Why can US passport holders not do OLCI on Ryanair?
#16
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LHR/LGW
Programs: LH *G (SEN), VS Silver, BA Silver, Goldpointplus Gold, Marriott Silver, Accor silver, *ACP
Posts: 442
FR's reaction would most likely be to add a 50p foreign-passport holders fee to all pax.
Think wheelchair fees.
#17
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
This statement surprised me, so I did a bit of research to see if it's true and could only find evidence to the contrary, e.g. http://uk-immigration.ukresident.com...n/uk-visas/29/
Forgetting the families angle, legal residence in the UK is not enough to get you into other EU countries without needing a visa (first hand experience of helping a UK-resident Zimbabwean friend get a visa for France) so it's expected that Ryanair should check non-EU passport holders have the required documentation for their destination.
The argument is then whether it's fair for them to charge only the affected passengers for this extra procedure, or spread the cost amongst everyone.
There simply is no justification for making non-EU nationals check in at the desk. But, as the previous poster said, a successful legal challenge would probably mean that everybody would have to pay a "foreign passport fee" in the same way that everybody is now paying a wheelchair fee when flying Ryanair.
#19
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: UA, AA, AGR
Posts: 327
This statement surprised me, so I did a bit of research to see if it's true and could only find evidence to the contrary, e.g. http://uk-immigration.ukresident.com...n/uk-visas/29/
Forgetting the families angle, legal residence in the UK is not enough to get you into other EU countries without needing a visa (first hand experience of helping a UK-resident Zimbabwean friend get a visa for France) so it's expected that Ryanair should check non-EU passport holders have the required documentation for their destination.
The argument is then whether it's fair for them to charge only the affected passengers for this extra procedure, or spread the cost amongst everyone.
Forgetting the families angle, legal residence in the UK is not enough to get you into other EU countries without needing a visa (first hand experience of helping a UK-resident Zimbabwean friend get a visa for France) so it's expected that Ryanair should check non-EU passport holders have the required documentation for their destination.
The argument is then whether it's fair for them to charge only the affected passengers for this extra procedure, or spread the cost amongst everyone.
That said, since when do Ryanair need a reason for any fee? Just keep it in mind, along with all the other relevant fees and transport costs, when you compare fares. Ryanair still works out cheaper than any alternative in many if not most cases.
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: *A
Posts: 1,390
However, in this case, it does not apply, as FR could let you do OLCI. Hence it is just a way to get money, which I think is just wrong.
Last edited by sds1493; Dec 24, 2008 at 5:16 am Reason: Fixing quote
#22
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: UA, AA, AGR
Posts: 327
That logic helps with regard to their checked luggage fee, where it does cost them extra for you to check it, and other things, like their CC fee.
However, in this case, it does not apply, as FR could let you do OLCI. Hence it is just a way to get money, which I think is just wrong.
However, in this case, it does not apply, as FR could let you do OLCI. Hence it is just a way to get money, which I think is just wrong.
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: *A
Posts: 1,390
There are plenty of other cases where Ryanair charge fees with little relation to their actual costs. The "card processing fee", which gets tacked on if you pay with anything other than an Electron card, is charged per-flight, rather than per-transaction, even though the actual card processing cost to them is the same regardless of how many flights a transaction covers. It works the other way too, with many flights having "no taxes" even though Ryanair in fact still has to pay some tax on them. I think it is best to just ignore whatever excuse Ryanair gives for charging what they do, and decide whether or not to fly with them based on the total door-to-door cost.
#24
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,638
#25
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Neither here nor there
Programs: UA Slvr, DL Slvr, AA plt, HH LTD, MR tit/LTP at least two of those buy 10 get 1 free coffee cards
Posts: 3,421
Back towards the original topic...
I use OLCI on ryanair all the time (meaning 12+ times in the past few years) and I have a US passport. I have never so much as gotten a second look at the gate.
#26
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: MSN/HOU
Programs: DL Silver (0.239 MM), DL SkyClub Life, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,107
#27
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Neither here nor there
Programs: UA Slvr, DL Slvr, AA plt, HH LTD, MR tit/LTP at least two of those buy 10 get 1 free coffee cards
Posts: 3,421
#28
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC Gold
Posts: 9,236
We're talking about Schengen tourist visas (and not longer-term residence permits), right?
I find it difficult to conceive that any state that is a signatory to the Schengen Agreement would or even could issue you a visa to enter its own state but no others in the Schengen Zone.
And how would this be enforceable? I guess it wouldn't, technically, right?
How very odd.
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London and Zurich
Programs: AA, BA, Mucci: Sir Roger des Directions Routičres, PCR
Posts: 13,609
It may be counter-intuitive but's true.
I posted details of different Schengen visas (IIRC A, B, C, D, D+) in another FT thread - sorry, I'm away and only have web access for a short time, so time for Search is limited.
I posted details of different Schengen visas (IIRC A, B, C, D, D+) in another FT thread - sorry, I'm away and only have web access for a short time, so time for Search is limited.
#30
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,638
Furthermore, individuals who may be inadmissable to one or more Schengen states may not be issued Schengen visas, but rather only territorial visas. Similar conditions exist for those who have very narrowly defined purpose of visit (eg. an otherwise ineligible person who must visit a Schengen country to testify in a court case).