Liverpool-Gerona with Ryanair, June 2005

I thought I would share one of my experiences with Ryanair from back in 2005…here goes

Aircraft – Boeing 737-800

Registration – EI-CSY

Flight Number FR9146

Seat 12F.

Me and my friend arrived at Liverpool Airport, with my first impression of it looking small and compact, but yet nice and Modern. Inside the terminal building to Departures we met a huge Queue, the one for our flight. Check-in was slower than a snail’s pace, with check-in staff taking lots of time with every single bag. After about an hour it was my turn to check in, placing my bag on the conveyor and recieving my ticket. “Thank-god for that” I thought as I proceeded through to Departures.

Here I saw an Easyjet 737-300 for Amsterdam, FlyBE Dash-8 for Exeter, an Air Atlantique ATR 42 bound for Aberdeen and 2 Ryanair 737-800s. I went to BK and got a large coke as it was a hot day and I needed something cool me down. After a very gassy coke with hardly no sugar we wen through passport control and went to gate where I came face to face with a very nice looking EI-CSY.

After a long wait, women and children were called to board, then it was our turn to board. Down the steps faster than my legs could carry me and out to the aircraft, walking under the impressive wing to the back of the aircraft, and up the steps to be greeted by a friendly cabin member. Inside the cabin, an Irish voice was talking about what to buy, and giving other details about this and that. The cabin was clean and tidy, and the aircraft did feel well looked after.

I sat down at seat 12F with a loveley big engine next to me, and I began to feel the excitement of being on an aircraft again. The flight was fully booked which was encouraging to see.

Soon the doors were closed, and the co-pilot gave us details of the route and how the weather was in Gerona. We began push-back and this seemed quick. After the engines were started we taxied out past a Flyjem ATP and out to runway 27.

We held for a couple of seconds and then entered the runway where we rolled for a couple of seconds and then the engines whined into full power and I felt myself being pressed back into my seat as the aircraft bolted down the runway, and me enjoying the take-off run very much to a point people thought I was a nutcase.

The rotation was smooth and the climb was quick out over the River Mersey, making a left turn over Birkenhead and then out over the midlands. After climbing to a suitable height the signs for seatbelts went out and I relaxed.

The Ryanair flight attendants began serving Tea and Coffee as we headed over Southampton or Portsmouth (one of the two). The Ryanair attendants were very friendly and professional

I bought myself a loveley big bag of Maltesers which made for very good eating during the flight, however I had a slip of the arm and spilt them over my mate, which was very comical seeing maltesers everywhere.

After a smooth and boring cruise over France (it was cloudy) the engines began to reduce power and our descent had begun. Through a thick blanket of cloud which lasted for quite a while we emerged where I could see a small airport with an aircraft parked up which looked like either an MD-80 or ERJ-145, I’m sure that it was Perpignan. The descent seemed quick and soon we were coming level with the huge mountains which surrounded us, the view was fantastic.

We began finals and the descent became quicker still, I saw Gerona town and seconds later we were landing in Gerona on the South-westerley runway. Landing was very smooth and braking firm, but quick. We had landed 20mins early, which was very nice.

We left the runway at the last exit and pulled onto a stand. Engines were off and we waited to disembark. After climbing down the steps and feeling the heat I caught a photo of the aircraft whilst walking into the terminal. A quick wave of the passport and on to collect my baggage, which seemed to take quite a while.

I took one last look at the airport and then headed for my coach to the Resort after what was a very nice and professional flight by Ryanair, who I now like and understand why they are successful. Theyr’e a brilliant airline!