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21/05/2008, 23:26 Sprogster Joined on 23/08/2004 Var & C.I. Posts 287 Re: New Ryanair Boarding Charges Jet Blue, the most succesful low cost carrier in the USA allows you to choose a seat when booking at no extra cost. In the UK, Flybe also allow you to choose seating at the time of booking but you pay a supplement. I fly BA and Easyjet on a regular basis and from my experience where you have a full aircraft BA with its allocated seating is quicker, as it is less chaotic. Recently, I boarded a packed Easyjet flight at Gatwick and the problems they had trying to accomodate families with very young children to ensure that at least one parent sat next to their children caused a delay in the departure. The Easyjet priority boarding system called Speedy Boarding Plus is no such thing, as at the moment there is no limit on how many passengers on a particular flight can qualify for speeding boarding! On my most recent Easyjet flight I sat in the front row and it was clear from the passengers boarding after me at least half had purchased Easy boarding plus and were complaining to the flight attendant checking their boarding pass  it was a ***!            Report

22/05/2008, 7:20 ErnieY Joined on 05/12/2006 Nr Prayssac (Lot) Posts 2,952 Re: New Ryanair Boarding Charges I don't subscribe to the idea that free seating = a speedier turnround, it's just too chaotic. Some non budget airlines operate a group boarding system, i.e. those seated in the rear third or half of the plane are boarded first which  is logical and seems to work pretty well. I think the only potential benefit of it is that it can marginally speed up the check in process. I fly between 25 & 30 times pa, (thankfully infrequently on RA) and, allocated seats or not, what never ceases to amaze me is some peoples complete lack of spatial awareness and recognition of the fact that they are holding everyone else up whilst they stand in the aisle 'organising' themselves, I'm sure you've all witnessed it and know what I mean, some may even be unconsciously guilty   My doctor said one drink per day, I can live with that !    Report

22/05/2008, 8:10 Iceni Joined on 23/08/2004 Lot 46 Posts 2,906 Re: New Ryanair Boarding Charges - the last straw ? Though I claim to be a fan of Michael O'Ryanair's vision on how to make loadsamoney from the unwary and the gullible I have not flown for nearly 5 years - because I am such a fan ? The last occasion was with Ryanair from Rodez. In those days an early boarding bus ticket was handed to those who had checked in first. This proved of limited value for 2 reasons 1. Rodez departure cupboard was so small that, unless you were standing next to the escape hatch, it was not possible to elbow your way to the front of the pack 2. Even if you could get close, the time allotted for the "priority boarders" was insufficent before the great unwashed were called forward From the many posts on this subject it seems that the system has changed but the chaos has not. My only reason for revisiting England would be death or serious illness of close friends/family over there and I am almost certain that I would drive even if Di was not travelling with me (someone has to care for the passportless dog). The cost would possibly be greater with the Mist Wagen (C15D is cheap to run but a bit slow and very noisy on such a trip) but I could leave NOW and be back in N Essex by about 21.00 tonight. Have any others decided that airport checks and delays in the name of security mean that in future they will let the car take the strain or am I ploughing a lone furrow ? John     Di Free resource site for new and aspiring Virtual Workers    Report

22/05/2008, 8:23 Cendrillon Joined on 19/10/2007 S.E. England & S.W.France Posts 363 Re: New Ryanair Boarding Charges Ernie said "............ what never ceases to amaze me is some peoples complete lack of spatial awareness and recognition of the fact that they are holding everyone else up whilst they stand in the aisle 'organising' themselves, I'm sure you've all witnessed it and know what I mean, some may even be unconsciously guilty"     If these passengers didn't have so much carry-on baggage then boarding might be quicker. Cendrillon    Report

22/05/2008, 9:44 Ron Avery Joined on 29/11/2004 Posts 3,099 Re: New Ryanair Boarding Charges At least with Ryanair there are large lockers and you can board at the front and back of the plane, others like Jet2 and KLM city hopper who have planes that have only one door at rhe front, although as Ernie says KLM do adopt a sensible boarding system of loading from the front, block by block, that still does not help you get off in a hurry if you are at the back and that causes friction at times. I suppose the test of the Ryanair seating model would be in India where they would just get on and be thankful to find any seat as they do on the trains, not be picky about where it is on the plane as the Brits and other EU nationals seem to be.  Just watch next time how many people in a window seat actually don't chat or sleep for most of the trip!! John: Home to London via Rodez taking in journey to airport  wait to board, flight and getting off etc max 3 hours.  Same by car, 15 hours plus, with a couple of breaks , so 13 hours of driving concentration, stress and little relaxation. I know it can be done quicker but that is average time within the speed limit and includes the waits on to ferry/shuttle and off ferry/shuttle ferry, its never quick is it?  And those times assume that Pris/Rouen are not congested, it was bad enough having to drive when Ryan air stopped flying but to do it out of choice as they say  "you having a laugh?" Driven away by an idiot    Report

22/05/2008, 9:55 Judith Joined on 01/02/2006 Posts 211 Re: New Ryanair Boarding Charges - the last straw ?  Iceni wrote: Have any others decided that airport checks and delays in the name of security mean that in future they will let the car take the strain or am I ploughing a lone furrow ?  John    No, preferred choice if I had a car would be car, next train, then fly, but this time I'm having to fly at it seems the great holiday season has already begun and could I get a ticket at a price I was prepared to pay to travel via Lille and onwards to the south coast?  So much for the credit crunch.  Bagged tax only flights to Beziers instead, so for that price I'm prepared to dislike the whole experience (as I no doubt will).  It will actually cost me more to get to Stansted from Central London (even by the cheapest method eg bus) than the plane tickets cost, and probably take as long when you allow for delays, check in / security queues etc.   Going by car means I can take my time and make the journey a holiday also! Judith W1 and Aude    Report

22/05/2008, 14:13 Sprogster Joined on 23/08/2004 Var & C.I. Posts 287 Re: New Ryanair Boarding Charges - the last straw ? Iceni, the problem of departure gates being too small is not limited to Rodez, as if you unfortunate enough to use gates 1-5 at Gatwick, you will have exactly the same experience. If you can only get half the passengers in the gate area before boarding commences, with the remainder waiting in line in the corridor, any sort of priority boarding system is inneffective. Also at Gatwick because Easyjet ground staff are so overstretched there is a tendency to not announce the departure gate until the last minute and start boarding almost straight away. Therefore, unless you are prepared to run to the gate to get their first, you will find that you have missed the priority boarding.    Report

22/05/2008, 20:53 greyman Joined on 06/01/2008 Perigord Blanc 24 Posts 58 Re: New Ryanair Boarding Charges - the last straw ? I never cease to be amazed by the stress some seem to suffer from the process of flying. I fly back to UK once a month, usually with FlyBe who are very good if a little pricey relative to the other low-costers. But still a steal in my opinion. However my last trip was RyanAir. Cost €16 all in for a return ticket. I only take hand luggage so printed an online check-in/priority boarding pass 4 days before I left. On arrival at Bergerac airport I was whisked out of the queue by a RyanAir hostess and fed me through security in super-quick time. After waiting in the departure lounge for 50 minutes they called forward all priority boarders. We both stood up and in no time I had strolled up the steps and chosen my seat. Loads of room for a six-footer. The crew were very pleasant and efficient. We landed at Bristol half an hour early and I was in my car before I was due to land. The return flight was much the same albeit a bit busier but certainly no trouble. I managed to read in peace and get in a short doze during the 75 minute flights. Would I drive ? Guess !! Would I pay €5 for priority boarding. You bet. It is what it is....    Report

23/05/2008, 16:23 Clair Joined on 23/08/2004 ------- Forum Moderator ------- Lot Posts 6,262 Re: New Ryanair Boarding Charges - the last straw ? Article in The times dated 21/5/2008 Priority boarding charges verge on 'fraud' Clair, a Real Virtual French Person La vérité est si obscurcie en ce temps et le mensonge si établi, qu'à moins d'aimer la vérité, on ne saurait la reconnaître. (Blaise Pascal)    Report

23/05/2008, 16:55 Clarkkent Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 515 Re: New Ryanair Boarding Charges - the last straw ? I'm surprised that no one has yet mentioned BMIbaby - who allocate seats at check-in, for which there is no charge. Watch this space?    Report

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