Ryanair from Stansted - how long ???

Ryanair from Stansted - how long ???

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Discussion

red997

Original Poster:

1,304 posts

208 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
quotequote all
on a 7.35am flight from Stansted this saturday to Krakow
hand luggage only (small rucksack)
not flown either Ryanair or from Stansted for a very long time,
how long is needed from being dropped off at departures to flight departure time ?

I've seen a lot about Ryanair 'closing the gate' 30 mins before departure - does this really happen ?
(flew squeezyjet to AMS earlier this year, and people were getting on the plane 10 mins before push back;

Not wanting to cut it mega fine, but hate hanging around in airports smile

recent first hand experiences appreciated

CoolC

4,213 posts

213 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
quotequote all
The security queue at Stansted can be very slow sometimes, especially early morning.

Give yourself a good hour to be sure.

Ultuous

2,247 posts

190 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
quotequote all
CoolC said:
The security queue at Stansted can be very slow sometimes, especially early morning.
yes They've got a fast-track security option now which you can pay a few extra quid for when buying parking etc... bds went and closed it when I'd paid for it last month - I complained purely out of principal and got VIP'd straight through a 30 minute queue... I know it was 30 minutes, as not only did I look like a tt pushing in but then had to then wait for my mate for that length of time on the other side biggrin

Edited by Ultuous on Thursday 16th October 19:45

Chucklehead

2,729 posts

207 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
quotequote all
My experience: last Friday. I was sitting within spitting distance of the gate, but because I wasn't standing in the queue when the last guy went through they wouldn't let me on the plane. I could still see the last guy through! Do not pass go.

steveo3002

10,493 posts

173 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
i went out on a 8am flight last week , the security lines was crazy but luckily we had fast track - you can buy this with the parking but i guess youve already sorted something

theres often very long walks to the gate too , i would say you want to walk in the airport door 1.5hr before the flight to not have to panic and scrap around

also be aware last lot on the plane will have thier bags taken and put in the plane

Hugo a Gogo

23,378 posts

232 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
the main problem you have is nothing to do with Ryanair, but Stansted airport

getting through security can be a lottery, sometimes you'll whizz through, other times you'll be jammed up for ages


then you've got to wait at the screens and as soon as you see which gate head straight there

one rucksack, you should be ok for keeping your bag in the cabin

oh and if you see the queue disappearing, don't stay in your seat like the guy above wink

urquattroGus

1,845 posts

189 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
The main problem is getting to the Ryanair gate, seemingly about 3 miles away from the main terminal....

tonyvid

9,869 posts

242 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
I went through East Midlands recently and the queue for security was an hour at 05:30! Hanging about an airport isn't the greatest way to spend a spare hour but it's a lot better then having to do it all again the next day... I was at the airport 2hrs before the departure time and still only just about squeezed in a coffee before boarding(Monarch).

CoolC

4,213 posts

213 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
I fly out of EMA regularly with BMI Regional which gives automatic fast track at security.

If I fly out with anyone else I ALWAYS get a fast track ticket, the queue there is easily the worst of any UK airport (that I've flown from).


Don Veloci

1,920 posts

280 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
kapiteinlangzaam said:
Be aware they only guarantee the first 90 bags on the aircraft to be in the cabin, the rest get put for free in the hold and are taken off you at the gate. Total pain in the bks, as they put them on the belt at destination, which depending on where you go could mean a 1hr wait for your luggage back.
Regarding that I'd ask how small is a small rucksack? As when I've been travelling really light I've said 'no thanks, it's going under my feet'. Usually because it is a small enough bag and also it'll have water and a snack to avoid buying from Ryanair on board.

As for the gate closing 30 minutes before - Seems to be their tactic to get everyone at the gate ready roll well ahead of their departure slot (Rightly so). But I expect you to be able to walk up to the back of the queue well after that stated time.

As people have said making time to clear security is the important one.

Hugo a Gogo

23,378 posts

232 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
urquattroGus said:
The main problem is getting to the Ryanair gate, seemingly about 3 miles away from the main terminal....
and it can be one of several distant gates, in opposite directions

steveo3002

10,493 posts

173 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
dont expect entry back into the uk to be any easier either , was a total shambles

Amateurish

7,697 posts

221 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
steveo3002 said:
i went out on a 8am flight last week , the security lines was crazy but luckily we had fast track - you can buy this with the parking but i guess youve already sorted something
How does this work? I've bought valet parking for next week which comes with fast track. When do you get the fast track voucher?

red997

Original Poster:

1,304 posts

208 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
thanks for all the updates.
my rucksack is a 20litre berghaus day sack - about as small as you can get !
going to aim to be walking into the airport at 6.30 - flight is 7.35
straight to security
then straight to gate
and back of queue
do not stop at shops...
hopefully should be enough !
friends who I'm meeting up with out there went out early AM on thurs this week via EMA (where I'm flying back into)
due to fog couldn't land in Krakow so ryanair kindly dropped them off at an alternative airport a short 3 hour coach drive away from Krakow
oh how I laughed ....
probably be me too tomorrow !


Hugo a Gogo

23,378 posts

232 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
...except you can't go to the gate until they tell you which gate it is, about 10 minutes before it closes

Dan_1981

17,352 posts

198 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
As mentioned above Ryanair aren't the issue at Stanstead, the main security queue is the problem.
We lost half a group on an early morning flight to Bucharest the other week due to this.

It took an age to get through.

Agree with the poster above about East Mids too that's usally awful too.

The problem seems to be worst first thing in the morning when the first flights are getting ready.

stu67

804 posts

187 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
Stansted is awful. I'm on a plane somewhere every week and live in Hertfordshire but would rather travel to heathrow to be honest. As others have said its the whole security thing that takes ages if you are on an early morning flight. Luton is quite close to me and isn't so bad if you time it right.
I think its a case of Stansted just being geared towards the cheap flights, loads of ill prepared people carrying everything they need for 2 weeks away through security, does my head in.

HTP99

22,443 posts

139 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
We flew out of Stansted in the summer, it was a nightmare.

I'm a bit of a worrier when it comes to being late so I prefer to give myself enough time and if I'm early then fantastic; at least I'm there and ready.

With the wife and daughter wanting to browse the shops and generally farting about and doing what women do I had a panic with about 2 hours to go before gates shut so we got a move on with me being moaned at and told that there was plenty of time; security was a nightmare and took an hour or so to get through, then the monorail broke down so I decided to get off and walk, however where we were situated you couldn't walk to the departure gate, I was in a proper panic as the gate was shutting in about 15 mins, in the end I spoke to someone on the phone who advised getting the service lift to the monorail that was now working; we arrived 15 mins after the gate should have shut however they let us on, fortunately there were quite a few others who were late too.

magooagain

9,909 posts

169 months

Friday 17th October 2014
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At Stansted arriving 1 hour before your flight is reckless. Allow 2 hours minimum.

steveo3002

10,493 posts

173 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
Amateurish said:
How does this work? I've bought valet parking for next week which comes with fast track. When do you get the fast track voucher?
ive booked it twice this year , first time nothing in the email confirmations to prove it , but i flashed the parking email and they let us through no bother

2nd time the email conformation had a fast track logo and "show this at fast track" on it

so just have all your parking emails printed with the boarding passes and head straight to the fast track gate