Cheap and Cheerful...almost. (Ryanair)

Member Name: Critchyboy

Product:	Ryanair
Date:	17/10/01 (76 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Incredible fares - £2.19 from Dublin to Manchester!, Clean planes - if you're on the first of the day.

Disadvantages: Dirty planes if you're NOT on the first plane of the day.

Here's my Ryanair story - I hope you find it helpful in thinking about flying with them in the future.

Ryanair, as I am sure you are all well aware, is one of these 'no-frills' airlines that has sprung up in recent years...and good luck to them really. They provide a good service at a fraction of the cost of national flag carriers.

I was challenged to find cheap and effective ways of getting from Sheffield to Dublin and absolutely hating ferry travel, resolved to find an incredibly good bargain by air.

My initial investigations resulted in incredibly high fares and the horrid feeling that a trip by ferry was going to have to happen.

That is, until Ryanair came to the rescue!! I paid, for four people to travel from Manchester to Dublin return for £164.00! What an incredible bargain. The ticket from Dublin cost £2.19 without taxes. I was amazed.

Now onto Ryanair itself. Ryanair is a ticketless airline so don't forget your booking reference otherwise you won't be going anywhere! They also, unlike other airlines, don't give out seat allocations on check-in. The lady at the gate asks for families with children and old people to come first, but they kind of got trampled in the crush for the seats by the window and the woman was completely overwhelmed, which when standing next to a boarding gate was a little worrying!

The plane we flew on first was filthy dirty due to the very quick turn round time - about 15 mins - between flights. It took off late, arrived on time and the flight itself was really pleasent. Particularly as we flew over numerous ferries making their slow progress across the Irish Sea! Very Satisifying!

The return journey was much more pleasant. It was the first Ryanair flight of the day out of Dublin and the plane was immaculate. And again, another pleasant flight.

The Cabin Crew were curteous and polite and helpful, although ran out of sterling change on the wa
y back and had to be helped out! Speaking of which, food costs a lot of money - you have to buy your own. On a short flight it was fine, but can imagine on a longer flight you'd want something! Drinks are reasonably priced and you can pay in a variety of different currencies, based largely on wherever it is you're going! Also on board is Duty Free and payment can be made by credit card - so if there's a bottle of smellies you're wanting you can buy it there!

Ryanair are very good if you don't mind a dirty plane at the end of the day! They are excellent value for money and would be more so if it wasn't for the amount taxes that has to be paid now!

I would most definately fly Ryanair again - for those prices you'd be mad not too! But be aware that no-frills means just that. Give em a go and see what you think!

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