Ryanair - 6

[True Blue]

Yes and it will cost you more to get to Stn than Lgw. So all the time the gap is closing. Then you get to a point, or you should, where you start to compare the difference in fare with the service you get. For people with brains, it should then be a no-brainer. However, it seems most never compare the total package.

True Blue

[mickyman]

'For people with brains, it should then be a no-brainer'.

Nice one!!

Skipness

Well done for the one sentence of positivity, but you let yourself
down in the following ramble.Could you please say why the 'service
was poor' - do you mean that the CC didnt wash your feet as you
boarded the aircraft and laugh at your jokes - or were they doing
their jobs so that the aircraft would get you to your destination
on time?

MM

[the_fish@blueyonder.]

Ryanair will abolish all thier check in desks by the end of the year, opting for the bag drop desks which are common with the full service airlines, according to:

BBC NEWS | Business | Ryanair to abolish check-in desks

I'm not really affected here, I can't see how anyone would be greatly put out by this either as there are also check in kiosks at a lot of thier airports now too. I've checked in online with them for as long as I have been able to. I hope it now means that non-EU passport holders are able to use the check 'n' go service, as otherwise they will be losing out on a large market of Euro-Trippers from North America, Australasia etc in the summer months as just one example.

[frnikolai]

For Christ sake, people will always fly. Just as a finanical crisis is here, doesn't stop the 90% of travellers who want and must fly.

It just means that people are becoming more price aware, and for exactly the same service. People want cheaper tickets - and Ryanair do this.

We shall see... but my money is with Ryanair expanding rapidly - and BA retreating to non-europe travel.

Well - for 45 minutes on the train, versus 30. I think the extra 15 minutes justifys the saving. I can use that to higher a better car. And how much more will it cost? Certainly won't match the BA price.

ADDING EVERYTHING AS WELL - AND IT STILL IS CHEAPER!!!

The package is the same, albeit slightly longer to get to Stansted. But not that big a deal.

It is a no-brainer - Ryanair will win.

Nikolai

[davidjohnson6]

Ryanair will abolish all thier check in desks by the end of the year

It is my understanding that in much of the EU, if an airline carries a passenger from country A to country B and the passenger does not have the relevant visa / right of entry to country B, then the airline in question is liable for a big expensive fine - I've seen figures of 10,000 pounds per passenger on this theme. I used to have a passport that was fraying at the edges - when I checked in at a desk at Stansted in the past, Ryanair staff were usually *very* sharp at noticing the state of my passport for this reason.

Yes, much of the EU is now part of the Schengen area, but this does not apply to the UK, Ireland, Morocco or Romania, so for flights to/from these countries, there are still immigration rules that need to be followed.

For those with a passport from the EU / North America, this is not a problem. Further, those working for an airport will not want to get involved in any kind of visa policing. In addition, Govt immigration officials care only about who is entering or leaving their own country - not whether they have the right to enter the country to which they are going.

Thus, the only place I can think of where Ryanair staff can check visas for those with passports which are generally less welcome in the EU, is at the gate immediately before boarding when there is very little time to resolve any queries.

I would imagine that there are plenty of people with neither an EU passport, nor a residence permit, flying to/from Rzeszow, Tampere, Kaunas, Riga and Morocco. What about all the South Africans in London who need a Schengen visa ?

I'd be amazed if Ryanair haven't thought of this problem already - so what's really going to happen ?
1) All checkin desks really will be closed across the whole network ?
2) Those without EU / North American passports will not be permitted to fly with Ryanair to/from the UK and Ireland ?
3) Some checkin desks will actually be retained at airports, but they will just have a very expensive fee to use them - paid only by non-EU citizens ?
4) Ryanair doesn't care about the potential immigration fines ?
5) Checking of visas will be done at the gate with little or no time for sorting out any queries ?

[Skipness One Echo]

Mickeyman I don't mind flying Ryanair but I don't think the service is good. The Cabin Crew struggle to communicate effectively quite often. If I fly in the morning the aircraft is fine but often if I am flying later in the day the aircraft is a little untidy.
I don't mind as I know what I'm paying for but they're nought to be proud of. Cheap as chips but it shows. As time goes on, if I think I am going to be sitting next to someone on the mobile at FL350 talking to his mammy in Poland, tbh I'd pay a lot more money NOT to have to do that as it really winds me up on the Tube, God knows listening to some loudmouth for a half hour six miles in the sky.

So yeah, good aircraft, good fares if booked in advance, not a fan of the Cabin Crew though.

frnikolai full service legacy carriers will survive. I use BA as Stansted is in Essex and I have to pay for the expensive Stansted Express to get there as it's not on the Tube. So LHR or LGW it is. EasyJet from LGW is good for me too, and even not having checked baggage, Ryanair are charging me silly money to use a debit card and check in as I don't have a printer in the house. BA is generally CHEAPER for me mate, not in all cases but more and more this year than ever before. Ryanair are attracting punters on board but they are losing a fortune by giving seats away and then clawing it back by screwing me over with expensive charges for the basics.

I will continue flying and generally enjoying FR but part of me really wants MOL to fall on his arse as he has f***ed over so many good people.

It's important that we have a choice OTHER than Ryanair and the locos.

Just as a finanical crisis is here, doesn't stop the 90% of travellers who want and must fly.

YES IT DOES FFS!!! That's the whole point. People aren't going to some god forsaken place that they haven't heard of on impulse in the same numbers any more. Given you are FRnikolai I guess you're on the payroll?

[frnikolai]

Don't be so rude, and unless you are just that god damn arrogant to read my posts. I would not be on the phone to my parents in Poland - ever wondered why I am raising my younger brother and sister? Use you're damn common sense. And watch what you say; lets keep this clean and fair.

Well - would you rather be stuck here; or go to some new place and at least get a holiday.

You seem to be very pro-BA. Shame as the profits don't reflect the overall satisfaction.

Nor load factors...

Now get out of this RYANAIR post, open a BA one - and I'll continue to demonstrate that BA are going down the crapper.

Why did 60 million people fly Ryanair last year?

Nikolai.

[mickyman]

Skipness

'MOL to fall on his arse as he has f***ed over so many good people.'

Please expand on this.............

Your comment about the phone was a cheap shot you should
reconsider and apologise for?

MM

[bigmustard]

Nikolai

Why did 60 million people fly Ryanair last year?

Probably because 20 million of them didn't know any better

[frnikolai]

Thank you - I am glad someone else spotted it. I think you can't get much lower. I would be grateful for an apology.

Nikolai.

P.S

I am Russian.

[eels]

Ryanair will abolish all thier check in desks by the end of the year

Maybe I'm worng, but it was my understanding that passengers with children under 2 were unable to check in on line. Is this restriction lifted?

[frnikolai]

I am afriad I can't vouch for that - but mine are 4 and 6. So I don't usually worry! However, you are probably right as they charge if you take an infant.

Nikolai.

[PPRuNe Pop]

Now guys! Just get a grip and stop throwing stones - windows get broken!

Get on topic and cut out the rude snidea and abuse. Some posts already deleted and one guy gets a short ban - as a taster!

Get the point?

AA&R Mods

[frfly]

100%web check is expected in September. Self service kiosks are replacing airport ticket desks for taking payments. The next few years will be increasingly interesting in the fr world.

I must say the bickering in this thread is terrible. We are all part of a business, different ones that we would like to succeed. BA can never be put against fr the model is completely different. BA should worry about KLM Air France etc, fr about wizzair, easyjet. So this pointless mine is better than yours attitude in this thread is growing tiring. I am pro fr, I do a lot of work for them. I can see the massive strengths, but I also see the weaknesses. We get you from a to b 98% of the time on time, with your bag (0.4 per 1000 pax lost) and generally for the lowest fare on safe modern efficient a/c. Yes we don't give silver service, if that's what the market wanted then BA would be the largest internation passenger carrying airline, not ryanair. But they don't, joe public want the above, and that's what we as a business strive to achieve through new innovations in the way we travel.

BA are a superb airline for service, I would chose ba long haul if I could and if it required, and to me, that is what they need to concentrate on, hub and spoke.

So enough bickering on here now please, no ba bashing, and especially no dr bashing, everone has the right to show their opinion but please make an informed one, when you actually know the facts and how these airlines work.

[the_fish@blueyonder.]

Just another thought re: Check in desk closure.

Non EU-Passports aside, it would be great if they also allowed people with Dricing Licences and in particular Provisional UK Licences to use these as ID too. A Full DL is not, at present, available for those wishing to use Check 'N' Go. I assume this will be sorted as I know a few people at the moment who, when using FR, have to opt for desk check in as they don't own passports and therefore can't check in online.

[frfly]

I think in terms of web check n go, everyone will be able to do it. It will become solely the responsibility of the passenger to have the correct documentation. I think during the quick boarding process the gate staff will have to check visas, however I believe that the passenger may become liable for any expenses in the eyes of ryanair. Remember, handling agents do the majority of the work and it will be their responsibility and themselves who ryanair pass the fine onto. Only place ryanair could pick up the charge could be on DUB departing flights, as it is self handling. Only the next few months will show what is to happen, it is still in development. Hope this helps.

[waffler]

Am I the only person who realises that the end of check in desks means the firing of hundreds of staff who are on minimum wages and in many cases have moved to another country on false promises by contract agencies used by ryanair. This is the reality and human face of the Ryanair statement. We all know that Ryanair will keep the money, after all, profit is more important than people.

[the_stranger]

Welcome in the modern world. Companies worldwide will try to cut costs, not only RYR. I have been working at Amsterdam Schiphol airport for 12 years now, and in those 12 years, I have seen an explosion of the numvbers of self check-in desks/machines/bagage dropoff point, in all colors and with all logos.

Yeah, it will mean a loss of jobs, but that seems to be inherent of " progression", just like the invention of steampower, automated looms and glass/automated cockpits meant less needed people to do the work...

[Skipness One Echo]

'MOL to fall on his arse as he has f***ed over so many good people.'Please expand on this.............

If you were familiar with pprune or Ryanair you might be aware of MOL treats his staff. Google the following
1) Unionisation of Ryanair pilots at Dublin
2) Treatment and asset stripping of Buzz

He is a succesful businessman I grant you, however there are lots of succesful businessmen who make a lot of money without revelling in the chaos they leave in their wake.

I suggest Michael O'Leary by Micheal Ruddock and Ryanair by Siobahan Creaton. Good reads both of them and they are not hatchet jobs. Have a look and compare MOLs behaviour with say Herb Kelleher. That's the reason that many people are anti Ryanair.

[EI-CFC]

Am I the only person who realises that the end of check in desks means the firing of hundreds of staff

Well, FR won't be losing many, actually.

In most bases, it is outsourced/contract staff (e.g. Aviance, Servisair) who also do similar work for other airlines. These companies win and lose contracts all the time as airlines enter and pull out of airports and/or change handling companies due to getting a better deal. So really, there isn't that much job security anyway in these companies. Staff get redeployed to other contracts if they can, or let go.