I will fly with my fiddle with Ryanair from Frankfurt to Kerry next Friday. I have flown with them very often during the last years and only once had a slight problem.
But lately I have seen so many negative footage concerning how badly they treat musicians that I am a little bit frightened.
Have you got any recent experiences or any tipps?
Thanks,
I flew with them to Dublin in August with the pipes and a laptop. When I checked-in at the counter, I put the backpack full of clothes into checked luggage and the check-in lady only saw the laptop, as I was holding the pipes below the counter. No one else, in security or boarding the plane, seemed to care. I did the same thing successfully on the way back.
When I first flew with Ryanair from Stansted in 2000, I had a stand-up row with the checkin person, before eventually being allowed to take a fiddle on board. Based on that experience, I decided not to travel Ryanair.
Then Aer Lingus stopped flying to Shannon.
I flew with Ryanair last November and before that in July, between Gatwick and Shannon. This time, no difficulties with my fiddle.
Its always a concern, my method is to not check in luggage and online checkin, that way Ive not had any problems... but they could just deny me entry.. risk I take, for a while it was a 'personal item' but now that has to fit in your 1 bag...always changing the bl00dy rules!
hide the fiddle at the bar when checkin in- thats what I do, although I refuse to fly with Lyin Air as they are a glorified taxi with wings who left me stranded in Beauvais (Paris my arse!) because I had the cash to pay for my ticket but they only took Credit card (not even debit card). I kind lady eventually let me use her card. Bless her.
We took about 15 instruments to Portugal from Birmingham (+ 7 of us) and there were no problems. We did pay the £50 per instrument per journey excess, so in all our £59 return seats cost us about £1800. But our instruments survived and to celebrate I got happily trollied on the way back.
September, the B*S**RDS left me sitting in Lübeck with no flight, no replacement, no apology and not even a bus back to Hamburg! And they have creatively messed up all my applications for a refund. Short of "direct action" there is not much else I can do. Pity they are the only ones flying direct to Edinburgh from anywhere near here...
(Nothing to do with instruments - I've never had any problems taking my flutes on any flight yet...)
Well, back from picking up my new Joe Foley bouzouki and I can report no problems with Ryanair. I booked a seat for the bouzouki, made sure we didn't pick up anything we couldn't fit in the bags we are taking in the cabin. Buy a bottle of Whiskey in the airport, carry in separately and they will hammer you for it, and even the the chap in the shop I brought a waistcoat in thought it a good idea I wore it rather than took it in a bag to save the excess (he said "let me guess - Ryanair?").
When on board the plane, stuck the bouzouki in the window seat and eveything was fine. Manchester - Dublin and back in one fantastic day!
Thanks for your experiences! I didn't book an extra seat for my fiddle, because I never had to do such a thing. I don't think that the airplane will be fully booked, because in Germany it is Carnival and there are not many people who go abroad at this time, especially to Ireland. So I hope they won't be too strict with me. Wish me luck!
Wanted: your latest experiences with Ryanair
Wanted: your latest experiences with Ryanair
I will fly with my fiddle with Ryanair from Frankfurt to Kerry next Friday. I have flown with them very often during the last years and only once had a slight problem.
But lately I have seen so many negative footage concerning how badly they treat musicians that I am a little bit frightened.
Have you got any recent experiences or any tipps?
Thanks,
Susanne
# Posted on February 13th 2009 by fiddlinsue
Re: Wanted: your latest experiences with Ryanair
I flew with them to Dublin in August with the pipes and a laptop. When I checked-in at the counter, I put the backpack full of clothes into checked luggage and the check-in lady only saw the laptop, as I was holding the pipes below the counter. No one else, in security or boarding the plane, seemed to care. I did the same thing successfully on the way back.
# Posted on February 13th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Wanted: your latest experiences with Ryanair
When I first flew with Ryanair from Stansted in 2000, I had a stand-up row with the checkin person, before eventually being allowed to take a fiddle on board. Based on that experience, I decided not to travel Ryanair.
Then Aer Lingus stopped flying to Shannon.
I flew with Ryanair last November and before that in July, between Gatwick and Shannon. This time, no difficulties with my fiddle.
Ed.
# Posted on February 13th 2009 by Presumin Ed
Re: Wanted: your latest experiences with Ryanair
Its always a concern, my method is to not check in luggage and online checkin, that way Ive not had any problems... but they could just deny me entry.. risk I take, for a while it was a 'personal item' but now that has to fit in your 1 bag...always changing the bl00dy rules!
# Posted on February 13th 2009 by piobagusfidil
Re: Wanted: your latest experiences with Ryanair
hide the fiddle at the bar when checkin in- thats what I do, although I refuse to fly with Lyin Air as they are a glorified taxi with wings who left me stranded in Beauvais (Paris my arse!) because I had the cash to pay for my ticket but they only took Credit card (not even debit card). I kind lady eventually let me use her card. Bless her.
# Posted on February 13th 2009 by iwerzon
Re: Wanted: your latest experiences with Ryanair
I've booked an extra seat besides me and Mrs Sugarfoot Jack for my new bouzouki. I'll post here how the trip went.
# Posted on February 13th 2009 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Wanted: your latest experiences with Ryanair
We took about 15 instruments to Portugal from Birmingham (+ 7 of us) and there were no problems. We did pay the £50 per instrument per journey excess, so in all our £59 return seats cost us about £1800. But our instruments survived and to celebrate I got happily trollied on the way back.
# Posted on February 13th 2009 by Mark Harmer
Re: Wanted: your latest experiences with Ryanair
how did it work out in practice mark? did you check them in?... i suppose
# Posted on February 13th 2009 by piobagusfidil
Re: Wanted: your latest experiences with Ryanair
I have found the staff at Ryan Air rude, unhelpful and frankly not very bright bunch of jobsworths never again ! Easy Jet for me from then on
# Posted on February 13th 2009 by bazouki dave
Re: Wanted: your latest experiences with Ryanair
you heard that they get a commission on the baggage allowance money ? dont know if its true, but its new if it is...
# Posted on February 13th 2009 by piobagusfidil
Re: Wanted: your latest experiences with Ryanair
September, the B*S**RDS left me sitting in Lübeck with no flight, no replacement, no apology and not even a bus back to Hamburg! And they have creatively messed up all my applications for a refund. Short of "direct action" there is not much else I can do. Pity they are the only ones flying direct to Edinburgh from anywhere near here...
(Nothing to do with instruments - I've never had any problems taking my flutes on any flight yet...)
# Posted on February 13th 2009 by Crackpot
Re: Wanted: your latest experiences with Ryanair
Well, back from picking up my new Joe Foley bouzouki and I can report no problems with Ryanair. I booked a seat for the bouzouki, made sure we didn't pick up anything we couldn't fit in the bags we are taking in the cabin. Buy a bottle of Whiskey in the airport, carry in separately and they will hammer you for it, and even the the chap in the shop I brought a waistcoat in thought it a good idea I wore it rather than took it in a bag to save the excess (he said "let me guess - Ryanair?").
When on board the plane, stuck the bouzouki in the window seat and eveything was fine. Manchester - Dublin and back in one fantastic day!
# Posted on February 15th 2009 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Wanted: your latest experiences with Ryanair
Thanks for your experiences! I didn't book an extra seat for my fiddle, because I never had to do such a thing. I don't think that the airplane will be fully booked, because in Germany it is Carnival and there are not many people who go abroad at this time, especially to Ireland. So I hope they won't be too strict with me. Wish me luck!
# Posted on February 16th 2009 by fiddlinsue