Some of us may have been lucky enough to travel first class once in our lifetimes thanks to some free trip or competition win. But being treated like royalty in business class is a rarity for the vast majority of us and when we set off on a family holiday it's far more likely that we'll fly with a budget airline such as easyJet or Ryanair.
Check-in areas at the likes of Manchester and Bristol airports are dominated by their unmistakeable orange and blue liveries which have become part and parcel of a trip abroad. And the budget airlines have much in common: gone are the days when families are automatically seated together, and now you have to pay extra to pick your seats. It's also seemingly become a luxury to want to take a suitcase on holiday with you these days, with some airlines charging as much as £70 for the privilege.
Lots of you will probably remember that burning desire to get away during the Covid lockdowns and recently I've been lucky enough to go away to Rhodes and Mallorca. I flew with easyJet and Ryanair respectively and, while the budget airlines might share many similarities, my experiences couldn't have been more different (if you're a nervous flyer, go here, where we asked a pilot all the questions you could ever want to ask).
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At the end of August I flew to Rhodes from Manchester Airport with Ryanair. I'd opted for the meet and greet parking options (which, let me tell you, is AMAZING) before making my way to check in. I'd also treated myself to a pass to Escape Lounge (another experience I'll always add to a holiday from now on) and had left plenty of time - or so I thought - to drop off my suitcase. But as I got off the lift I was met with what can only be described as a scene of utter chaos.
Hundreds of holiday-makers were gathered in illogical and seemingly endless queues to perform tasks which were once carried out by airline staff. The first queue reached a row of self-service bag weighing terminals before you then joined yet another winding queue to drop off your suitcases. And there was just one Ryanair employee on a check-in desk.
It took me around 90 minutes to get from the terminal entrance to security, where everyone was voicing their frustration at the delay to what should have been a smooth and seamless start to their holiday. The flight itself was, fortunately, without incident and I had a lovely time in Rhodes.
On my return to the UK, the Ryanair flight was delayed by about two hours which was particularly annoying at midnight when you face paying £10 for two slices of bread and a miniscule sliver of cheese. After take-off I went to the toilet and was forced to refrain from washing my hands after spotting what I can only assume was vomit clogging up the plughole.
After I got home I complained to Ryanair but gave up after receiving a reply which stated "we are having trouble classifying your support request reason".
Then, last week, during half-term, I went on a five-day break to Mallorca, this time with easyJet. I had been dreading checking in at Manchester Airport again but was pleasantly surprised to discover that easyJet's check-in desks were sufficiently manned and I was through to security in less than 15 minutes.
While we might lump the likes of easyJet and Ryanair in the same "dreaded budget airline" basket my recent flights with both airlines were worlds apart. OK, so both leave even the shortest of passengers with leg room that means your knees are constantly pinned against the seat in front, but my experiences couldn't have been more different.
