€150 to check in bag on flights to Lyon
However, an airline statement on their website said these are hand baggage only flights. Despite this, customers booking seats on the extra flights were given the option to pay to check in a bag, at the cost of €150.
A Ryanair spokesperson told the Irish Examiner last night that the cost was to deter people from checking in a bag: “These flights are hand baggage only and this charge was to deter people from booking checked-in bags.”
Airlines and travel agents are experiencing record demand from Irish football fans desperate to get to France for today’s last 16 clash with the host country.
Ryanair added another six flights between Dublin and Lyon yesterday to cope with the demand. The airline is now running a total of 11 Euro specials between today and Monday — with five departures from Dublin and six flights from Lyon.
Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said demand for match flights is “shattering all previous records”.
“These Euro specials are selling faster than a Wes Hoolahan cross and are only available for booking on the Ryanair.com website. Fans should note that these flights will operate with hand baggage only, to remind ourselves of Thierry Henry’s handball in 2009, and we all hope the French defence joins their air traffic xontrollers and the rest of their unions by going AWOL on Sunday,” he said.
Both Abbey Travel — FAI official travel partner — and Marathon Sports Travel had day trips to Lyon which sold out. However, Abbey Travel announced some extra seats yesterday.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car has said there is a “booking frenzy” with 47% of the second wave of Irish fans heading over for today’s game indicating that they will rent a car to get there.
For those who decide to stay at home, there are more than a few ways to join in what should be a party atmosphere this weekend.
Cork Opera House and 96FM are hosting a free, but ticketed event, where some 900 people can watch the game on Cork’s biggest screen. There will be a full bar service at the event, as well as quizzes, a DJ, computer games and a family fun zone.
In Dublin, a large outdoor screening of the game will take place at Smithfield Plaza in what will be a free and alcohol-free event.
A map showing the access point to the event can be viewed on the Dublin City Council homepage at dublincity.ie
