Something I’ve never understood....Jet2 flight price includes a 10kg bag, which you can check in FOC should you wish. I did so last month, and have done for years.
If I’m taking my collapsible trekking pokes I have to, because, to the best of my knowledge, they aren’t allowed in the cabin.
RYR...I pay extra for the 10kg bag, which is fine, but then if I want to check that bag in, I pay extra again.
Most folks prefer to keep the bag onboard with them...quicker exit from the airport and no chance of it going missing.
checking in your paid for bag frees up onboard overhead locker space.
The RYR system is a mild irritant...the cheap entry level RYR price is great if you don’t have any bags. Not quite so cheap if you have to pay extra twice given the above scenario.
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Its just one of the considerations you have to consider when planning your cheap flight. In truth there is little to chose between RA and EJ for example, both have similar (but not quite same dimensions) hand baggage rules, so at the end of the day the choice is invariably whats your best flight time by destinations.
For me, Alicante from LGW usually means EZY.
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>>usually means EZY...
I must admit EZY is my preferred carrier for city hops. Got me out of a jam once when I missed a business flight due to traffic without been too expensive for a last minute booking.
On a more serious note, when I was taken ill on an EZY flight they were exceptional and I'm glad there happened to be a doctor on board - though and the air-host was trained in getting me in to the recovery position etc. I understand that at one point they were quite prepared to divert to the nearest airport which would have been Liverpool John Lennon on the say-so of the doctor but luckily that wasn't needed
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I was on any EZY flight diverted to Frankfurt at 01.00 because of a sick passenger. Frankfurt airport deserted and no one in arrivals to assist. Plane could not take off after unloading sick passenger because of local noise regulations Took a couple of hours before they could get our baggage off and then another hour finding a taxi to the hotel they had booked. Got to bed about 05.00 to get up at 08.00 to get tax back to airport for the 12.00:flight they had arranged.
And no there was no compensation as was a medical emergency.
Last edited by: CGNorwich on Mon 20 Feb 23 at 14:39
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>>I
>> understand that at one point they were quite prepared to divert to the nearest airport
>> which would have been Liverpool John Lennon on the say-so of the doctor but luckily
>> that wasn't needed
Which is a very good reason to have travel insurance.
A relative was flying back from Mexico when their heart stopped. A doctor on board kept them going and the flight diverted to North America. Passengers had to be accommodated overnight, the plane re-fuelled and the crew rested, as they would have exceeded their hours if the flight continued to the UK.
Fortunately, they were insured. I dread to think what that would have cost.
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>> understand that at one point they were quite prepared to divert to the nearest airport
Not prepared, but duty bound under international airline regulations.
Not much good to you in the middle of the Atlantic of course.
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>>Not much good to you in the middle of the Atlantic of course.
Funnily enough jogged a memory - when Master Z was 8 we were flying back from Florida on a Virgin 747 and he was suffering from what appeared to be appendicitis. Real pain. Mrs Z and I were very worried as was a doctor on board.
We were an hour over the Atlantic and the doctor recommended turning back and the flight crew were advised. One of the flight crew even came down to see how he was and said that they had already called for clearance to turn around.
Luckily it wasn't appendicitis and Master Z made a full recovery.
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>>Ill on a plane...
One good thing - I got priority treatment when landed. First off the plane to a waiting ambulance. Never saw customs! :-D
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>> >>Ill on a plane...
>>
>> One good thing - I got priority treatment when landed. First off the plane to
>> a waiting ambulance. Never saw customs! :-D
Yup ditto when I broke my hip in Cuba, tho last off the plane, it was bleep bleep trolley straight through immigration, customs, bags picked up prior to luggage conveyor, delivered to private car (Luxury Vito) in 20 minutes.
It took longer to convince UK A&E I had a broken hip.
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Had you sobered up by then? Seem remember you fell down some steps while “socialising” ?
;-)
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>> Had you sobered up by then? Seem remember you fell down some steps while “socialising”
>> ?
Hemmingways favourite bar (one of many I seem to recall), so I was "exploring and soaking up the local history and culture"
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....I think it must have been where he wrote "A Farewell to Legs".....
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>> ....I think it must have been where he wrote "A Farewell to Legs".....
No it was incomprehensible, so had to be written by someone else.
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Talking of alcohol...anyone own up to drinking alcohol at an airport at silly early o’clock ?
That’s not my thing, nor is alcohol in any airport. For an early flight I find a quiet corner and bury my head in a book. I just couldn’t, even if it was a favourite real ale.
A female friend of mine, an occasional drinker,, always without fail has an alcoholic drink or two at the airport. Even at 5AM because ‘ it’s the start of the holiday ‘. Nothing to do with fear of flying.
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No. I'm very careful about what I eat and drink before a flight. Bad enough being folded up like a pen knife for hours, without risking biliousness or bellywark.
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Airports are strange places aren’t they? In a sane world they would be quiet places with plenty of seating, adequate toilet facilities and just few shops selling stuff you might actually need on your journey together with some decent places to eat at reasonable prices. No need for alcohol at all .
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.
>> No need for alcohol at all .
Travel hubs have never been quiet places in the entire history of movement. Alcohol has also been a travel partner, long before the wright brothers came along.
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Yes I guess so. Coaching inns etc. some airports are of course better than others. Stansted is pretty awful these days. Prefer Gatwick. I tend to use the Premier Inn at the terminal the night before to minimise my time in the actual airport.
Actually on the island of La Palma at the moment which has a large and very under used airport built at the height of EU subsidies
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Stansted is pretty awful these days. Prefer Gatwick.
Stansted must be bad.
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It’s a shopping mall where you can catch a plane.
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>> It’s a shopping mall where you can catch a plane.
>>
Sounds pretty much like Gatwick. Or most medium/large airports.
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>> Stansted is pretty awful these days. Prefer Gatwick.
>>
>> Stansted must be bad.
As major UK airports go, Gatwick departure is not bad. With automated bag drop its fast through checkin, & security, Its compact, its has everything you need, flight delay times are minimal, ok some of the gates are a bit of a hike. Arriving - different matter *sometimes* at Border control, and bag collection. They seem to be bad at peak planning.
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When Stansted first opened it was a wonderful airport. Well designed, light and airy with plenty of spaced and seating for passengers. Now it is crammed full of concessions with little space to sit. To get to the toilets you have to thread your way through these purveyors of high priced junk.
Stansted, unlike Gatwick has a monopoly on nearby parking and there are very few decent hotels nearby and consequently both parking and accommodation are expensive compared with Gatwick. All of that and a lack of destinations make Stansted the worst airport in the South
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>All of that and a lack of destinations make Stansted the worst airport in the South
Thanks for giving me something to look forward to - we're heading back to Greece in July from Stansted with Jet2.
Never flown from Stansted or with Jet2 before. I'll be glad when Basingtoke International is finished.
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You can look foward to the Birchanger Green roundabout too. Close your eyes and pray:-)
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Roundabout?.. Pah!..
I live in Doughnut City for Glub's sake. We have our own Amendment to The Highway Code for roundabouts.
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>>
>> .
>> >> No need for alcohol at all .
>>
>> Travel hubs have never been quiet places in the entire history of movement. Alcohol has
>> also been a travel partner, long before the wright brothers came along.
>>
Helps elevate the boredom of travelling. I think the mongols had some form of fermented drink at their pony changing stations.
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>> Airports are strange places aren’t they?
Cattle holding pens. One reason I haven't flown for years.
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Open prisons.
From the point you get through security to the point where you exit customs you are detained and entirely under the control of the airport authority.
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I don't drink in airports but I probably have done once or twice.
But when I'm on holiday, as soon as I get to the hotel I'll drink a beer in the shower. It's the done thing.
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>> But when I'm on holiday, as soon as I get to the hotel I'll drink
>> a beer in the shower.
....is that before or after.................
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There used to be a "romance" associated with air travel - flying to the exotic, cossetted by in flight service from attentive staff, treated with courtesy from check-in to exit at the other end as you got into the chauffeur driven limo or tour company bus.
Flying is now unpleasant but unavoidable if travelling far. Competition on headline fares has spawned other ways to part captive audience flyers from their money:
- car parking charges often cost more than the flights
- drop off charges - mostly used to be free
- over-priced "duty" but not profit free - prices often more than the high street
- over-priced generally poor quality food - usually bring decent sandwiches
- charges for hold luggage - last Spain trip I paid more for hold bags than the flight
Jet2 vs Ryanair vs Easyjet - not that much to choose between them - passengers are walking cargo to be processed as efficiently and cheaply as possible.
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>> Something I’ve never understood....Jet2 flight price includes a 10kg bag, which you can check in
>> FOC should you wish.
As Z says you have to be on the ball and work out what you actually have to pay for what you need.
RYR were established and operating in their current model before Jet 2 (EXS) were doing much at all. They're now a multi national operator with bases all over Europe and with sub brands like Buzz and Lauda.
Jet 2 were started to fill a niche at LBA which was short of the range of routes etc available at other regional airports. With it's hill top location's susceptibility to low cloud, and shortish runway across the prevailing wind it's not the easiest place to operate from and they've done well there.
Both are headed by people with strong views. O'Leary at RYR is well known. EXS was set up by Phillip Meeson having started flying mail and freight as Channel Express. Meeson was from an aviation family and old timers will remember his aerobatic displays in his Pitts S2 at Church Fenton's SSAFA displays in the seventies. A few of us witnessed what was probably a one off display over Leeds Bradford Airport on a Saturday evening c1976, he must have emptied every pub in Yeadon!!
EXS is run in his image and I suspect including stuff like checked baggage at no extra cost so that what you see is reasonably close to what you pay. Also, a lot of its passengers are on IT packages and there might be a disconnect if they get automatic checked baggage but the ordinary punters do not.
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Jet2 vs RYR - Zero
