We had an upset on checking into Ryanair at Tenerife's southern airport (Sur means southern, in Spanish although it means on in French, but at least you recognize the word. You just need to attach a different English translation.)
My husband had already paid extra money for priority boarding plus one overhead mini suitcase for each of us, two extra checked full size suitcases, and extra money for one extra suitcase for him bought at the destination to bring back souvenir wine because he is a wine educator, and extra legroom. About five, six or seven extra items.
The upset was that I thought that you could take a laptop separately and in addition to your wheel on bag. Apparently not. The airline wanted to charge fifty pounds for an extra bag.
My husband declined to pay for a third extra charge. He packed my laptop in his rucksack and threw away my lovely padded burgundy laptop case which had outer and three inner zips. and a shoulder strap with a padded shoulder oval.
If I had had time and a pair of scissors I would have cut off the shoulder strap, the zips and the large wide inside elastic band. I have been thinking about this day and night for two days, whilst looking for a replacement bag, in burgundy at prices varying from about e0 pounds to 300 pounds (Euros similar). But could I have carried a pair of scissors. Apparently,
Laptop Case
I loved my laptop case and a replacement would cost the best part of fifty pounds. I checked the abandoned case and found the zip pockets still contained my power brick and mouse, which I rescued. I then took a second look and rescued a pink tag.
We then had to rush, having lost the advantage for priority boarding, for which we had paid extra. We had also booked front seats with extra leg room.
I was under the impression that the airport staff were paid a bonus for enforcing the the luggage rules. Whilst the aircraft crew were in charge of the sales of duty free goods and sales of raffle tickets, so much more helpful with seating (we had been allocated a different plane} and helping me with my walking sticks up the steep stairs and stowing stuff in the overhead lockers to speed boarding.
The crew were all smiling and helpful, a happy bunch.
I asked one of the young lads, 'Does Ryanair recruit happy people or do the train you to smile and look happy?'
He replied, 'We are happy because we are going home.'
But there is also visual encouragement to be positive. One sign says that Ryanair is known for punctuality. In addition a display showed the words for welcome.
Wasted Breakfast Food
We had left our hotel before breakfast and been given instead a picnic breakfast which was packed in large card containers in a bag, one for each of us. I ate half a banana. I saved half a cheese sandwich. I had to throw away the containers and all the apples and oranges, bread, and drinks.
Welcome words on a Ryanair plane.
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| Plane cupboard door with the words for welcome in several languages. Photo by Angela Lansbury. |
