Sunday November 22, 2009
I've come across a couple of very interesting Ryanair rumors recently - one of which could be very good for travelers to Spain, and one which could be quite a problem.
The good news first. It is being said that Ryanair could finally start to fly to Barcelona, according to this article on avui.cat (site is in Catalan, but you can read a Google Translate version here). Ryanair have confused their customers for years by claiming they fly to Barcelona when they don't - hopefully this will now change. I questioned the airline on their misleading practice of describing Reus and Girona airports as 'Barcelona' airports - you can read their response here: Ryanair Flights to Barcelona.
The second rumor I've come across is less positive. It is being reported that Ryanair is going to raise their airport check-in fee, sorry "boarding card reprint fee", from 40€ to 100€: €100 fine for not printing Ryanair boarding cards.
Ryanair is unique in the airline industry in forcing a web check-in fee on its passengers and then charging if they forget or are unable to print off their boarding passes. This has had the effect in the past that even those who have won flights through Ryanair scratchcards have ended up paying more to fly than those who had paid for their flights in full.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary is quoted as saying "If you don't [check in online] the fine is €40 and if that doesn't get rid of them all within a very short order, we double that fine to €100". We must not be surprised by Mr O'Leary's poor maths - he's been telling us his flights cost 1c for years when everyone knows they cost a lot more than that.
Ryanair have some of the lowest air fares in Europe if you remember to tick all the correct boxes and jump through all the right hoops. To avoid paying through the nose for your Ryanair flight, it is worth checking out these pages before you book:
- Myths About Ryanair How both Ryanair's supporters and their detractors have got the airline wrong.
- Why Hate Ryanair? What the BBC documentary forgot to tell you.
- Ryanair Fees Ten of Ryanair's most common extra charges and how to avoid them.
Thursday November 19, 2009
The Spanish are famous for their odd traditions. Tomato fights, running in front of a heard of angry bulls - Spain surely tops the list of countries with strange customs.
But Christmas, that most holy of holidays - surely the Spanish don't stray from orthodox traditions like Christmas trees, midnight mass and re-runs of It's a Wonderful Life?
Well, the do. Check out this list of Strange Christmas Traditions in Spain and find out about Catalonia's two excrement related Christmas customs, flour fights and the multiple times you can celebrate New Year's Eve in Spain.
See also: Christmas in Spain.
Thursday November 12, 2009
Spain's national carrier, Iberia, is set to plunge many travel plans into further chaos, with the announcement that there will be more strikes later this month and in December.
After a two-day strike this week, Iberia will ground flights for three days (from November 30 to December 2) and then for five days (from December 14 to December 18), reports the BBC: Iberia set for more strike action.
Mainly short-haul and medium-haul flights will be affected. The airline is prevented by law from canceling any flights when there is only one per day. Routes with multiple flights will still have at least one running per day. So if you know your flight is going to be canceled, it might be worth calling the airline to see if you can get on another flight that day. You can contact Iberia here: Iberia Contact Details
Read more about Cheap Flights to Spain
Saturday November 7, 2009
Spain's high-speed train service, the AVE, continues to go from strength to strength, with the announcement that it is now the most popular means of getting between Madrid and Barcelona, according to The Olive Press.
The achievement is particularly impressive considering this route is one of the most popular in the world. The Olive Press says it is the fifth busiest in the world, though I've seen several conflicting reports on this.
Why has the AVE become so popular? Because it is (usually) cheaper than flying (especially on short notice), always quicker (when taking into account check-in times), more convenient (train stations are more central than airports), affords a better view and is much more environmentally friendly. Need any more reasons?
Read more about the AVE in Spain:
