I usually go through an agent but this time I thought I'd see if I could cut costs by doing the bookings directly myself.
I settled on the Garden Hotel, Cala Millor, Majorca and found that through joining their free club I could make a saving. Not only that, but they would book Ryan Air flights, again achieving a saving for me. So I went ahead. In total I calculated that I had saved about £500 by not using an agent. Of course I had restricted safeguards, but I'd chance that.
A problem arose when I downloaded the Ryanair app. and read the banner asking if I had booked through a non-accredited travel agent? Of so, I'd have to verify my very existence. I tried, but my phone camera would not allow them access. Panic, because if I could not ckeck-in online then I'd be liable to a €50 charge, each person, each way, at the airport!!!!
I tried the same process on my wife's phone. First, take a photo of my passport. Then prove I'm living and really do exist. Blink, smile ( difficult in the circumstances), close eyes, move head to the right and then to the left were things I was instructed to do while keeping my head in a frame on the phone screen. Eventually I did it. So I did exist!!!
Panic over and now I could complete online check-in 24hrs before the flight. This is did without a hitch.
Once at the airport everything went smoothly and now we're in the Executive Lounge partaking of the hospitality provided.
More later.
Twithay
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