Ryan. EGSS – LFMK – EGSS

Coo. I haven’t done one of these before.

Just a few comments on my recent trip to Carcassonne and back on Ryan.

I hate cattle-class travel. I know you shouldn’t expect much for 99p, and generally my expectations are fulfilled, but they do make me so grouchy that I end up berating the poor woman in the BMW who is having trouble with the car park barrier. In retrospect I think my “Just how difficult is it to park a car?” was unworthy and unwarranted, but then you shouldn’t have called me “Sir” in that grating transatlantic whine you are so unfortunate as to possess. Said in that tone does not indicate respect, more the patronising attitude of some harrassed trolley-dolly (guessing by your use, or misuse, of a car park pass.) a little late for her shift. Sorry.

And I really didn’t mind the long walk to the gate printed on my ticket. I’d just rather it had been the gate that the flight to Carcassonne was leaving from. Still, I suppose the exercise, walking eventually to the correct gate, has fought off the incipient deep vein thrombosis?

The aircraft was some variety of 737 with no winglets. More importantly the seats, patently designed for cattle-class, were fashioned out of pre-cast concrete and thinly covered in vinyl effect vinyl. And where is the rake adjustment? It doesn’t help at all in terms of comfort, but can be used to catch the urchin who is practising his percussion on the table in your seatback a nasty one if done swiftly enough.

And don’t think I didn’t notice the smug couple who’d carted their granny along and were allowed to pre-board on account of her ‘reduced mobility’ sat firmly in the overwing exit seats staring at the notices that said ‘these seats are not to be occuppied by children and people of reduced mobility’ 😡 I blame the cabin crew. Why don’t they sort this sort of bollox?

And don’t get me started on cabin baggage. Yet.

Flight was fine, if tedious. Landing seemed a bit marginal on the 2,000 metre runway, but possibly because the flight crew elected for a fuel saving straight-in with some tailwind component.

Disembark was handled with normal French efficiency. They’ll let anybody, even Mrs Moggy and I, in with very little fuss.

Return flight two days later was just as tedious. And this is where I really want a rant! 😡

The signs all clearly state ‘One item of Cabin Baggage per adult passenger’

Below is a picture of one interpretation of ‘one item’ applied to a couple with one child. 😡 😡 😡 😡

And why do they do it? What is the point of carting all that stuff in the cabin when the transit shuttle at Stansted takes so long to get to the terminal that your checked bags are sitting waiting for you?

Anyway, thanks Ryan. A good, safe, if not comfortable flight, and worth every penny of the money we spent.

Moggy

I’ll go back to Historic now 🙂