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Thread: Quick Trip Report- Poland and Ryanair experience


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    Default Quick Trip Report- Poland and Ryanair experience

    All- I wanted to give you some tidbits from our fabulous trip to Poland. We left on 6/17 (last Monday) and came back on 6/23 (Sunday). My husband works for DL and we traveled with our 'anchor'; my sister on a buddy pass. I can hear the groans now, so I will tell you upfront that I am a very detailed planner and knew every flight detail to/from Europe, my sister is very flexible with travel dates, and my sister has the ultimate luck (as shown a little further down below). My sister is a teacher, so we are stuck with the dreaded summer schedule, but have done a trip to Europe many years in a row with success.

    We explored Lodz, Warsaw, Krakow and took a side trip to Osweicim (Auschwitz). Poland is part of the EU, but uses thier own currency (Zloty). It is a beautiful affordable country and we had great food and great fun. Price examples include taxis that were no more than $6 USD for a 15 minute ride, a 2 hour train ride was $8 USD, and dinner for 3 under $40. Our hotels ranged from $120 USD (for 3 people), to our top notch Warsaw apartment hotel at $225 USD (the H15 apartments).

    We flew to AMS to get to Lodz, Poland (via Ryanair). Our original plan was Milan to Lodz since I had pre purchased a 17 Euro per person ticket. We chickened out on Monday and flew to AMS and bought additional Ryan Air tickets to Bergamo (Milan) to meet up with Plan A. Still inexpensive tickets, but not 17 Euro. Apparently, we would have all gotten Biz Elite on the MXP flight, but it was very negative (-15), so too much rolling of the dice. 2 of 3 of us got biz on the back up plan to AMS and we made the trek to Eindhovan for our Ryan flight. On Sunday, we flew out of Warsaw to Brussel Charleroi on Ryanair for 7 Euro a piece (yes, that is not a typo).

    We then all made the BRU to ATL flight the next day, albeit the normal nail biter, where my sister was left back, only to appear on the plane after a recount of the seats. 2 in Biz, 1 in the back again. That is totally how my sister rolls...

    I would reccomend Ryanair as long as you read, and re-read all the many, many rules. A couple of things to note as a last minute-change-the-plan-non rev:

    • You must check in 4 hours before your flight (I was able to book tickets and check in standing at the gate in ATL). You must print your boarding pass 2 hours before the flight (we did this at the internet kiosk in the Schripol airport). You must have paid for your checked bags 2 hours before your flight (30 Euro in the summer time for 44 lbs). We stumbled on this the first leg and paid for it at the airport, you live and learn.
    • You are limited to one carry on at 10 kgs, no extra purse, no extra computer, nothing. We were checked in Einhoven over and over again on the bag size (there were sizers and they used a card board cut out of a suitcase). They are not messing around with this one. They did not check the weight. We were not scrutinized as much in Bergamo or Warsaw, but were prepared and made sure everything weighed right and fit the size wise.
    • The transfers to the airports that Ryanair and Wizz fly out of can be pricey. Schripol to Einhovan was a nice train with WIFI and reasonable, the Charleroi to Brussels Midi less so at 17 Euro pp (but cheaper if you book on line). Lodz to downtown Lodz cheap $6 cabfare.


    Hope this helps someone explore a fascinating country, or helps navigate LCCs.


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    Migflanker (25-Jun-2013)

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    Super Moderator MRSDS1DONNA's Avatar
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    Thank you for the great information. One of these days we plan to go to Poland and it helps to have this kind of info.
    MRSDS1DONNA - Senior NonRev Correspondent - Arizona

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    Winner! mrs767er's Avatar
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    WOW--that is a treasure trove of travel tidbits! The key is actually going anywhere in EU before all of Germany goes on vacation July 1. Our BP friends made it fine out of AMS but had issues with domestic flights to CVG. Their employee wouldn't listen to me and had them do double leg next day after $$ hotel JFK. I suggested DTW on entry, then CVG next AM. Cheap hotels, too. Oh, well--this is great info and good lesson using LCC's. (my family did similar to get from AMS to Rome) and they traveled early-mid June.
    Sounds like you had a good time--thanks again!
    mrs767er - NonRev Correspondent - Specialty Travel

    Wherever you go, there you are

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    Administrator Migflanker's Avatar
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    Great FT and thanks for the Ryanair tips - they’re worth their weight in euros.
    Keep'em Flying

    Migflanker - Senior NonRev Correspondent - Los Angeles

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    We chuckled that the size wise bin for Wizz Air is bigger (LCC based in Budapest, but flys a lot of flights out of DUS, Eindhoven, Brussels Charleroi). Ryanair is the most restrictive.

    We had our boarding passes, but were going to size-wise at the gate to check dimensions of the suitcase and possibly not check any luggage. That cost us 100 Euros by not having had pre paid for the one checked bag. The bag was tiny (20 inches), but too wide with the frame. Yikes. We felt lucky to play within all the other rules and get away with truly having very cheap tickets out of Milan/Bergamo and Warsaw (7 euro a piece) with only one pre checked bag at 30 Euros.

    It was a little nerve racking traveling knowing that you have to have your boarding passes printed ahead of time, but we just dealt with it.

    It was efficient with them knowing all carry on bags were going to fit in the overhead bin so no delays. Every flight was on time (everyone cheers when they land). They apparently have a much better on time and non cancelled flight record than EasyJet. Seats don't recline but it was perfectly comfortable. They don't charge to use the lav (yet) .

    It's all a bit cheeky (including lottery tickets sold on the plane), but you just have to go with it.

    BTW- Most LCCs I looked at did not fly on Tuesday -to any destination, so that was a major challenge.

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    I'm a big RyanAir fan but a bigger EasyJet fan because of the "walkup" Airline Emp rates.

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    Top Member spongebue's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ddagencylv View Post
    I'm a big RyanAir fan but a bigger EasyJet fan because of the "walkup" Airline Emp rates.
    Oh, come on! You can't just tease us with that and leave! Spill it!
    Spongebue - NonRev Correspondent - U.S./Midwest Region


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    Administrator Migflanker's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by smithlis View Post
    Every flight was on time (everyone cheers when they land). They apparently have a much better on time and non cancelled flight record than EasyJet.


    Glad you finished that thought.
    Keep'em Flying

    Migflanker - Senior NonRev Correspondent - Los Angeles

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