It was a very early start getting up at 4.30 to get a taxi to the airport at 5.10. But at 5.30 the airport was jam packed. We had checked in online and had carry on baggage only, and apart from the dreaded gate 79 (just about as far as you can walk in Dublin Airport) and apart from a pretty jammed security check in, it was pretty painless! We made it with loads of time and boarded early. Ryanair are just fine as long as you play by the rules. These are not arbitrary bureaucratic rules that you might get in state run airlines - these rules are based on sound economic principles (for the airline. They do feel just as customer unfriendly as the rules made by bureaucrats. At least there are reasons - not a rules that no one can now quite recall the reason for and which require an undefined process to be dropped or changed. But if you play by the Ryanair rules you are generally rewarded with a hassle free journey. The underlying secret to these rules is about turnaround time and cost efficiency.
Rule No. 1 - carry-on baggage only. Baggage staff cost money and are a disruptive lot, also baggage handling takes time for both the customer and the airline. If you want to do check in baggage then you can't do online check in and you more importantly you must pay handsomely for the privilege. So get yourself a suitcase with wheels make sure that it measures 55cm x 40cm x 20cm - the optimum dimensions, carry the maximum without checking in.
Rule No. 2 - always check in online. Check-in staff cost money and they also take time. They have to deal with unhappy customers and so sometimes become unhappy themselves. Easier if the customers blame their computer skills (or lack of them). You will get one less queue before security: you get to board first; and if Micheal himself is around you might even get a wry smile, rare indeed on Ryanair!
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