation compensation into providing for delay compensation also.

The UK government has said it plans to roll this back and make delay compensation be a percentage of the price of the fare, and the European Commission has expressed an intention to increase the 3 hour threshold to 5 for short haul and 9 or 12 for long haul flights, but it is unclear if or when this will come to pass.

 

[Snow1964]

Irish airports can't/don't/won't (delete as applicable) segregate passengers arriving from the UK; as they are mixed with other international arrivals everyone goes through the same controls on arrival. In fact Ireland's very few domestic flights also dump you into passport control.

I flew Bristol-Dublin (Ryanair) 3 weeks ago, and there was no passport control at either airport.

Dublin was T1 (the pier on North side, with the long curved bridge), at Bristol just made everyone walk around 2 sides of a building (outside) and cross an internal road to baggage hall.

Ryanair did text a voucher code for upto €4 per person non alcoholic drinks from terminal cafes at the 2 hour delay point. But they went all out to ensure the arrival at Bristol was just under 3 hours, even though push back at Dublin was at 3 hrs 5 mins after scheduled departure. Clearly didn’t want to hit the 3 hour when compensation was due.

 

[island]

I flew Bristol-Dublin (Ryanair) 3 weeks ago, and there was no passport control at either airport.

Dublin was T1 (the pier on North side, with the long curved bridge), at Bristol just made everyone walk around 2 sides of a building (outside) and cross an internal road to baggage hall.

Ryanair did text a voucher code for upto €4 per person non alcoholic drinks from terminal cafes at the 2 hour delay point. But they went all out to ensure the arrival at Bristol was just under 3 hours, even though push back at Dublin was at 3 hrs 5 mins after scheduled departure. Clearly didn’t want to hit the 3 hour when compensation was due.

Bristol to Dublin would have had passport control in Dublin. Dublin to Bristol would not.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Irish airports can't/don't/won't (delete as applicable) segregate passengers arriving from the UK; as they are mixed with other international arrivals everyone goes through the same controls on arrival. In fact Ireland's very few domestic flights also dump you into passport control. You can pass through in these scenarios with other satisfactory evidence of identity and origin, but depending on how officious the person in the booth is, this can be slower. Irish people who cross the Irish Sea frequently will usually have a passport card for the purpose.

I actually know someone who had a problem on a Derry-Dublin flight for this reason. She had taken the old Aer Arann service, and upon arrival in Dublin, she was shocked to discover that she had to go through passport control there. She didn't have her passport, and as a non-CTA citizen, she had no right to travel without it. To cut a long story short, after explaining the situation, she was detained until a senior officer could turn up to deal with her. The guy turned up, took one look at her and told her that she was free to go. She asked him why, and he said "Derry is in Ireland, so as far as I'm concerned, it's a domestic flight".

Clearly he couldn't be bothered to deal with the situation, but it did expose the problem of Ireland having arrival controls for passengers from the CTA.

I remember about 20 years ago in Dublin Airport, at least part of T1 was designed in such a way that arrivals were mixing with people departing as well. I remember being dumped into one part of T1 where there was just a guy standing there at the exit, and CTA arrivals were just waved through with minimal fuss. We were deposited into the departure lounge at the time, and there was no separation of departing and arriving passengers. I haven't used anything other than the Ryanair pier in recent years, so there's always separation there.

Bristol to Dublin would have had passport control in Dublin. Dublin to Bristol would not.

It's not entirely uncommon for CTA arrivals in the UK to be checked, especially at smaller airports where checks can be made for training purposes. Even at Stansted, I've had the situation where we were diverted into the immigration hall 'randomly'.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I flew to Gatwick from Ireland and was sent via some form of passport control on return, showing the boarding card (but not passport) was necessary to pass.