Ryanair FR6682 from Rome Ciampino to Edinburgh Flight Review

Heading back to Edinburgh after a fruitful trip to Rome, it’s back on Ryanair again as they are the only airline which flies non-stop from Rome to Edinburgh. The fare was much higher than expected at €78.99 before my addons, but between this non-stop flight and going via London and changing to another flight or train, the cost was about the same, if not still slightly cheaper by Ryanair. As such, I decided to just get the non-stop Ryanair flight.

Rome Ciampino Airport

Heading into after alighting from the Trenitalia Ciampino Airlink bus. The departure hall is at the main building just ahead.

The 1 check-in row is just at the entrance door. Literally could not get lost here.

The departure screen showed the exact check-in desk number, but the Ryanair logos at the counter were more prominent first, even before checking the screen.

Ryanair Visa Check (Non EU/EEA Passengers)

While I have already checked in online, all non EU/EEA passengers must undergo a visa check by Ryanair before being issued the boarding pass, even if you do not need a visa.

The queue was a bit slow as there were mostly passengers who were dropping off bags, and I was the minority who just needed a visa check. The check here was very fast, probably the ground staff knew that Singapore passports don’t require a visa to the UK.

My boarding pass for my Ryanair FR6682 flight from Rome Ciampino to Edinburgh after passing my visa check. I had purchased Priority & 2 Cabin Bags for €14.50 in order to bring along a proper cabin bag for the overhead locker, hence the priority label on my boarding pass.

Security is just up ahead after the check-in row.

Security Screening

Security is accessed by scanning my boarding pass on the gate. With such a thin crowd, fast track was not necessary.

Departure Hall

A small duty-free shop area followed after security.

It’s a small waiting area after security for the flights. If the crowd for security is thin, don’t enter the departure area too early as there is nothing much inside.

My Ryanair FR6682 flight would be departing from Gate B01.

EU Immigration

EU departure immigration was just before the gates for departures out of the EU Schengen Area.

Singapore passports are eligible to use the ePassport gates, but I headed to the manned counter to get an exit stamp on my passport.

The non-Schengen gates immediately follows behind the immigration counters.

Gate B1

My Gate B1 is at the corner.

Toilets are available down the steps, 1 level down in the basement.

Once boarding calls were made, the Priority queue starts to fill up a la Ryanair. About half the plane capacity of passengers are allowed to purchase Priority & 2 Cabin Bags. Priority boards first in order to fill up the overhead compartments first.

Only Priority passengers get to bring on a cabin-sized cabin bag. Non-priority passengers can only bring a small under-seat bag.

Scanning my boarding pass for boarding.

Ryanair Bus

The boarding gate leads out to the bus stands for the Ryanair apron buses.

Boarding the Ryanair apron bus at Rome Ciampino Airport. I guess this is a Priority bus.

There is sufficient space for passengers with luggage for the short ride to the plane.

The full Ryanair advertisement around the bus including all windows except for the bus driver’s did not make for good photos out of the window. Perhaps this was for security too.

The bus departed from the bus stand once it was about full.

It was a very short bus ride from the gate to the plane, which was on the arrivals side on the terminal. That was nice of Ryanair to provide this bus service, even though walking might have been faster.

My apron bus arrived at the plane almost as soon as it departed from the bus stand. EI-DWE would be operating on my Ryanair FR6682 flight from Rome Ciampino to Edinburgh.

Disembarking from the apron bus.

Luggage racks are installed above the wheel hubs.

Most of the front and middle of the bus are for standees only.

Ryanair FR6682

My seat was at the middle of the aircraft, so boarding from the front or rear didn’t matter.

The next bus had also arrived at the front door.

Heading up EI-DWE.

Interchanging from the Ryanair bus to the Ryanair plane.

A third airport bus arrived full of passengers who quickly disembarked as they did not have cabin bags.

Boarding EI-DWE with a very friendly stewardess checking boarding passes.

The interior of Ryanair’s Boeing 737-800. I was very pleased to see the slimline Zodiac seats on my flight again, though this time, the regular legroom wasn’t a concern for me.

For this flight, I did not pay to reserve a seat. However, during the online check-in process, Ryanair has magically assigned me a free random allocated seat at the emergency exit row. That’s luxury for this 3-hour Ryanair flight.

The very generous legroom on board Ryanair at the emergency exit row.

The safety card is a safety sticker pasted on the seat back as there are no seat pockets for safety cards.

Notably, the tray tables are also bolted shut.

The overwing emergency exit door at my row.

It was a very full flight from Rome Ciampino to Edinburgh, and I am extremely grateful for this free emergency exit row seat.

My Ryanair FR6682 departed from Rome Ciampino at 11.26am – 11 minutes delayed.

While the regular tray table has been bolted up at the emergency exit row, Ryanair provides the armrest  fold-out tray table for emergency exit row seats.

The toilet on board Ryanair FR6682, which had clearly been used by lots of people already. Plus points for Ryanair for providing paper towels in the toilets though.

The flight was uneventful on my wallet for me as I didn’t purchase any drinks or snacks, since I’ve packed my own from Rome already. The very friendly stewardess ensured that everyone was really happy to be flying with Ryanair and even had lots of sales from the on-board charity raffle.

Edinburgh Airport

My Ryanair FR6682 arrived at Edinburgh sharp on time at 1.10pm, making this a flight time of 2 hours and 44 minutes.

It was a wet day at Edinburgh, but the rain had stopped in good time. There is a short stump of shelter at the apron from the aircraft stand to the service road.

Thanks for the ride, EI-DWE.

Edinburgh Airport Air Traffic Control Tower was just in front of my parking bay.

There are 2 sheltered walkways on the apron leading to the terminal building, 1 for international arrivals and the other for domestic arrivals. This is sectioned off depending on flight arrival.

Heading through the sheltered walkway for international arrivals.

It was private immigration at Edinburgh Airport, but as I was one of the last to disembark since I’m seated at the middle of the plane (both front and rear doors are used for exit), the queue quickly formed. But as I am a non-UK and non-EU national, while eligible to use the eGates, I simply went to the manned counter where there were no queues.

Baggage reclaim follows, but I had no bags to reclaim.

Edinburgh bus connections from Edinburgh Airport are advertised upon exit after customs.

Signs point out to the road for exit, but I took the sheltered walk through the terminal instead for my onward bus connection.

Walking through the length of the terminal past the departure hall and other arrival hall.

Heading out of the other end of the terminal to the bus stops outside the terminal.

Conclusion

It was another good, fuss-free flight with Ryanair, this time being my longest Ryanair flight yet at almost 3 hours. The flight itself was pleasant with the new Zodiac seat and free emergency exit seat granted by random allocation during online check-in which was more than I had bargained for on this cheap flight. This would also mark my last Ryanair flight on this long trip to Europe.