Ryanair

[TheLocalYokel]

Has anyone been to Madrid?

I've never visited myself, I have been to Barcelona though so I'd be interested to hear how Madrid compares as a city break destination?

I've never been but my son and his family spent a long weekend there and my son-in-law used to visit Madrid on business.

They both recommend it as a city break. It's one that my wife and I have on our radar. We almost went last year but in the end opted for Barcelona instead which was an excellent choice as well.

I've just read User001's post and his experience accords with my family's: a good place for a few days' visit.

 

[scottrhino]

Agree with the posts. Madrid is nice but more a financial centre than tourist trap. However, there is a strong presence from football fans visiting the city for a long weekend and mid week European games. Surprising how many people go to the games from the UK.

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Has anyone been to Madrid?

I've never visited myself, I have been to Barcelona though so I'd be interested to hear how Madrid compares as a city break destination?

Went for a stag weekend a few years ago.

A lovely city, but very cold in the winter.

 

[nwoody2001]

ive been a few times, and I suppose it depends what you look for but my experience is that as a city, BCN and MAD are on par as cities, but BCN also has the sea and costal resorts nearby as an added draw. In terms of nightlife and culture however, I would say they are on par... BCN historic architecture but very touristy, MAD great modern architecture and more 'spannish'... both are great party cities however!

 

[Ray Finkle]

Madrid still isn't on the drop down menu but if you can access it in other ways the fares are loaded. They're showing between £60 and £80 each way with July and August showing up to approx £100 each way. They may well change though.

 

[Bhx_fifteen]

I'm quite shocked at how expensive FR flights are on the new BHX-MAD route.

For example, 24/4-4/5 is £100.98 return. This isn't even one of the more expensive returns, this is a typical return price.

Compare that to DY 24/4-5/5 which is £60.20.

Even Iberia are cheaper - 25/4-4/5 is just £55.74.

Bearing in mind Ryanair still have the least appeal in terms of service and are the last of the 3 airlines to establish the route, you'd think they'd price their fares lower than competitors....not at twice the cost! Hopefully this price will come down.

I share the frustration of many that Ryanair have gone after this route NOW, when there are so many other destinations they could have chosen. A few years ago, it would've been very welcome, but I share doubt over the viability of 3 carriers (though as mentioned, the carriers all offer something a little different so hopefully it can work).

Even if Ryanair didn't want to open brand new routes, they could have gone after routes such as Rome and Venice where theres only one airline on both routes (Monarch) - this would have been competition thats perhaps more healthy...

 

[Ray Finkle]

The fares were loaded last night and seemed high, I thought they may have been adjusted when it became bookable but it appears not.

I agree that they've had plenty of time to bring back Madrid but seem to have had no interest, until Iberia turn up. It appears to be an 'I don't want it but I don't want anyone else to have it' situation.

Porto, Pisa, Valencia etc would have been most welcome.

 

[nwoody2001]

So I admit being a little confused...

People here firstly didn't want RYR on the BHX-MAD route, under cutting our new airlines, seeing them off and then pulling out of the service themselves. Yet, now RYR is on the route and its been confirmed, there is complaint that RYR fares aren't low enough to compete with IBX or NAX???? At this rate and with those prices, it would be RYR that pulled out first which is what (I understand) the outcome ppl would prefer if one of the 3 had to lose out....?

...are some people just never happy?

 

[Ray Finkle]

I'm not sure anyone is actually complaining about it, just commenting that Ryanair are opening Madrid against two competitors but have come in with the highest fares :dunno:

Personally I have no problem with Ryanair doing Madrid, I just wonder, why now? They pulled out several years ago and have shown no signs at all of bringing it back, BHX manage to get Iberia on the route and suddenly it's back in the booking engine.

History tells us that Ryanair appear to be well known for pulling stunts such as this to see off the competition so I think it's fair to be a little suspicious of their motives.

 

[Ray Finkle]

From Airline Routes

Ryanair in summer 2016 season is expanding service at Birmingham, with the launch of 4 new routes (including 1 previously reported on Airline Route). Planned new routes as follow.

eff 29MAR16 Birmingham – Vilnius 2 weekly
FR1204 BHX0715 – 1205VNO 738 26
FR1205 VNO1230 – 1325BHX 738 26

eff 01APR16 Birmingham – Madrid 4 weekly
FR2083 BHX1420 – 1740MAD 738 x246
FR2082 MAD1235 – 1355BHX 738 x246

eff 01APR16 Birmingham – Verona 2 weekly
FR1562 BHX0800 – 1115VRN 738 5
FR1562 BHX1500 – 1815VRN 738 1

FR1563 VRN1140 – 1255BHX 738 5
FR1563 VRN1840 – 1955BHX 738 1

eff 26APR16 Birmingham – Corfu 2 weekly
FR8062 BHX0820 – 1345CFU 738 26
FR8061 CFU0630 – 0755BHX 738 26

In addition, the airline plans to add frequencies on following routes, note the planned service increase date varies:
Birmingham – Alicante Increase to 14 weekly
Birmingham – Barcelona Increase to 9 weekly
Birmingham – Dublin Increase to 6 daily
Birmingham – Malaga Increase to 9 weekly
Birmingham – Malta Increase to 3 weekly
Birmingham – Palma Increase to 9 weekly

http://airlineroute.net/2015/11/12/fr-bhx-s16/

 

[Ray Finkle]

Dublin is now bookable for winter and remains 6x daily.

 

[jfy1999]

Have we got the Ryanair (and Aer Lingus) schedules for the Cheltenham Festival this year, or will aircraft operate on an ad hoc basis?

 

[Ray Finkle]

Mon 14th - Ryanair 8 flights, Aer Lingus 6 flights

Tue 15th - Ryanair 10 flights, Aer Lingus 5 flights

Wed 16th - Ryanair 8 flights, Aer Lingus 5 flights

Thur 17th - Ryanair 8 flights, Aer Lingus 6 flights

Fri 18th - Ryanair 10 flights, Aer Lingus 7 flights


Aer Lingus usually have some A321's operating.

 

[richard winterbourn]

See my question on '2016' posted January 22nd. Is it a record?

 

[Ray Finkle]

I couldn't say for definite but I am struggling to think of any other time that we've seen 17 arrivals in one day from a single destination.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Verona is now bookable through winter, still 2x weekly although it moves to a Tue and Sat from Nov.

Good to see it's a year round route :smile:

 

[Daza]

MAD is on sale 4 times a week BCN is on sale daily in Winter 16/7
Daza

 

[Ray Finkle]

MAD - Same days of operation as Iberia. The Ryanair website has the times loaded but is currently showing 'sold out'.

BCN - Up to daily from 5x weekly. Monarch are showing 5x weekly this winter with Vueling currently showing 2x weekly.

It will be interesting to see what Norwegian offer on both of the above, this winter MAD and BCN are both 2x weekly.

 

[Ray Finkle]

A few more winter flights are now bookable.

Canaries

Fuerteventura 2x weekly
Lanzarote 3x weekly
Gran Canaria 2x weekly
Tenerife 4x weekly (was it 3x weekly this winter)

Vilnius continues at 2x weekly as does Krakow. Bratislava continues at 3x weekly.

 

[nwoody2001]

still not official formal release of their winter timetable??/