Budget Travel - Ryanair DUB-CRL ("Brussels")

In researching on what to do on my DUB run in January, I looked at some Ryanair fares, and they can get me to CRL for 20 euros, decent flight times. But after reading this thread (http://web2.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=369061&page=2&pp=40&highlight=crl+brussels), I'm now skeptical about flying FR, but the cheapest other fares were $216 on EI.

Some questions...

1) Where IS CRL? I have relatives in Lille, France who will come pick me up... does this make it closer for them than BRU?

2) Anyone know of the on-time performance of the CRL-DUB flight? It says it will get me in at 10:05am, and my flight back to the US on AA is at 12:30pm... enough time? And, will they just cancel the flight like they seem to like doing?

3) Anything else I should watch out for on FR (hidden fees, etc?)

Charleroi is 60km in the south of Brussels, 122km from Lille (about 1h15min).

never took Ryanair - and will never do so - so can't help you with your other questions

The airport Ryanair uses in "Brussels" is Charleroi, or what they call "Brussels south".
Personally I find it a bit hard to consider an airport 60 km away to be part of Greater Brussels, but that's their whole marketing strategy.

I don't fly Ryanair either.
I have done it twice and will make every possible effort not having to do it again.

They usually have very short turnaround times, sometimes only 20 mins before they are supposed to return to one of their bases, so punctuality is extremely important for the airline.
Can't really comment though on how well they perform on this route.

Definitely look out for any hidden fees.
Ryanair often advertises low fares and then you have a whole list of fees and surcharges that they add when you buy the ticket.
Taxes, airport charges, sometimes credit card fees etc etc.
Also keep in mind everything is on sale onboard, and they are very very strict with baggage allowances.

In researching on what to do on my DUB run in January, I looked at some Ryanair fares, and they can get me to CRL for 20 euros, decent flight times. But after reading this thread (http://web2.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=369061&page=2&pp=40&highlight=crl+brussels), I'm now skeptical about flying FR, but the cheapest other fares were $216 on EI.

Some questions...

1) Where IS CRL? I have relatives in Lille, France who will come pick me up... does this make it closer for them than BRU?

For Lille, Charleroi is marginally closer than BRU. Not much difference, really. Should work out to about the same driving time, depending on the traffic.

2) Anyone know of the on-time performance of the CRL-DUB flight? It says it will get me in at 10:05am, and my flight back to the US on AA is at 12:30pm... enough time? And, will they just cancel the flight like they seem to like doing?

You just never know with Ryanair. Chances are it will go off without a hitch, but if there's bad weather or something, all bets are immediately off. It may help that you're flying in the morning, as delays due to late arrival of incoming aircraft tend to be more common at the end of the day. The main problem is that if they cancel your flight, it is most decidedly your problem, not theirs. They will reaccomodate you on a later flight, but who knows when that flight may be? And with Ryanair, once-a-day frequencies are pretty common.

I think the AA check-in deadline at DUB is 45 minutes prior - this would mean you would need to be at the counter at 11:45 latest. Considering that customs at DUB has been pretty painless when I've flown through there, this means that anything below about a 60 minute delay should be fine.

Also, please note that if you're travelling with checked baggage, Ryanair will only handle it point-to-point. They don't do through check-in to their own flights, much less to anyone else's.

3) Anything else I should watch out for on FR (hidden fees, etc?)

Yes, there used to be an 8 Euro fee per reservation for using a credit card to pay for your ticket. Apparently they've realized that it was a bit cheeky and have reduced it to 2,50 Euro. However, there is no way to beat this fee unless you have a European bank account.


All that being said, I have sworn never to fly Ryanair again. It's not the buy-on-board concept, nor is it the abominable service (I can get either of those on any number of North American airlines), no what really riles me is the open seating and the absolute free-for-all this creates at boarding. On my second-to-last ever Ryanair flight (the return was unfortunately already booked) two passengers actually got into a fistfight about an exit row seat.

Ryanair also has a particular preference for sending its passengers off to walk across the tarmac to reach the aircraft - not fun on a January day.

I don't know how much of a concern $$ is for you, but for my money, EI would be the way to go. They've also got buy-on-board, but at least they smile once in a while and don't snarl at you across the check-in counter. They'll check your bags all the way to your final destination and will (probably) be able to check you in for your AA flight at BRU. Oh, and of course you get assigned seats! Depending on your fare class, you might even pick up some more AA miles.

I do use Ryanair regularly, and have travelled to Charleroi twice (for the Belgian Grand Prix)

I'm afraid that counting on making it back to DUB in time, and then having to clear customs and check in is REALLY pushing it (I hope you only have hand luggage to contend with!) no matter what the airline.

I'm afraid, percentage wise, I've suffered far more delays with SAS and Iberia than I ever have with Ryanair.

Charleroi is a TINY airport, there is no ATM there. Mind you, Dublin uses Euros too, so this shouldn't be so much of an issue, but do make sure you take money with you.

As long as you regard Ryanair as a flying bus service, you're fine. You'll have nothing to complain about. Although their service never reaches the dizzying heights of CX raffles class, I've never been shouted, or insulted, or otherwise derogatised in the way I have by 'real airlines'.
(Queuing for BMI in LHR in the morning, KLM groundstaff in AMS, LH cabin staff, everyone in Iberia over a 15 year period - I won't use IB anymore, Ryanair & Easyjet ave me the option not to have to ^ )

You can expect the same kind of service from Ryanair as you would from NorthWest.

Assuming you can buy one-way fares with both, why not fly DUB-CRL with Ryanair, and BRU-DUB with EI? This could potentially save you a few EUR.

2) I think the EI flight arrives in DUB at 10.50 though - not sure how much it will help that both EI & AA are in oneworld. I'd assume (not sure) you can still check your back through, although EI is pretty much like FR these days.

Generally I'd say you'd be safe with the Ryanair flight as well - 95% of the time. You just need to ask yourself if you can take the small risk of misconnecting.

3) I don't think Ryanair's hidden fees etc are much worse than with the network carriers.

I've understood the checked baggage allowance is 15kg with Ryanair - and this may or may not affect your plans. I believe they actually enforce this quite strictly.

In normal circumstances I'd avoid Ryanair, but at the end of the day they're fine as long as you can manage your expectations.

In normal circumstances I'd avoid Ryanair, but at the end of the day they're fine as long as you can manage your expectations.
Good point!!
I think that's the key, to know what to expect.
You get absolutely nothing but a seat onboard, and I mean litterally nothing but a seat.
Not even friendliness is included in the price.
But if you find a good fare, the timetables works well for you, and you don't care much about service during an hour in the air, then go for it.
Just make sure you know what to expect before you go to the airport so you won't be disappointed.

If you have a revenue ticket to DUB, look into oneworld's Visit Europe pass. Minimum two segments, but price is based on distance. Plus, because it's linked to your original record (or at least it used to be), you have a leg to stand on for reaccomodation if the original flight is delayed (for example, if BRU-DUB is delayed, you could ask EI/AA to put you on the BRU-ORD nonstop).

As okko says, please don't think that Aer Lingus (EI) will be any better than Ryanair(FR) - EI discussion in this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=495520&referrerid=19985

And that's an EXCELLENT suggestion by ElmhurstNick.

THANK ALL OF YOU for all the help and advice... this is what makes FT so great!

I like okko's suggestion.... I'll have to figure out if EI can check my bags all the way through to AA in DUB. I might also play it safe and fly back the night before, to be sure.

And, NO I'm not expecting all that much (read: nothing) on FR except a seat. It also looks like I'll have to check in what would be my carryon, to make that allowance lol.

Will report back!

I wouldn't risk it. Not necessarily for delays, but for FR's occasional habit of just cancelling flights. They are within their rights and yes EI or whoever else could do the same but they don't. FR's attitude is very uncustomer friendly.

You don't have allocated seats so you have to stand penned in at the gate waiting for them to board. If you are travelling on your own it's not so much of an issue as even if you board last you'll get a seat, but it's a bit painful as a couple having to check in earlier and earlier. I dropped friends off to a FR flight recently and they checked in 2.5 hrs before and they were pax ca 120. I had poopooed the idea of them getting there any earlier :( Apparently people know they won't get a seat so arrive 3 hrs before travelling.

FR can be cheap but I never think it's good value. In your case you can't be late so I'd consider EI.

And, NO I'm not expecting all that much (read: nothing) on FR except a seat. It also looks like I'll have to check in what would be my carryon, to make that allowance lol.

Will report back!

FR's carry on allowance = 10kgs
EI = 6kgs

Some questions...

1) Where IS CRL? I have relatives in Lille, France who will come pick me up... does this make it closer for them than BRU

Charleroi Airport is 46km/33 miles away from Brussels. It takes about 75mins each way by coach which costs €11 per person each way, leaving you at Midi Railway Station in Brussels. Lille isn't closer to be honest

A link to the airport website is below
http://www.charleroi-airport.com/BSCA/siteEN.nsf/.Accueil?Readform

2) Anyone know of the on-time performance of the CRL-DUB flight? It says it will get me in at 10:05am, and my flight back to the US on AA is at 12:30pm... enough time? And, will they just cancel the flight like they seem to like doing
Ryanair is actually a hell of a lot more punctual than Aer Lingus - they hate paying late fees so do everything possible to get flights off on time. The latest I've ever been on an FR flight is 15 mins

3) Anything else I should watch out for on FR (hidden fees, etc?)
There's no hidden fees - you'll be quoted for EVERYTHING when you book. All you have to remember is that you'll have to pay for the bus transfer when you get to Charleroi


HOWEVER - if you are on a very tight connection back to the US, I would NOT recommend trying to make it back from Brussels same-day, irrespective of the airline. The baggage hall in DUB is a pain in the arse at the best of times & you could be waiting up to 1hr for your bags - nothing to do with the airline, it's the airport baggage handlers at fault here.

THANK ALL OF YOU for all the help and advice... this is what makes FT so great!

I like okko's suggestion.... I'll have to figure out if EI can check my bags all the way through to AA in DUB. I might also play it safe and fly back the night before, to be sure.

And, NO I'm not expecting all that much (read: nothing) on FR except a seat. It also looks like I'll have to check in what would be my carryon, to make that allowance lol.

Will report back!

Good stuff, IceTrojan ^

as for myself, I like to try new airlines whenever I have the opportunity. And Ryanair is a big player in the industry, so I think you might find the experience interesting.

Do look into whether EI will check you all the way through to your onward connection.

Please do report back what you decided, thanks.

typhoon,

I have to disagree with you - sometimes FR can be good value. Last year they basically saved me as they were the only Sat evening connection between Tampere (Finland) and London - and I paid ca. 80EUR all-in for the privilege.

Ok, I don't enjoy the experience - but sometimes FR can be a good choice.

okko

Hi
I would not use Ryanair for ANYTHING unless I am forced to use them. They just left

Look at this story and the people are not back hoe yet:

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5046130.html

regards

I have flown hundreds of Ryanair flights without a problem, always arrive early and yes when on my own I am always last to board to avoid the pig fight.

Cost is 2nd to none and for your information one of my flights from Charleroi had a tech problem and they sent a private 737 over for the 40 passengers and it was a real gem of a flight so dont belive all you hear and put it into prospective bearing in mind how many millions of passengers they carry and how many whingers are on FT. A lot of people complain if the wind is in the wrong direction.

With FR just dont be late for check in, dont exceed the allowances and take your own food and drink with you.

I'd try EI and fly right into BRU. Ryanair is cheap, but you're paying extra money in transfers from CRL which is a hike from BRU. I just got back from BRU on AA 2 weeks ago and I believe that EI is in the same terminal as AA...I also took EI from DUB-AMS on the same trip and no problems.