Comiso, Sicily, copyright Gretta Schifano
I’ve changed my mind about Ryanair. After my last flight with the budget airline I decided that I’d never travel with them again if I could avoid it. Then I was invited on a press trip to the Italian island of Sicily, flying on Ryanair’s new route from London Stansted to Comiso in the southeastern corner of the island. I love Sicily and was keen to explore the Baroque towns and UNESCO world heritage sites of the area so I accepted the invitation and decided not to think about the journey. I needn’t have worried – the flight was fine because Ryanair have changed a few things.
Allocated seats
Ryanair now give every passenger on every flight an allocated seat. There’s no charge for this but if you want to choose a particular seat you do have to pay extra. I asked one of the cabin crew if people who book together are allocated seats together and she said that they are. This is really important for families with young children who need (by law) to sit with an adult. The lack of allocated seats (unless you paid for one) was one of the reasons I avoided Ryanair. I didn’t like the scramble for seats when boarding the plane. Nor did I like having to ask other passengers to move so that I could sit with my children. I’m really pleased that Ryanair have made this change.
Luggage allowance
Besides the 10kg cabin bag you can now take another small bag on board as well as one carrier bag of shopping from the departure lounge at Stansted. (There aren’t any shops at Comiso airport yet). I find it much easier to have a small handbag as well as a cabin bag and it makes flying with only hand luggage slightly more achievable. The allowance for checked-in bags is still only 15kgs though.
Siracusa, copyright Gretta Schifano
Booking system
Ryanair say that they now offer ‘a 24 hour grace period to correct minor booking errors’. 24 hours isn’t long but at least it gives passengers some chance of correcting things like misspelt names without having to pay to do so. The charge for reissuing a boarding card if you’ve already checked in online has been cut from an extortionate 70 euros to a more reasonable 15 euros. I didn’t need to correct any booking errors or have my boarding card reissued but I like the shift in approach which these changes represent.
Flight times
If you’re one of those people (I’m not) who enjoys travelling when you should be tucked up in bed, fast asleep, the flight from Stansted to Comiso will suit you because it leaves at the horribly early time of 06.55 which means getting to the airport for 04.55. I always choose a more sociable flight time if possible. The Comiso to Stansted flight is fine as it leaves Comiso at 13.05.
Ryanair is now back on my list of airlines to consider when booking flights.
Disclosure: Thank you to Ryanair and the Sicily Tourist Board for organising the press trip to Sicily.
I lived in fear of RyanAirs draconian rule and charge about lost boarding cards. Happy that’s now fixed. Nice simple informative post. But does that mean I HAVE to sit next to my kids now?
kirstie recently posted…Has my car been towed? Get it back in Barcelona
No, your husband must sit next to them. You need space to think about your writing.
Always try not to fly Ryanair if possible after an awful experience going to Finland and back some years ago. I might think again (but only if there are no other options!)
Sarah Ebner recently posted…Groombridge Place by Robert
It’s good to hear about the updates that Ryanair has made. I had no idea. Some of their policies such as with seating and minor changes to tickets had really turned me off before. Good to know they are adopting a more passenger-friendly approach.
Jennifer Howze recently posted…Wales: Mountain biking in Afan Valley
The flight was very different to my previous experiences with them – a real improvement in service.
We’ve been very happy with our Ryanair flights over the years (touch wood!) On our trip to Sweden we flew into an airport near Stockholm then flew back via Malmo. This made our driving route much easier. Last year we flew into a small airport in Austria, Klagenfurt, again flying from Stansted which is great for us. Have booked them again for a flight to Oslo in the summer – it’s a little bit further out from the main airport but cheaper and again, easier as from Stansted.
I’ve just discovered the new rules about the extra handbag – that’s great news, very sensible.
Trish recently posted…Embarrassing my husband in the paper again
We’re near Gatwick so Stansted is a bit of a trek for us but it used to be the only way to get a direct flight to see the relatives in Sicily. It’s good to hear that you’ve had only positive experiences with Ryanair.
Glad to hear Ryanair are being more reasonable . I too have always avoided Ryanair after many awful flights and dealings with them. Love your photos. Did you stay in south east or tour all of the island ?
We stayed in the south east touring the Baroque towns and many of the locations used for the Inspector Monatalbano TV series. It was a lovely trip.