It’ll be fine, how bad can it be? Could it actually be great? The most important facet of travel is getting from your point of origin to your destination. I took advantage of a great deal starting in Dublin and needed a way to get from London to Dublin on a very tight schedule. Not only was Ryanair the only airline which got me into Dublin at an early enough hour of the day, it also did so for a fraction of the cost compared to other carriers. It was a no brainer. When I announced on our Facebook page that I’d be reviewing Ryanair I received the most polarizing and wild response imaginable, including tips to pack a parachute, to tranquilize myself and just to enjoy it, because it would be fine…
You’ll find 360* VR images which you can control by swiping with your finger (mobile) or clicking and dragging (desktop) in any direction. Enjoy!
Check In
We arrived about 5:15AM for our 6:30AM Flight. We paid an extra £15 per person to reserve seats in the front row, which given my size and the added leg room seemed like a brilliant idea. With no luggage to check and home printed boarding pass in hand, UK citizens can go straight to security. Unfortunately, as a US national, I had to go for a visa check. Which meant this line below…
The line looked like utter chaos, a combination of baggage drop and visa check. Fortunately, when I mentioned to an agent that I just needed a visa check, they allowed me to use the “business class” check in, which I imagine anyone else could do with equal ease. With that sorted we were able to move on to security in less than 10 minutes. If I had more time I would’ve visited a lounge using LoungeBuddy or Priority Pass to make for a relaxed wait…
With our advanced seat assignment in the front of the cabin we were granted “priority boarding”. By the time we got to the gate there was a gigantic line. Admittedly, probably not in the best taste, I walked straight to the front where the priority sign was and made my way to the plane. Hey, I was just following signs, even if everyone probably thought I was an a**hole…
Using two boarding doors really does make a huge difference. Fortunately, in row one, we knew which door to enter…
The Seat
Ryanair is consistent and let’s be honest, you get what you pay for. On every single plane you’ll find the same 3×3 seats crammed like sardines. For £15 I thought the priority boarding and first row extra leg room seating was worth the price, though the real ticket would have been to secure the first row on the left side of the cabin, more on that…
Ryanair 360 Sitting #theta360 – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA
Extra legroom was a big help, it wasn’t a “stretch out” situation, but it gave me more than enough room to comfortably close my eyes and rest on the way to Dublin, there was a long day of travel ahead after all!
See what I mean? And since the cabin crew will be up and down the aisles peddling products in true shopping mall style throughout the entire flight, you won’t even have to look at each other…
Ryanair STN To DUB 360 VR. #theta360 – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA
Other than a great view of the cabin, the main takeaway from this photo should be the overhead bins. Ryanair have made very passenger friendly changes, allowing for one carry on bag and one personal item free of charge with every ticket. For a weekend away you really can avoid the dreaded checked baggage fees, and the bags even fit overhead…
The Experience + Tips
For a short flight, at the right price, especially at the current £9.99 one way, it’s hard to argue with the convenience and cost effective solution to travel. Like I said, you get what you pay for and even on their cheapest fares, I would highly recommend “upgrading” to have a palatable experience. Ryanair is not an inherently relaxing but steps can be taken to make it far more tranquil. Absolutely print your boarding pass out at home and in the event that you don’t need a visa check, or to drop off luggage, you’ll be onto security pronto. If the “business flex” is offered at a decent fare, you’ll receive fast track security and a front row seat amongst other things which can help. When you compare the costs versus benefits with other airlines, assuming you’re not a top tier flyer who would be receiving incredible benefits for free even in economy, Ryanair is a sensible solution…
