Ryanair: Frankfurt to Nottingham

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: Frankfurt, Germany - Frankfurt Intl (FRA)

In Brief: Germany's busiest airport, Frankfurt International ranks third within Europe in terms of passenger traffic. Unlike some other of Europe's bigger airports, there is not a separate terminal for low-cost airlines. There are, in fact, not a huge number of budget airlines offering flights in and out of Frankfurt, but those that do are distributed across terminals. Air Berlin, Clickair, and Niki fly to Frankfurt International.

Transportation: The best way between the airport and the Frankfurt main train station is by S-Bahn. A one-way journey costs just €3.55 and takes about 10 minutes.
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Arrival: Nottingham, United Kingdom - East Midlands (EMA)

East Midlands, the main airport for east-central England, is located between Leicester and Nottingham. It's very dependent on budget and charter airlines, with Ryanair, easyJet, bmibaby, Thomsonfly, and Sterling, among others, on deck.

Location: The East Midlands Airport is located 21 km (13 miles) southwest of Nottingham.

Transport:

- Bus: Between the East Midlands Airport and Nottingham Railway Station, the Nottingham Skylink bus operates an approximately 35 minute ride. Between the airport and St. Margaret's Bus Station in Leicester, the Leicester Skylink bus takes 50 minutes. The Derby Airline Shuttle travels between the Derby Railway Station and the airport in under 35 minutes. There are also bus services to Nottingham, Derby and Leicester (with connections to destinations around Great Britain on the Intercity network) from outside the main Arrivals area.

- Taxi: The Checker Cars company serves the East Midlands Airport and are found at the taxi rank outside the terminal. For more information consult the company's Official Website.

Service: A 24-hour information desk is located in the main terminal. ATMs, telephones, and two currency exchanges can also be found in the main terminal, which is also equipped with Wi-Fi. There are also a few restaurants and shops (including duty-free) as well as an aviation museum. Other facilities include lounges, children's play centers, first-aid, and a prayer room.

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