Bloody Ryanair!!!

[Drisgirl]

We have waited for a long time for a direct flight from Scotland (Prestwick) to Murcia where we wanted to buy a house.Last year they introduced one.We duly flew out and bought a house in the Mar Menor.(that was irrevelant BTW).

What do they do - start charging �5 per item of baggage - even hand luggage.Now I know this sounds pedantic but they have a Low Cost monopoly in Scotland and I at least will be flying regularly - taking bits and pieces of personal items out.What with airport taxes (I know its not the airline) is there indeed a low cost airline?Wish I lived near Stansted!!

[mushroom25]

read the whole press release at http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=06&month=jan&story=gen-en-250106

hand luggage will not be subject to the charge, and �5 is double the amount actually to be levied - presumably the journos assumed everyone would understand a "return" fee better?

ryanair don't have a scottish "budget" monopoly, although no-one else seems to fly to murcia.

[Drisgirl]

Thanks mushroom - I have now read the press release and I still think you are charged �5 per item of luggage if not pre-booked per flight.I'm even more confused now.I cant pre-book as far in advance as I would want due to building/lawyer constrictions

They do have a kind of price monopoly in Scotland at the moment thats why I was so disappointed at this news.When you see flights advertised for 1p etc its not ever from Scorland - oh how I have tried - for anywhere.

I am maybe a big cynic but there is always another way to shaft you.(That wasnt rude BTW)

[Drisgirl]

Scotland of course - please forgive me for my typo!!

[Gef]

Have read the link and can't see the problem. They are reducing prices.

[Narolines]

I've just looked at the link too, and I'm puzzled; apart from the weight increase, how is this an "improvement"? They knock �2.50 off your fare and then charge you �2.50 to take your luggage with you; you pay the same as you would have anyway, they have extra admin to do, and the net result is - well, no change. Beats me.......

[Drisgirl]

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

I think they are testing the water.Of course they are going to benefit - thats how businesses run.

2 cliches in one post - not bad:)

[Pinotage]

Irritating maybe, but be grateful they haven't withdrawn the route - something hwaich has impacted other foreign second home owners.

And if you can afford a home abroad, then an extra �2.50 on an already cheap flight can't be too painful. And if you have a house you can store clothes and stuff there and so you maynot need tro check in baggage on your future trips.

[Drisgirl]

Pinotage - I beg to differ.We have attempted to book a week in May and it is going to cost �450 - hardly peanuts.Its not a second home - dont know where you got that from.

The point I attempted to make was they lure you with 1p flights and they simply dont exist as far as I am concerned.

I am more concerned at the price my son and daughter will have to pay to visit as well as the extra baggage charge

Perhaps had I made myself clearer then your undercurrent of sarcasm could have been averted.

[mushroom25]

�450 isn't so unusual for a route with no competition at a busy time of year. "Budget" airlines don't always represent the best value; I always check airlines like BA, etc where they offer a comparable route/product, sometimes a surprisingly unexpected bargain can be had - though admittedly no such luxury exists for you.

[qapmoc]

Well Drisgirl you did say that the fact that you bought a house there is not relevant to the question, so therefore it might be assumed that you were just advertising the fact that you can afford to do so. In that case you might expect to get a few ''sarky'' comments about it.

[Pinotage]

Funnliy enough it was your sentence that you waited until there was a direct flight there and then you bought a house there was what gave me the idea that you had bought a house there. That and your desire to make frequent flights in order to take bits and pieces of personal items out made me assume that you hadn't moved there full time.

Sorry - but its irritating but its till only �2.50 and at least you still have a direct flight.

[Drisgirl]

qapmoc- This is what p!sses me off about AB.People only read what they want to see.I was referring to the area we had bought the house being irrelevant.

I was not advertising the fact we had bought a house in Spain - we are selling our family home in Scotland.So we are no better nor worse than anyone else - we only chasing a dream.Afford it - wish you knew me.We are just joe publics who are taking a BIG chance.I did not anticipate sarky comments but hey its AB!

Pinotage - we waited until there was a direct flight so our friends and family could visit and we could get back if there was an emergency.

I dont know which part of the UK you are from but direct flights from Scotland are a relatively new innovation

I was only trying to point out that you get nothing for nothing.

Now cut me some slack please.I was only making an innociuos point.

In the words of Victor Meldrew - I dont believe it:)

[qapmoc]

Hi Drisgirl, I see that you are doing the same thing to me in fact, if you re-read my answer (now you have cooled down) you might also see that I did not comment on your question and the location of your house etc... only on your comment about sarcasm and gave a possible reason for it.

[Drisgirl]

quapmoc - I wasnt directing the comment re sarcasm at you.Anyway still think people will be complaining more when the other airlines follow suit.Just have to wait and see.Thanks for taking the time to reply - no sarcasm intended - sometimes people (me) need pulled up at timesI am a bit feisty:)

[steveyk]

Another thing, I just flew with Ryanair from Stansted to Santander on 10/02/06. We waited ages to check in. The cause of the hold up was because 2 people were flying, and their baggage allowance was 15kg each. Therefore a total of 30kg. BUT, the passengers had packed 30kg into ONE bag, and Ryanair would not accept it. They said that you had to have 2 seperate bags weighing 15kg each!!!!! OR they would charge them 15kg excess baggage at something like �5.50 per kilo, even though they were still taking only 30kg!!! Why is that????? We had the same problem when we flew with Air France to Mauritius