Warning: first world compliant.
Ryaniar: customers, we don't care.
Luton: Good times, none.
Seriously, what a shithow. I haven't flown Ryanair in a long time but I never remember it being THIS bad. Plus, Luton, what a depressing city. I literally feel like I was trapped in a tiny box all weekend and someone just let me out and I'm mangled and deformed.
I should have known not being able to open my car on Friday was a sign of a string of bad events. I took a half day at work to make the Friday flight and had to race to the train in the morning because my car just wouldn't open with the clicker. The key, no joy. Surely one should be open your car door with the key even if the clicker doesn't work? Hopefully, I just got that fixed today and it works when I get home.
At any rate, on way to airport there was a pile up at Naas, so we thought we were nearly going to miss our flight but turns out it was delayed an hour that turned into 3 hours. I was still positive, I had time to eat, no rushing and had a seat at the gate. All good. No stress. Why the hell does Ryanair call your flight to check passports where there is no plane? We had priority, so they called us up. We go through and then had to stand in a stairwell for 35 minutes! Where is health and safety?
We had rented a car via Ryanair, and they had our flight number so would have known we were delayed. Get the shuttle to the rental cars and it's closed! We weren't the only ones. So I said, we should hop back on the shuttle to the terminal to get a taxi, since we were in the middle of industrial no where. The bus driver asked what hotel and said he could drop us off at a bus stop near by (only a short walk) and I was like, Huzzah! So we get off and use google maps and it's a 20 minute walk. No issue walking but it's highway roads after the first 10 minutes with no path.
We are standing at the last point we can (outside another hotel) and I'm downloading an app to get an uber/taxi (as neither of us ever take them and don't have it) when a car pulls out of the lot and asks if we need a taxi. I'm busy downloading, as himself is talking to the guy and then he tells me he's an uber and to get in. I say okay and instantly realise there is no fare information or tags. Himself is upfront chatting away about our debacle and I'm in the back wondering how this going to play out... most likely with us being robbed.
We get to the hotel and himself pulls out his card and dude says it's cash only. Still not realising, himself says, where's the nearest ATM you could drive us to..... when I chime in saying would you take euro? He says yes and I give him what I had (15 euro) and jump out. It was maybe a 2 minute lift. Ugh. After checking in at nearly midnight, we get a drink at the hotel bar and I step outside for a smoke and I see what I thought was a kitten but turned out to be a rat! Like, I know they are everywhere but this one probably ate other ones.
We get up for the Arnis competition where his son is suppose to compete at 9am. The event doesn't get moving until nearlly 11am. We sat in the most uncomfortable chairs for 11 hours in a gymnasium that smelled like sweaty feet. It was interesting and fun for a bit but 11 hours later, we were done. That said, he did great. It was an international competition and Ireland's first time competing and were not expecting to win anything at all, they came home with a lot of medals. He got a silver medal for his weight/belt class in dagger fighting at 16 years of age. Super cool, super proud but I kinda want to hide all my knives now.
Sunday, Tiger Moth cancelled, no car, Luton depressing and raining, we ended back at the Arnis competition (he wasn't fighting but was still with his team) and watch the higher belts until the flight. On the way back....THE SAME THING BUT WORSE. Delays. Call the flight. We go through, go down stairs assuming it's a normal gate, Nope. People standing in stairwell for over an hour. Luckily, we made it to the landing. There are people at the desk and the gate area with seats is BEHIND THEM. Instead of letting us through to sit they made us wait in queue including the stairwell. When they finally do, it's another hour and make the entire flight of people squeeze together instead of us having room. It made no sense! Then it starts to downpour and they let us on the plane. Everyone drenched. Then they make us sit on the on the runway for over an hour. Like it wasn't a surprise to them. They said it straight away. Why make us go out in the rain to sit on a plane. No one would have been wet, if they waited 20 minutes. No air on the plane, smells of mildew/sweat off people. It took us 9 hours to fly less than an hour flight.
I vow never to fly them again. Not even a, "we apologise for the delay" from the pilots or staff. I know it's not their fault, they just work for a shite company but a little bit of apathy would go a long way. Plus all the numbers to contact rental car just ring out all weekend.
Delighted for the lad though, he's been training hard for two years and to get a silver is huge. At least next time the French are hosting!
/ rant.
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