by I flew from Cork to Liverpool with Rynair for a weekend break recently and experienced two completely different journeys. My wife and I both took hand luggage only and the flight took off right on time. We were off the plane in a matter of seconds after it landed and sailed out of the arrivals hall in Liverpool, both extremely impressed with efficiency of the outward journey.
I have to hand it to Ryanair on this front. Fair enough, they won’t wait for you if you’re late for your flight but this certainly works in your favour when everyone is off the plane so quickly.
But of course, my enthusiasm was short-lived because the return journey was reall pain. Once again, we checked in with hand luggage only and made our way to the security gates. However, I was stopped and told that pretty much all of my toiletries would not be allowed on the plane because they contained liquids (even my toothpaste for God sake). My options were to have them throw it all away or to return to the check-in area and check my bag through. Well I wasn’t going to just throw away over €100 worth of stuff so I duly returned to the Ryanair check-in desk (escorted by security of course) only to discover that they now charge £7 per checked-in bag and that I had to go and queue at the other side of the airport to pay this and then return to the check-in desk to collect my boarding card!
Finally, as I walked back through the departure area, I decided to buy some Lockets for my impending sore throat only to be told they wouldn’t be allowed on the plane either because they too contain liquids. Mother of God, what’s the world coming to? The laughable part about it was that the lady told me if I waited and bought the Lockets inside the departure area, I’d have no problem bringing them on the plane. So, are we to believe that all products for sale inside this area have been vetted for suspicious contaminents down to every individual throat lozenge. I don’t think so!
By the way, the new terminal in Cork airport is very nice but the long term car park still needs a lot of work.
Yes, I should have made that clearer. My gripe was two-dimensional – aimed at Ryanair for the countless sneaky extra charges they pile onto your flight and also aimed at the UK airport authorities.
It seems as though the Irish Air Authorities are not as, how should I say, concerned/scared?
IT is very much the fault of the UK air authorities and not RyanAir in this case.
I flew Dublin to Heathrow last week with AerLingus. They let me on with everything. Laptop, toiletries, camera, clothes, chargers etc. all in two separate carry-on bags. I even had a bottle of, oh dear god no, liquid water! (which makes me wonder. If you froze your toothpaste and other liquids would they let that on? Not being a liquid anymore…)
On the way back though it was completely different in Heathrow. I walked up and they told me I was allowed only one small carry-on bag. No toiletries, no liquids, no chargers, no batteries etc. etc. So I had to go back and check-in my bag now stuffed to the gills with everything I couldn’t carry. Thankfully they said I was ok to take my camera onboard becuase I sure as hell wasn’t checking that in.
So it seems to be an airport/country/UK thing and not the whim of the airlines.
And yes I bought some water and perfume in the duty-free area and took it on-board just fine.
I bought tickets for an upcoming trip with Ryan Air and only realized afterwards that I had a huge question: I am flying from Frankfurt Haan to London and then on to Krakow. On the way I have a couple hours of delay, but on the return I only have 40 minutes between flights to change planes in London, so my question is, can I check my bags through to Haan? Or will I need to collect my bags in London and re-check them for the second leg. Taking into account the reported 40 minute advance check in rule I think I might be in trouble!
I would imagine that because you are not leaving the European Union during any part of your journey, you should be able to check your bags through. If you are flying with Ryanair on both parts of the journey, this should help too. Although I am not an expert on these matters.
Given that you have lots more time to spare on the way, maybe you can ask someone in Haan or Heathrow what to do on the return journey.