Ryanair flights are favoured by many British holidaymakers thanks to their cheap prices and vast choice of destinations. Budget airlines generally have faster turnaround times than standard carriers. Ryanair, in particular, is very speedy indeed and takes as little as 25 minutes to complete the turnaround process for a short-haul flight, according to The Telegraph. So how does Ryanair manage to get the process done and dusted in such a short period of time?
Ryanair’s key to getting the turnaround process over quickly is to use a rather crafty technique.
Fliers may well have noticed that Ryanair planes do not have seatback pockets.
These were taken out of Ryanair aircraft back in 2004.
No pockets in the seats means passengers cannot place rubbish or anything else there.
With nowhere to dispose of detritus, travellers are subconsciously encouraged to take their rubbish with them.
Consequently, Ryanair cabin crew can spend less time cleaning around the seats after passengers disembark.
This means the turnaround process can be much more sped up and cut down to 25 minutes.
The crew will also get started on the procedure before all passengers have let the aircraft.
Another way Ryanair has cut down on the turnaround is by implementing their very strict hand luggage policy.
Ryanair permits just one small bag per passenger to be placed underneath their seat.
According to the luggage policies laid out on the Ryanair website, the bag must span no more than 40x20x25cm.
For those hoping to bring a little more luggage onboard, fees start at £6, granting ‘priority passenger’ status and expanding their allowance to a slightly larger bag to go under the seat, plus an additional bag with a maximum size of 10kg and 55x40x20cm.
However, the priority package does also encompass priority boarding, offering travellers time to get their bags stowed away safely.
This means that the airline shouldn’t be left with more bags than space on the plane which could slow the turnaround time.
For passengers who struggle to whittle down their hand luggage, there is a “ruthless” trick you can employ.
Packing expert Julia Hudson, author of The Epic Adventurer, told MailOnlin: “I leave my suitcase out two or three days before I travel and make a pile of things beside it. If, after a dress has been sitting out for a few days, you find yourself sick of looking at it, then you’re not going to wear it on holiday.”
There is another unlikely advantage to packing your suitcase in advance of travel.
“Studies have shown that your clothes are filled with eight per cent or more of Oxygen, Nitrogen, Argon and Carbon Dioxide,” Lois Robertson, Brand Manager at London Stansted Airport, told Express.co.uk.
“If you pack and leave your clothes to ‘settle’ overnight the mixture of gravity and compression will push this out and leave you with a little more wiggle room.”