Ryanair - 9

[Sunnyjohn]

It's a bit more complicated that 'just' making Ryanair more user-friendly. Whether MOL said so at the shareholders meeting I don't know - he probably did - but a number of things have come together to reduce Ryanair's profits: there is now Europe-wide competition from High Speed Trains - something he did foresee; fuel prices are going through the roof - and 45 percent of Ryanair's costs go on fuel; their aircraft are ageing - higher maintenance costs; and finally Ryanair's real ticket prices are beginning to approach those of its low cost competitors. Ryanair are still making a respectable profit but shareholders are notoriously fickle about these things and will jump ship if a whiff of a drop in profits is in the air. It'll be some years before we've seen the last of Ryanair though. MOL must be thinking of retirement - he's a wealthy man after all - but it is clear that he likes a challenge, and to about-turn the Ryanair image and say 'sucks boo to you, of course we can become customer-friendly' must tickle him no end. He is, first and foremost, a very shrewd entertainer. Still, he may have had enough. We shall see. Just to be straight, I have no problem with Ryanair and use then regularly. He once said that Ryanair is just a bus serves, and that's what it is - a very efficient and safe one, and I have no problem with that at all. No - I don't work for them and sympathise with the poor work culture, but there is still enough work out there for those who don't like it to walk - as I'm sure many do.

[j636]

Gang of girls trying to get baggage on Ryanair flight - YouTube

It was probably posted before but that's how you avoid extra charges.

[Capetonian]

......... if they could safely book online then how come its hard to check in.

I have probably not travelled as much as you Cape but I do know that I have never struggled to find an internet cafe or a hotel willing to help out .........
Everyone can makes mistakes but some mistakes are more costly. Don't use *old people" as an excuse, if they can't use a computer who booked the flights, the person who booked them should of printed them out. Not have access to a computer on holidays just doesn't happen. Majority hotel has computers and internet cafes are all over the main areas. Your using excuses and I don't even need to give an answer to the rain excuse.

These remarks illustrate the philosophy that makes Ryanair so hated. I know that 80 million people a year travel with them and that they carry more pax than any other airline, but that doesn't mean that all those people love the airline, nor does it take into account those who hate it enough that they won't ever use it.

Whether you concur or not I go back to the example of older people who are not as computer literate as the younger ones, or people who simply are not used to technology. The Ryanair credo makes no allowance for such people and charges them an exorbitant fee which does not represent the cost, it's a penalty, or a revenue raising ploy.

I too have never struggled to find an internet cafe but that doesn't mean to say that everyone else will be as fortunate. My remark about the rain was as flippant as the one about the dog, but such things do happen.

An airline which makes no allowance for error and treats people in this way should be shunned, and clearly is by many. On the subject of margins of error, Ryanair operate to the legal minima in respect of fuel uplifts. When something goes wrong, they expect special treatment. I understand that this is safety related whereas printing a boarding pass isn't but don't you think their passengers deserve a little comprehension when something goes wrong instead of being hammered with a massive penalty by someone on a power/bullying trip?

Clearly not, and I'm so glad that there are choices, because I will never fly Ryanair.

[Hipennine]

I just don't understand all these statements saying that it's not a problem printing boarding cards and etc.

When I'm away from the UK on leisure purposes, I just don't want the interruption to my leisure time, the hassle, or the worry of finding some hopefully accommodating computer and printer owner, and probably then having to pay for the privilege.

On business, I have far more on my mind to remember, and generally don't have the time to divert to such facilities.

Irrespective of Ryanair boarding cards, I also often struggle to find reliable internet connections of any sort whilst travelling, never mind the combo of reliable connection and quality printer. If the latter is available, it is at an additional cost.

There is a simple cost-benefit decision on this. Some people will clearly put up with the inconvenience of Ryanair's requirements to save a few bob, but please don't lecture the rest of us.

[fatmed]

Exactly why I would not fly with this airline. My idea of hell

[Piltdown Man]

I don't see why people "forget" or "can't" print out boarding passes, its not rocket science and not the hardest thing to do. There is no excuses for not having them and its made crystal clear when booking that it needs to be done. If the majority of passengers can follow rules why can't everybody. You don't leave your house without a passport (some fools do) but its fine for some passengers to leave without there boarding card.

You are of course correct. But people make mistakes. And what matters is how you deal with them. The RYR approach appears to be one of total intolerance. This makes RYR to lack a soul or heart. It also leaves a poor taste in the passengers' mouths and results in profits warnings.

If you book rail tickets, you don't turn up to stations without tickets printed or your reservation number. You learn how to read in life so the minority of passengers who fail to follow T&C's should pay a heavy price for mistakes.

So if you make a mistake at work, should you be sacked?

If FR reduce charges or relax charges for peoples mistakes, everybody will be paying through higher fares. FR will make back all the money they could lose by becoming more customer friendly. I believe the boarding card fees should stay and even be increased more as once they become high enough people won't forget things.

Hang'em high! But what you are saying doesn't make sense. Customer friendly starts bookings and add-ons when you book. Then how you deal with people who make errors, have personal problems and so on. Then how you deal with people in flight and then, more importantly, what you do when things go wrong - which they will. In every case, RYR has appeared to be heartless. They can't grow a compassionate, caring one from the diseased, rotting, black heart that they now have.

Overall, I don't think anybody cares about RYR apart from its shareholders. Its customers don't and neither do its suppliers. And think about this. Its management probably have to spend the majority of their time fighting to keep what they have. They have annoyed so many people that they are always on the back foot. So when will they have time for compassion or will that be sub-contracted as well?

As for the future, who knows. They don't have time for compassion and certainly no leadership. Fuel prices will continue to increase. European governments are still insisting their sub-contractors pay appropriate social taxes. Their competition is getting stronger and their world is getting tougher. But who really cares? And that is their problem.

[Mr A Tis]

Well I frequently travel world-wide. I can assure you "internet cafes" are few & far between these days. Everywhere is wifi, so there is no need. The only trouble with wifi is that there is rarely a printer available.

I don't fly RYR. What I don't like is that many airports (Barcelona in particular) are turned into refugee camps, with people sprawled all over the check in floor. Belongings strewn all over the place as they frantically repack to ensure they are within the limits.

If this is the future of air travel, then get me a train ticket.

I do think it's a shame that RYR has not achieved the great reputation of Southwest Airlines.

I wish RYR well in their new found customer services, but only action will speak louder than words.

[Based]

Quote:
I don't see why people "forget" or "can't" print out boarding passes, its not rocket science and not the hardest thing to do. There is no excuses for not having them and its made crystal clear when booking that it needs to be done. If the majority of passengers can follow rules why can't everybody. You don't leave your house without a passport (some fools do) but its fine for some passengers to leave without there boarding card.
You are of course correct. But people make mistakes. And what matters is how you deal with them. The RYR approach appears to be one of total intolerance. This makes RYR to lack a soul or heart. It also leaves a poor taste in the passengers' mouths and results in profits warnings.

But there's total intolerance if you forget your passport as well. It's generally more expensive and takes a lot longer to get a passport reissued but yet it doesn't seem to get people's backs up half as much!

[pee]

But there's total intolerance if you forget your passport as well.

Okay then. All EU passports (and most ID-cards), as well as many non-EU passports are machine-readable documents, aren't they? Why not use them as boarding passes without any prints at all? So big investment that FR couldn't afford?

[ericlday]

Surely a simple check list before you fly must include passport, tickets/boarding pass, money/credit cards and apartment keys. Cannot understand people who forget any of these main items.
My passport runs out next year so already there is a post-it note near the poohter to remind me to renew it !!!!

[PAXboy]

I like to suggest that MoL will NOT be retiring any time soon. He may be wealthy but is clearly driven by other things.

He will leave the company one of two ways:

1. Profits will fall and enough people speak up that he will be ousted in a boardroom Coup. he will then go off into the darkness screaming abuse and saying he is going to start another airline. But he won't.
2. He will die in harness.

Further, he is not 'an entertainer' as suggested. He is one of the most fantastic businessmen you will see in your lifetime. Anything that is perceived as 'entertainment' is him entertaining himself by throwing sprats to the fish and watching them jump.

I admire him highly and try not to use his airline.

[ayroplain]

Surely a simple check list before you fly must include passport, tickets/boarding pass, money/credit cards and apartment keys. Cannot understand people who forget any of these main items.

Neither can I.

I travel a lot on UK rail. I book online early for cheap fares, using the free "Ticket on Departure" which means I have to collect the ticket at the machine in the station. The printout says I MUST have the ref. no and credit card used in order to collect the tickets otherwise I have to pay the full fare on the day which will be a lot more expensive. A colleague travelling with me once paid £78 compared to my £11.50. That's the way it is and I'm sure there are millions who book early and know what they need to bring.

Yet, when it comes to not printing out FR boarding passes (after having received and ignored several email reminders) some people here seem to have no difficulty standing up for those who "forget" or who expect FR to make an exception just for them.

All this talk of Internet Cafes completely ignores the fact that FR boarding passes can be printed at home 15 days in advance. If you can afford to take a holiday lasting longer than a fortnight then you can afford to pay the fine if you're not bothered to find a place to print out the pass.

Let's get that issue out of the way once and for all.

[Cyrano]

Argue all you like about the pros and cons of extremely high boarding-pass-print fees, but just a point of information:

The comparison between boarding pass and passport is fallacious.

I know I need a passport or ID card to travel, no matter what airline I fly with. But with any airline but Ryanair, I can turn up at the airport with a printed-off e-ticket (or just booking reference) and check in and get my boarding pass. Ryanair is the only airline that insists on me printing my boarding card in advance, even if I am going to a check-in desk to check baggage.

So when you compare passport/house keys etc to boarding, you're comparing something needed for any international travel to something which is Ryanair-specific.

[Capetonian]

I am so glad that there are so many perfect beings around who NEVER make a mistake, never forget anything, never lose anything, and always fully read, understand and adhere to every piece of small print.

I can just see the scenario if one of you perfect beings ever got caught out :
"I've been travelling for (x) years and this is the first time I've ever forgotten my boarding pass, and now you want to fine me £40 just to print out one pice of paper ..... I'll never travel with Ryanair again ......you are thieves and con men ........."

Of course it wouldn't happen, because you are perfect ..........., but if it did I'd like to be a fly on the wall.

[ericlday]

Capetonian

I am far from perfect (so the wife says) BUT I do try to make a reasonable effort to adhere to terms and conditions....hence my simple self check list.

[befree]

Outspoken pilot faces having his wings clipped by Ryanair | UK | News | Daily Express

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[Andrew Bowyer]

Mere pax here, or dare I say customer. Reading this thread only leads me to the conclusion that this issue is destined for stalemate. I have no problem in paying a fair price based on the cost to reprint boarding passes or to make amendments to my booking. What I object to are the comments by the usual suspects on this forum that put forward the belief that charging exhorbitant fees for any non-compliance to RYR's rules is something to crow about as if it good business practice.

RYR provide, like all airlines, a service. Their future will stand or fall, as all businesses, on the fundamental principle of service and that the Customer is King.

I have used RYR over the years but avoid them now whenever I can as the competition provide a superior product. I want to be treated fairly and respected as a customer. The board of RYR need to remember who is paying their salaries.

[racedo]

I am so glad that there are so many perfect beings around who NEVER make a mistake, never forget anything, never lose anything, and always fully read, understand and adhere to every piece of small print.

I can just see the scenario if one of you perfect beings ever got caught out :
"I've been travelling for (x) years and this is the first time I've ever forgotten my boarding pass, and now you want to fine me £40 just to print out one pice of paper ..... I'll never travel with Ryanair again ......you are thieves and con men ........."

Of course it wouldn't happen, because you are perfect ..........., but if it did I'd like to be a fly on the wall.

Cape

You don't ever fly them nor is it ever your stated intention to do so in the future therefore your experience of Ryanair is exactly the same as a Daily Mail reader ranting about them, is it not ?

[Capetonian]

your experience of Ryanair is exactly the same as a Daily Mail reader ranting about them, is it not ?

Given my many years of experience in the airline industry in various different areas, and as a passenger on many airlines, I would tend to disagree with your statement, but then who am I to disagree with MoL's number 2 supporter, number 1 being himself?
Facts speak for themselves. As it happens, I have flown on Ryanair once, I did so in order to be able to validate my views. I will never do so again.

[racedo]

. I have no problem in paying a fair price based on the cost to reprint boarding passes or to make amendments to my booking.

So if you turn up at Bezier airport in France where Ryanair contract with airport is for provision of services and you know that Ryanair will charge you €10 for ticket provision BUT airport charge you €100 because you paying them for that service you have no problems with that ?

Airport states it was required to install a printer and a computer and its used for reprint twice a year and so charge accordingly......fair or not ?