People normally start their outbound journey at home, not at a hotel. And many people who use Ryanair (or any other airline) do so to visit relatives or friends so again would not be staying at a hotel. And if they have no computer and zero computer literacy (like my mother - or my mother-in-law, for that matter) then checking in online WILL be a problem.

None of this will be an issue in 20 years' time... but while the generation born in the 1920s/30s is still alive and well enough to travel airlines should provide a method of checking in that does not involve the use of computers or the Internet.

Ryanair don't want such people to travel with them as they don't make as much money with them.

I have a question.

I am a noncitizen, Spanish resident. No-EU citizenship either. I booked a flight from Madrid to Brussels, and for whatever reason chose online checkin at the time of purchase. Assuming I am unable to check in online the day before my flight, I'll be able to check in at the airport, right? Also, can I take a garment bag like this for carry-on?

If you are travelling on or after 19 March you should be able to check in online. If you are travelling before then you can't because the old rules will still apply and under the old rules only EU nationals can check in online. If you can't check in online you have to pay a "desk usage fee" to check in at the desk, but you can claim that back by writing to Ryanair after the event.

As for the bag - what are its dimensions? If it's within allowed dimensions, and its weight is below 10 kg, you can carry it on. If not then you can't. If you do carry on bear in mind that it's "strictly one bag" with Ryanair, and that includes anything you buy airside. In other words, even if you buy a book or magazine to read on the flight it's got to go in that bag or in your pocket, no separate items allowed.

Thanks for the checkin information.

It's a standard sized garment bag, 22" x 19.5" for male suits... will I have trouble?

Where did you read this?

The Ryanair website still says it applies to all bookings (except promotions) from 1st May.

You should find the definitive answer at www.ryanair.com - somewhere on that web site there will be a "baggage" link which will take you to the relevant page.

My Grandma is in her 80s she uses a computer all the time. I frequently get emails with pictures she took with her digital camera.

on the other side of my family, my Grandpa used his computer until he lost his marbles.

Bottom line, i think there is a very small percentage of the population who has zero computer literacy and doesn't know someone who can print their boarding pass for them, such as a neighbor or family member.

If you can squish it up you won't have trouble - Ryanair's limits are (roughly) 22x16x8"

http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/faqs....ggageallowance

You are right - must have been having a senior moment (which is worrying as I'm not a senior)

Not sure why you all bother with this Airline. Why do you have to check-in twice. (To be shure-To be shure.)

Not strictly - yes, had to be photo ID but in the past you could travel between the UK and Ireland, as well as internally, on a UK driving licence - I assume an Irish one too. The driving licence is not an ID card so I guess will no longer be accepted.

As a frequent flying Brit living in Ireland I have a passport so won't be affected but there will be a lot of people who now have to shell out the best part of a ton to get a passport for internal flights...

Incidentally, I really, really hate flying with Ryanair (the gouging .......s) and as long as there is less than say �30 difference in price I will pay more and go with Aer Lingus.

Except that they haven't been checking non-EU passport holders with hand baggage only at STN since the check-in kiosks were introduced in October 2008.

I went through Stansted on 01 January 2009 for a Ryanair flight with my partner who is not on an EU/EEA passport. They didn't even look twice at her passport (photo page only) at the gate which was the first and only time we came face to face with any FR ground staff.

"Best part of a ton"? How much does a UK passport cost? Arm and leg? Your first born son? Seriously, it can't be that expensive.

How much does a passport cost?

The cost of a UK passport will vary depending on how you apply. For example:

* �72 for a basic postal application
* �97 for a fast-track, one-week service
* �46 for a child's passport

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAn...sas/DG_4019505

That's if don via the UKPA. If done via an embassy it will generally cost more