Ryanair: Bratislava to Birmingham

The carrier: Ryanair

Upside
Massive number of destinations. Really cheap fares.

Downside
Numerous extra charges when booking. Customer care isn't a priority (See below). Food prices on board very steep.

About
The big daddy of them all, Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair maintains the most awe-inspiring route map and tends to add new destinations (and cancel unprofitable routes) at blistering, breakneck speed. Founded in 1985, Ryanair was Europe's original low fares airline and is still Europe's largest low fares carrier. At current count, Ryanair operates well over 500 routes, from Inverness to Brindisi; Tampere to Tenerife.

It's easy to have lots of opinions about Ryanair; we certainly do. It's a big monster of an airline. We've been pleased as punch on Ryanair, psyched to take advantage of insanely cheap fares, and we've also been annoyed beyond belief with the airline, distressed by enormous surcharges on too-heavy luggage and staff who appear to be completely clueless.

With Ryanair more than with the other airlines we describe here, it pays to be informed about potential penalties and pitfalls.

Baggage
* Carry-on: One piece of luggage not to exceed 10 kg.
* Checked: Up to 3 bags with a combined weight of 15 kg. If booked on-line using Ryanair, the first bag is €10 and the second and third bags are €20 each. Over 15 kg, €15 per kg at the airport. Check website for details.

Seating
Since Ryanair is a free for all when it comes to landing seats, it can sometimes be worth it to pay the €5 for priority boarding. In advance, book priority boarding status online, if you hold an EU passport.

Note: If you check in at the airport, you will also incur a €5 fee. Note that American passengers can only check in at the airport.


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Departure: Bratislava, Slovakia - Bratislava (BTS)

Bratislava bounced into airport consciousness with the rise of Slovak low-cost carrier SkyEurope. Very quickly, the city became a well-connected place, easy and cheap to visit. Several other low-cost carriers have followed suit. In late 2007, SkyEurope announced that it was moving quite a few of its routes from Bratislava to nearby Vienna; this may have the effect of dimming Bratislava Airport's star a bit.

Location: Bratislava Airport is located 8 km (5 miles) outside the city center.

Transport:

- Rail: There is a train connection to the Central Railway Station.

- Bus: Bus #61 connects the airport and Bratislava's main train station. The journey is about 25 minutes and a one-way ticket costs SKK18.

- Taxi: The taxi rank is located outside the Arrivals Terminal.

Service: Information desks, public phones, and ATMs are located throughout the airport. Other services include currency exchange, cafes, restaurants, shops, and a newsstand.

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Arrival: Birmingham, United Kingdom - Birmingham Intl (BHX)

Birmingham International Airport is one of the UK's busiest hubs. Well serviced by flag carrier and low-cost airlines alike, Birmingham is a major launch pad for bmibaby, flybe, and Thomsonfly. In 2007, the airport won the Airports Council International's award for Best Airport in Europe in its traffic category.

Location: Birmingham International Airport 10 km (six miles) southeast of central Birmingham in the borough of Solihull, West Midlands, England.

Transport:
- Rail: The Air-Rail shuttle service is free and links the airport to the Birmingham International Train Station in a few minutes. Train operators include CrossCountry and Virgin Trains, which offer service between London and Glasgow via Birmingham. For more information consult the railway's Official Website.

- Bus: Two bus lines transport passengers between the airport and central Birmingham. Both run an average of once every half-hour and take about 20 minutes.

- Taxi: Black cabs are able to carry up to five people with luggage. They can be found at the taxi stand outside the terminals.

Service: The airport contains information desks as well as the Visitor Center in terminal 1 for travel information. There are ATMs and currency exchange kiosks in both terminals. Aside from an extensive range of restaurants and shops, there are also postal facilities, 24-hour medical centers, and a prayer room.

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