trains from leeds (where i live) to manchester airport are usually every half hourly during the day and hourly through the night... Unfortunately we were flying right smack on Easter Sunday and hence a reduced service was in place. first train in the morning was too late for us so had to take last train at night, reaching at 0100 for a 0600 flight...

Manchester airport is no changi airport but really it's quite adequate. Loads of armrest free seats to lie on and no rowdy people thankfully. Only complaint is lack of heating at ground floor where most of the benches are. Unseasonably cold for this time of year, unfortunately.

The 5 hours passed and back we were on the infamous yellow seats of Ryanair. Much as many detest them, I do admire them. They made leisure travel that much more affordable for the masses and without them, I doubt I could do three euro trips a year like this year and the previous

Their baggage restrictions are very tight and I usually get around it by wearing my luggage, ie wearing more layers than needed and packing them back at the destination airport (usually winter coats).

Ryanair has no assigned seating and that creates a frenetic free for all...

Everyone jostles to the gate when it is announced, people try to cut the queue etc etc

I am guilty of queuing quickly as well. It's because occasionally the last few passengers have no space in the overhead bins and have to check them in there and there (free of course) but I don't want to risk my stuff with the baggage handlers. So I prefer to be on the same side and ensure there's space in the overhead cabin for my luggage

All in all, boarding with Ryanair isn't a pleasant experience at all. But for the prices one pays, I really don't think anyone should complain. Alitalia was about 350€ for the same return MAN-FCO flight. Ryanair was 90€!


The infamous yellow seats. Not reclineable.

The flight was uneventful. The attendants came up and down three times to sell food as well as smokeless cigarettes, lottery scratch cards for charity and Rome airport transfer tickets

The flight time on ticket was listed as 2h50 but was closer to 2h30. flying into Rome, try to get the right side window seats... They offer quite a spectacular view of Rome. I didn't have any snaps as the dude beside me was blocking (I had an aisle seat)

Ciampino airport is a small one. There are many companies offering airport transfers for 4€ to termini. There is also the public bus which one can board for 1,20€ to the last Roma metro station. One can take the train into the city from there. Being cheap students and since our apartment was in testaccio and not termini, we took the public bus instead, saving a few euros