I flew on Flybe (new name for British European Airlines) last month Birmingham-Belfast and v.v.
The advertised fare of £20 each way per person (£80 for two round trip) became £210 by the time taxes and fees were added in but, unlike Ryanair, they didnt have a bunch of gotcha rules designed only to make more money. I did show up in Belfast with a bag that was 1.2 kg overweight* and they just let it go (I did offer to take things out to get it down to 20 kg). *Apologies Some of the web sites below lead to a comparison of Ryanair and British Airways by the time the fees and charges were added in the fares were the same! I take it you were one of Ryanairs many victims. Carleton From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Han Maenen Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2009 05:28 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:45209] Off topic; Having a European holiday? This is off topic, but I do not want any of you ripped of by a certain 'low cost' airline when enjoying your precious holiday. It's just a warning, not meant to be a thread. If any member from the US, Australia, Canada etc. is going to take a European holiday I have this warning about the so called low cost airline Ryanair. Their rules and regulations are mean and petty and can be changed without notice. Any infringement of these rules will cost you dearly and you could be denied boarding. Their basic fares are very cheap but an enormous array of extra charges is heaped on top of the fare. You even have to pay 5 pounds/euros per flight to check in online, which is now compulsory. Go to these websites: http://www.ryanaircampaign.org/ and http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/ryan.htm and have a good read. Passengers from outside Europe have to get a visa check from the airline on their boarding pass at a special landside Ryanair desk. If you go through to the gate without one, you will be denied boarding and you will be referred to 'Ticket Sales' for an expensive last minute ticket for a later flight. Many Americans, Australians, etc. have been stung by that requirement. No other airline requires such 'visa checks' within Europe. Last, but not least: when they cancel flights they leave you to stew. There are many good low cost airlines in Europe now: Easyjet, Air Berlin, Niki, Germanwings etc. Simply google for them. Soon I will fly to Ireland with Aer Lingus from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. I could fly from Airport Weeze in Germany, about 55 km from Nijmegen, to Dublin but that is Ryanair. No way.
