Ryanair airline and EEA2 RC holder

[UKBA HUNTER]

helllo,

As European law in theory clearly state that Non-eu national escorting with its EU national and holding UK EEA2 RC can travel freely to other eu member states. My friend want to visit Baltic countries Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia with his Eu national partner. I want to know that Rynair airline is really aware of that and they let him to buy and fly without asking schengen visa. Before he buy tickets some clarification and actual experiences of members need here.

[alekos]

Whenever I fly with Ryanair I, as a visa national, am always asked to show the required visa to travel. Once they see my RC issued by the UK they let me through. Mind you, I always travel with my wife and we also carry our Marriage Certificate.

Elsewhere in this forum, I've read the case of an unmarried couple (Polish - visa national) who were denied entry into Poland as they do not recognise long term relationships. This bit of information might not apply to your case, but it might be useful for other people.

Look into the Europe section of this forum. Many other people have travelled with and without the required visas.

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

I am moving this to the correct forum section.

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

helllo,

As European law in theory clearly state that Non-eu national escorting with its EU national and holding UK EEA2 RC can travel freely to other eu member states. My friend want to visit Baltic countries Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia with his Eu national partner. I want to know that Rynair airline is really aware of that and they let him to buy and fly without asking schengen visa. Before he buy tickets some clarification and actual experiences of members need here.

See this thread http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=121856

[UKBA HUNTER]

Thanks EU

[bea08]

Hello everyone,

Just thought I would share my recent experience with Ryanair and hopefully this can be of help (and warning) to anyone in a similar situation.

I am a Polish national living in the UK and my husband holds a Kosovan passport with a UK residency card. Over the years we have travelled across Europe having always obtained Schengen visa. I was always told in a Polish Consulate that my husband didn't need a visa to travel to Poland, France etc, based on the European Directive 2004/38. However, I always insisted on having one in his passport, just to be on a safe side.

A couple of weeks ago we decided to visit my parents in Poland during a school break. This time though, we didn't apply for a Schengen visa. We thought that we met all the conditions of the European Directive regarding free movement of EU family members as stated on the Polish Consulate website.

However, at the check in desk at Stansted airport, we were informed that he wouldn't be allowed to board without a Schengen visa as apparently the rules had changed and Polish immigration would refuse him entry as they now require all spouses of polish nationals to hold a valid visa despite their RC.

We, of course, tried to politely argue our point but the supervisor was adamant that he wasn't going to stamp his boarding card anyway. He didn't seem to be aware of the European Directive 2004, didn't want to see our polish marriage certificate etc.

I had no choice but to travel alone with our daughter. While still at Stansted I phoned Polish consulate and was told that the husband should have been allowed to fly without a visa and the fact they blamed the refusal on polish immigration and change of rules was simply made up by Ryanair. She also told me that they'd had other similar cases over the past month and the Consulate now advises non-eu family members to apply for a Schengen visa, especially if flying with Ryaniar. She also mentioned that if we had chosen to fly with Wizzair or any other airline this would not have been the case.

It has left us extremely frustrated and I am going to write a complaint to Ryanair but I don't expect to hear back from them...

Regards

[Jambo]

Hello everyone,

Just thought I would share my recent experience with Ryanair and hopefully this can be of help (and warning) to anyone in a similar situation.

I am a Polish national living in the UK and my husband holds a Kosovan passport with a UK residency card. Over the years we have travelled across Europe having always obtained Schengen visa. I was always told in a Polish Consulate that my husband didn't need a visa to travel to Poland, France etc, based on the European Directive 2004/38. However, I always insisted on having one in his passport, just to be on a safe side.

A couple of weeks ago we decided to visit my parents in Poland during a school break. This time though, we didn't apply for a Schengen visa. We thought that we met all the conditions of the European Directive regarding free movement of EU family members as stated on the Polish Consulate website.

However, at the check in desk at Stansted airport, we were informed that he wouldn't be allowed to board without a Schengen visa as apparently the rules had changed and Polish immigration would refuse him entry as they now require all spouses of polish nationals to hold a valid visa despite their RC.

We, of course, tried to politely argue our point but the supervisor was adamant that he wasn't going to stamp his boarding card anyway. He didn't seem to be aware of the European Directive 2004, didn't want to see our polish marriage certificate etc.

I had no choice but to travel alone with our daughter. While still at Stansted I phoned Polish consulate and was told that the husband should have been allowed to fly without a visa and the fact they blamed the refusal on polish immigration and change of rules was simply made up by Ryanair. She also told me that they'd had other similar cases over the past month and the Consulate now advises non-eu family members to apply for a Schengen visa, especially if flying with Ryaniar. She also mentioned that if we had chosen to fly with Wizzair or any other airline this would not have been the case.

It has left us extremely frustrated and I am going to write a complaint to Ryanair but I don't expect to hear back from them...

Regards

Have you got any written proof for the reason of denial? In similar cases, when the passenger held proof of the reason for refusal, people have managed to receive compensation from the airline.

[bea08]

[/quote]

Have you got any written proof for the reason of denial? In similar cases, when the passenger held proof of the reason for refusal, people have managed to receive compensation from the airline.[/quote]

Unfortunetly not. It didn't occur to me to obtain the reason for denied boarding in writing until I had gone through security. To be honest, we weren't expecting this to happen, people behind us were getting impatient and our daughter got very upset when my husband tried to explain to her that he wasn't going to continue the journey with us.

I have written to Ryanair to request the written explanation for denied boarding giving them all the details but I'm afraid it might be too late as I do realise I should have asked for it at the time.[/quote]

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

The complication may be that you were Polish and trying to enter Poland.

Irrespective of this, the directive states that holders of a residence card are except from a visa (the expectation being that one would be travelling or joining family member).

Always get a denial in writing.

[sheraz7]

Hello everyone,

Just thought I would share my recent experience with Ryanair and hopefully this can be of help (and warning) to anyone in a similar situation.

I am a Polish national living in the UK and my husband holds a Kosovan passport with a UK residency card. Over the years we have travelled across Europe having always obtained Schengen visa. I was always told in a Polish Consulate that my husband didn't need a visa to travel to Poland, France etc, based on the European Directive 2004/38. However, I always insisted on having one in his passport, just to be on a safe side.

A couple of weeks ago we decided to visit my parents in Poland during a school break. This time though, we didn't apply for a Schengen visa. We thought that we met all the conditions of the European Directive regarding free movement of EU family members as stated on the Polish Consulate website.

However, at the check in desk at Stansted airport, we were informed that he wouldn't be allowed to board without a Schengen visa as apparently the rules had changed and Polish immigration would refuse him entry as they now require all spouses of polish nationals to hold a valid visa despite their RC.

We, of course, tried to politely argue our point but the supervisor was adamant that he wasn't going to stamp his boarding card anyway. He didn't seem to be aware of the European Directive 2004, didn't want to see our polish marriage certificate etc.

I had no choice but to travel alone with our daughter. While still at Stansted I phoned Polish consulate and was told that the husband should have been allowed to fly without a visa and the fact they blamed the refusal on polish immigration and change of rules was simply made up by Ryanair. She also told me that they'd had other similar cases over the past month and the Consulate now advises non-eu family members to apply for a Schengen visa, especially if flying with Ryaniar. She also mentioned that if we had chosen to fly with Wizzair or any other airline this would not have been the case.

It has left us extremely frustrated and I am going to write a complaint to Ryanair but I don't expect to hear back from them...



Regards

http://www.londyn.msz.gov.pl/en/consula ... y_members/

[UKBA HUNTER]

Does anyone knows Ryanair airline accurate email address to contact them because their phone line is shockingly expensive.

[acme4242]

I have asked at Ryanair checking and visa check desks,
"What visa information system do they use ?"
and am met with a nothing answer of contact head office

All other airlines use TIMATIC, but as Ryanair are too cheap, what do they use.

For TIM manual and TIMATIC See
http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewto ... 623#641623

[UKBA HUNTER]

If the email printout sent by the relevant consulate confirming that EEA2 RC holder not need visa if travel together with its EEA partner then still RYanair airline staff will not understand and deny the entry.

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

Whenever I fly with Ryanair I, as a visa national, am always asked to show the required visa to travel. Once they see my RC issued by the UK they let me through. Mind you, I always travel with my wife and we also carry our Marriage Certificate.

Elsewhere in this forum, I've read the case of an unmarried couple (Polish - visa national) who were denied entry into Poland as they do not recognise long term relationships. This bit of information might not apply to your case, but it might be useful for other people.

Look into the Europe section of this forum. Many other people have travelled with and without the required visas.

This is a relevant post.

[UKBA HUNTER]

I have asked at Ryanair checking and visa check desks,
"What visa information system do they use ?"
and am met with a nothing answer of contact head office

All other airlines use TIMATIC, but as Ryanair are too cheap, what do they use.

For TIM manual and TIMATIC See
http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewto ... 623#641623

How about WIZZ AIR. Any idea they use this.

[naseeri110]

Actually in my believe this was lawfull danial for they did not let your husband board on the plane. My wife is from norway i always have to take visa for norway if i have to visit Norway. The law state that we have right of freedom of movment in all the EU apart from the Country where the spouse is national from. As for me to enter in norway i need visa, smillarly your husband need visa to enter poland as u r from poland. Although this law doesnot make sense at all but this is a law.

[ukforever]

Actually in my believe this was lawfull danial for they did not let your husband board on the plane. My wife is from norway i always have to take visa for norway if i have to visit Norway. The law state that we have right of freedom of movment in all the EU apart from the Country where the spouse is national from. As for me to enter in norway i need visa, smillarly your husband need visa to enter poland as u r from poland. Although this law doesnot make sense at all but this is a law.

under eu law,its doesn't matter if your spouse is from the country where u intend to visit,what u are referring is to a national who is still residing in his home country,he can't exercise free movement there because national law would apply not eu law.

now in your case u don't need a visa because apparently and after what i understood u and your wife don't live in norway,right?which means your wife did exercised her treaty rights of free movement and maybe by working,so under eu laws,if u hold a valid residence card issued from one of the member state,u are exempt from the requirement to hold the visa and it should be mentioned on your residence card family member of eu citizen.

so,not so lawful,u can still check the visa code of schengen area,the directive 2004/38/CE and other relevant eu laws,where it state clearly that if u hold a residence card which states that you are a family member of an eu citizen,then u are covered by eu laws.

and just to let u know,your wife and u,can still go back to Norway under the surrinder singh case (this case is only for citizens who wish to return back to their country of origin with their non eu citizen to settle under eu laws,otherwise they couldn't do it if they did not exercised treaty rights and lived together in another member state)
i don't know really and i'm not sure if norway implement the directive and the visa code of the schenggen area and the case laws of the ECJ , 100% , but my view is,if u read the mentioned examples,u will find out that a visa is not needed.

[ukforever]

Actually in my believe this was lawfull danial for they did not let your husband board on the plane. My wife is from norway i always have to take visa for norway if i have to visit Norway. The law state that we have right of freedom of movment in all the EU apart from the Country where the spouse is national from. As for me to enter in norway i need visa, smillarly your husband need visa to enter poland as u r from poland. Although this law doesnot make sense at all but this is a law.

here check this:

http://www.norway.org.uk/Embassy/visas/visas/eea/

Exemption from the visa requirement for family members of EEA nationals:

If you hold an EU/EEA Residence card according to Article 10 of EU Directive 38/2004, you do not need a visa for visits up to 90 days to Norway.

In the UK this is a sticker in the passport entitled Residence Documentation. Type of Document: Residence Card of a Family Member of an EEA National.

The old style stamp preceding the EU Residence Documentation sticker is also accepted for visa free travel as long as it refers to the holder being a family member of an EU/EEA national exercising Treaty Rights.

Please note that residence cards issued to family members of UK citizens living in the UK do not exempt their holders from the visa requirement.

[ukforever]

@ naseeri110,
I don't know from where u got the information that u needed a visa to go to norway,they misled you big time,just check the link i provided above,its Norway's official website in the uk and it states clearly that u don't need a visa to travel if u have the residence card issued by the member state where u live.

[askmeplz82]

helllo,

As European law in theory clearly state that Non-eu national escorting with its EU national and holding UK EEA2 RC can travel freely to other eu member states. My friend want to visit Baltic countries Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia with his Eu national partner. I want to know that Rynair airline is really aware of that and they let him to buy and fly without asking schengen visa. Before he buy tickets some clarification and actual experiences of members need here.

i am an NON-EU national married to a Polish national. When i went to poland back in 2010 i needed Schengen Visa even with EEA2 resident card and wife was going with me

I was told if i travel anywhere in EU countries i don't need VISA if travelling with my wife but need VISA to travel to the wife country.

[Mukesh Kumar]

I had booked to flight from Warsaw Modlin to Liverpool on the Tuesday 14th July,departure time: 21:20.
I arrived on the airport at around 7.20pm and I went straight to the luggage drop & visa check counter, but unfortunately I become aware that I cannot go on the plane, because my wife is not flying with me. I’m Indian Citizens and my wife is Polish, but for more than 1 year I’m living and working permanently in the UK. I have 5 years UK Residence Card EEA2 and 2 years Schengen Visa and I don’t see the reason for which I couldn’t return to the UK. I was disappointed and I asked to speak with the manager, but the lady that I was discussed said that she is the one. Her behavior shown signs of beloved and I felt discriminated as well. She did not want to listen to me and to even to see my documents such as confirmation of my residence address or the act of marriage, and she ignored my requests. I asked her in writing to explain her decision but she refused me and she hide her identification which is also against the rules of the customer service.
My wife, my 6 months old baby and me we were in holiday in Poland, I had to go back because of my work, but my wife was planning to stay there longer and then fly to Italy with her mother. Because of the above situation, we had to purchase new tickets for the next day from Rzeszow Jasionka Airport for 3 of us, spending almost 330 pounds. I lost my flight on 14TH July, and my wife and my baby lost the tickets for August 19thWarsaw to Pisa.
The situation we find ruined all our plans and caused a lot of stress to my wife and the complications in breastfeeding of our baby, therefore the baby was exhausted due to long journey from our hometown to Warsaw and return, making more than 600 km in one day and fly on the next day from Rzeszow situated 100km from hometown. My wife missed also dental treatment in Poland and had to finished her teeth in the UK which cost her 100pound insteand of 15!
In addition I would like to say that in Rzeszow Airport I went to check-in alone without my wife and I did not have any unpleasant situation, the customer service checked my visa and confirmed that I can fly freely. The same confirmation, I have got it from the UK Immigration borders upon my arrival in Manchester. More than one week ago I made a written complain to Ryanair and I send it directly to Dublin Customer Service Department but till now no response....