Ryanair: Florence to Edinburgh

The carrier: Ryanair

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 1000 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.

Upside

Massive number of destinations. Really cheap fares.

Downside

Numerous extra charges when booking. Customer care isn't a priority. Food prices on board very steep.

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 €15 and the second and third bags are €20 each. Over 15 kg, €15 per kg at the airport. Please note that Ryanair increases the price by €5 in July and August. 

* Please visit Ryanair’s website for more information on its baggage policy.

Seating

Since Ryanair is 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.

Check-in and Ticketing

If you check in at the airport, you will also incur a €5 fee. The fee is €10 at the airport.  Note that American passengers can only check in at the airport.  Online check-in is available from 15 days to 4 hours before departure.  The boarding pass can be printed until 40 minutes before departure.  If you lose your pass then you will have to pay a fee to have a new one reissued.  Bag drop closes 40 minutes before departure, so if you check-in online you must make sure to have your bags in on time.

Tip

Book online whenever possible because fees are significantly reduced.  Also familiarize yourself with Ryanair's table of fees.

Departure: Florence, Italy - Peretola Airport (FLR)

Peretola Airport - Florence or "Aeroporto di Firenze," also known as "Amerigo Vespucci Airport," was named after Florence native Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian merchant and cartographer and is one of two main airports in the Tuscany region. The airport is very small. Even Italian flag-carrier Alitalia only serves two routes in and out of Florence! Among low-cost carriers, Sterling and Belle Air include Florence on their route maps.

Location:

Peretola Airport is located 4 kilometers from Florence and 80 kilometers from Pisa.

Transport:

•Rail: Passengers can take the Ataf-Sita Vola bus to the central railway station (S.M. Novella).
•Bus: The Ataf-Sita Vola shuttle bus travels between the airport and the main Florence train station in about 25 minutes.
•Taxi: Taxis are stationed in front of the arrivals terminal or can be called by Radiotaxi. Taxi journey time from the airport to Florence city center is about 15 minutes.

Service:

There are coffee bars, a snack bar, and a self-service restaurant located at the airport. Travelers can also shop at the Duty Free shop, newsstand, tobacconist and gift shop. Airport facilities also include a Bank, Bureau de Change, and Auto Exchange Machine.

Arrival: Edinburgh, United Kingdom - Edinburgh International (Turnhouse) (EDI)

Edinburgh Airport, sometimes referred to as "Turnhouse", was the busiest airport in Scotland in 2007 and is a hub for easyJet, flyglobespan and Ryanair. Location: Edinburgh Airport is located 12 km (eight miles) west of Edinburgh. Transport: - Rail: Most train services operate from Edinburgh Haymarket station which is found on the main bus route between the airport and city center. - Bus: Public bus services stop outside the Arrivals Halls. More information on both Lothian Bus services can be found at the flybybus company's Website. Also, the express service operates daily. - Taxi: At Edinburgh Airport there are three taxi ranks available. One of them operates solely based on pre-booked reservations while the other two are for companies that serve the airport. Usually, a journey to and from the city center and airport takes roughly 25 minutes. The 'black cab' rank is available by the coach stations while others are available outside the Arrivals Hall. Service: In the airport there are numerous shops and restaurants. Several internet stations are available. In addition, there are play areas for children, entertainment facilities, and baby changing rooms.