With Manchester Airport being one of the worst on the planet as far as ‘cattle with disabilities‘ are concerned, I really wanted to avoid them if possible. I’ve literally been forgotten on three occasions, and the last time I flew in to this modern version of Dante’s Inferno, I grabbed the captain of my Tui flight, as he disembarked the ‘crew bus’, to complain that I’d been left, at 5:30am, in February, AGAIN. He and his co-pilot went off to look for wheelchairs (there was another passenger requiring assistance), then he pushed me through immigration, to the baggage reclaim, where I was reunited with my wheelchair. No point complaining to Andy Burnham (Manchester Airport is owned by Manchester Council) or to the crap airport itself, as there are no replies. I know, I tried. I even blogged about them on a previous occasion, then sent the link to management there, but it too was not even acknowledged.

And, in our post pandemic world, Easyjet were cancelling flights left-right-and-centre, so I tried to avoid them too.

Having decided that, Ryanair from Liverpool Airport was the best option. I was concerned as to how it would go?

Faster, Easier, Friendlier.

That’s Liverpool Airport’s ‘tag-line’.

Faster? Well, it was certainly that. I drove to the airport and parked the car up in an accessible parking space, so close that I can literally see my car from the main terminal entrance. Our longest wait came because we’d arrived far too early, so our check-in wasn’t open. I’ve flown from Liverpool to the Isle of Man a few times, but this was my first international flight from here. Once open, check-in was smooth & easy. Security was quick, without the usual chaos of Manchester.

Faster? Definitely.

Easier? The usual checks of the Batec & wheelchair were completed, then confirmation that it would be brought to the aircraft when we landed in Poland. WHY OH WHY DO MANCHESTER REFUSE TO DO THIS??? They take the wheelchair off the aircraft, then insist on it going to baggage reclaim. On one occasion, as I was stuck on the aircraft, waiting for Manchester’s comically named ‘assistance’ to come to me with one of their wheelchairs, I actually watched my chair being taken away from me. But, this isn’t about their incompetence, it is a celebration of Liverpool, getting it right. Liverpool Airport did get it right, from start to finish. And they did so with a smile…

Easier?  So, so much (especially when compared to the incompetence just thirty miles to the east).

Friendlier? Absolutely. From the moment we arrived at the airport, when we were greeted by someone from their assistance team, who we weren’t even looking for at that point, through check-in, where we chatted to the staff, to security, who actually engaged with us in a friendly manner, to the young guy who met us at the gate then walked with us to the aircraft, every solitary person who we had contact with, was ‘friendly’. It’s almost as if, in a well run environment, the people working within the team, are happy to be there? Hey, Manchester Airport, have you heard the saying ‘a fish rots from the head down‘? Both Liverpool Airport & Ryanair staff were all friendly & helpful.

Friendlier? Not even a comparison.

It’s a shame Liverpool doesn’t have more destinations (Puerto Plata, on the north coast Dominican Republic would be very nice! There are no flights there from anywhere in the UK anymore… …a gap in the market???) After such a positive experience, I genuinely may choose the destination of my next trip, on the basis of where I can fly to from Liverpool.

Actually, I’ll probably just come back to Krakow, but more of that later…

Ryanair. This was my first time flying with them. They did exactly what they claim to. Cheap & efficient. No sitting around on a Ryanair aircraft, waiting for someone to come and get you off. Front and rear of the aircraft for boarding and exiting. Wheelchair to the stairs, and greeted with the chair at the bottom of the steps when we land. Yes, it was a bit of a culture shock, not having ‘infotainment‘ on the back of the seat in front, or even a netting pouch to put a few bits in, this was a bus with wings. I wouldn’t want to be sat there for much more than a couple of hours, but for a short-haul, it was fine. Their pre-flight, disability team were easy to deal with. The chap who greeted us on landing in Krakow maintained the friendly, efficient culture, as he stood by my wheelchair, then picking up the rucksack, led us in to baggage reclaim. You know what you are getting with Ryanair, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t. I’ll happily use them in future.

The whole experience was quick, easy & friendly.

Hmm, there’s a tag-line in there somewhere… …let me work on it.

Give Peace & Quiet a Chance. Fly From Liverpool. 

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