Ryanair-Questions, comments, bouquets & brickbats (Merged)
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Essex
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pax Vobiscum,
You're wrong in your assertion that "you won't find [Ryanair] flying to Barcelona or any other major airport". Madrid? Gatwick? Stansted? Had you written "many major airports", I would agree that this is currently the case.
I have thought in the past that perhaps Ryanair might be re-thinking its strategy, as there's a limit to the number of "secondary" airports it can profitably serve whilst generating large passenger volumes. Such a shift would show recognition of the strength of demand to fly to/from major airports situated near large urban areas.
Just one example: Ryanair inherited the Stansted-Murcia route when it took over buzz. Yet it later opened Alicante as a base.
You're wrong in your assertion that "you won't find [Ryanair] flying to Barcelona or any other major airport". Madrid? Gatwick? Stansted? Had you written "many major airports", I would agree that this is currently the case.
I have thought in the past that perhaps Ryanair might be re-thinking its strategy, as there's a limit to the number of "secondary" airports it can profitably serve whilst generating large passenger volumes. Such a shift would show recognition of the strength of demand to fly to/from major airports situated near large urban areas.
Just one example: Ryanair inherited the Stansted-Murcia route when it took over buzz. Yet it later opened Alicante as a base.
Guest
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Somewhere between E17487 and F75775
Age: 80
Posts: 725
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When is Barcelona not Barcelona, and who cares anyway ?
Quote: I am often amazed people actually fly Ryanair, when they do such incredibly shifty things as stating they fly to BARCELONA when they actually fly to GIRONA
Kind of a dumb thing to say, since many people WANT to get to Girona and not to Barcelona ! For tourists, Ryanair are shrewd enough to cover a huge amount of coast and coastal resorts with flights to Perpignan and Girona, and for non-tourists, the ever expanding business market at Girona. All of us who live in N. Catalunia avoid Barcelona airport like the plague - hard to get to - you have to transit the city to reach the airport - and long waits for baggage etc. As ever, Ryanair know exactly what they are doing - even though their description of airport locations would fail the Trade Descriptions Act.
R
Kind of a dumb thing to say, since many people WANT to get to Girona and not to Barcelona ! For tourists, Ryanair are shrewd enough to cover a huge amount of coast and coastal resorts with flights to Perpignan and Girona, and for non-tourists, the ever expanding business market at Girona. All of us who live in N. Catalunia avoid Barcelona airport like the plague - hard to get to - you have to transit the city to reach the airport - and long waits for baggage etc. As ever, Ryanair know exactly what they are doing - even though their description of airport locations would fail the Trade Descriptions Act.
R
Guest
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Somewhere between E17487 and F75775
Age: 80
Posts: 725
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Where they gone ?
ExpatChris wrote: Another way re Electron is to open an account at www.entropay.com.
This is a precharged card internet based and you load it from any account you wish.
Entropay's website is now closed and they appear to no longer be trading.
RaF
This is a precharged card internet based and you load it from any account you wish.
Entropay's website is now closed and they appear to no longer be trading.
RaF
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London
Age: 45
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FR Online Check-In from Morocco
Quick question this one...
When booking Agadir - Stansted for next Monday, I selected to check-in online. Now, however, when coming to check-in, it claims my flight falls outwith the 14 day booking period. I suspect this is just a generic message, and online check-in is not allowed from Agadir - please could someone confirm? I assume therefore I won't be charged at the airport (but sadly will have to get there earlier)?!
Cheers
When booking Agadir - Stansted for next Monday, I selected to check-in online. Now, however, when coming to check-in, it claims my flight falls outwith the 14 day booking period. I suspect this is just a generic message, and online check-in is not allowed from Agadir - please could someone confirm? I assume therefore I won't be charged at the airport (but sadly will have to get there earlier)?!
Cheers
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Dublin
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Say no to Ryanair monopoly
A new website has been launched to oppose the Ryanair attempt to impose a monopoly on Irish air travellers.
Say No To Airline Monopolies
Say No To Airline Monopolies
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Essex
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Capitalist enterprises' claim that they welcome competition, thrive on it etc. is pure cant.
They would love a monopoly as consumers would then have no choice either in relation to price or service.
Airlines' behaviour in terms of acquiring, or merging with, competitors is no different from what we have seen in other industries, from vehicle manufacturing to retail. It's the same old story.
They would love a monopoly as consumers would then have no choice either in relation to price or service.
Airlines' behaviour in terms of acquiring, or merging with, competitors is no different from what we have seen in other industries, from vehicle manufacturing to retail. It's the same old story.
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aer Lingus had a monopoly for years until Ryan Air came along. The public showed they preferred Ryan Air and that is why it is now in a position to take over Aer Lingus.
I've never flown Ryan Air, have no shares in them and therefore have no axe to grind, but from a business point of view they have shown that they are competetive and dynamic, unlike Aer Lingus.
I've never flown Ryan Air, have no shares in them and therefore have no axe to grind, but from a business point of view they have shown that they are competetive and dynamic, unlike Aer Lingus.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah, Ryanair certainly appear to be in a dominant position and I've always wondered when they are going to turn the thumb screws but they haven't done so yet. Suspect that means there is actually quite a lot of competition in the markets they service and that dominance could collapse if they mess with a price sensitive customer base. I certainly only fly with them if the price is right, if they increased prices too much more than a tenner each way I wouldn't take these completely discretionary trips.
Maybe they are just waiting for the inevitable clearout of competing airlines before they stick it to us. They do speak with forked tongue, but then what airline doesn't?
Maybe they are just waiting for the inevitable clearout of competing airlines before they stick it to us. They do speak with forked tongue, but then what airline doesn't?
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Thinking about it, give me a minute.
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've never flown Ryan Air, have no shares in them and therefore have no axe to grind, but from a business point of view they have shown that they are competetive and dynamic, unlike Aer Lingus.
People seem to misunderstand generally the concept of "competition".
Look at the competition for say the Marathon race. Wha happens at the end of the competition ? There is a winner. Right. And likewise in a commercial competition where the "best" may prevail, this does not mean there will be a constant steady state of equals. There will be a winner.
The Irish market is not a large one in the general scale of things. It's a small country, only 4.5 million population. Not one to sustain two large carriers long term. It is inevitable that one will eventually dominate over the other.
It's the same in the US, competition has meant that in all but a couple of hub cities, one carrier comes out on top after competition, is dominant, and then charges higher fares than in a freely competitive market. That's how an unregulated market goes.
Look at the competition for say the Marathon race. Wha happens at the end of the competition ? There is a winner. Right. And likewise in a commercial competition where the "best" may prevail, this does not mean there will be a constant steady state of equals. There will be a winner.
The Irish market is not a large one in the general scale of things. It's a small country, only 4.5 million population. Not one to sustain two large carriers long term. It is inevitable that one will eventually dominate over the other.
It's the same in the US, competition has meant that in all but a couple of hub cities, one carrier comes out on top after competition, is dominant, and then charges higher fares than in a freely competitive market. That's how an unregulated market goes.
Join Date: May 2004
Location: EU
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
GwynM. Don't know where you're getting your ideas from. Have you ever flown EI? How familiar are you with the Irish aviation industry? Perhaps you should check some of your facts.
Aer Lingus is the only airline providing true competition to Ryanair at any of their bases. FR and EI have a fairly 50/50 share at DUB where they compete head-on... means many people still prefer EI.
Also EI is not in the difficult financial situation MOL wants to make people believe.
Aer Lingus is the only airline providing true competition to Ryanair at any of their bases. FR and EI have a fairly 50/50 share at DUB where they compete head-on... means many people still prefer EI.
Also EI is not in the difficult financial situation MOL wants to make people believe.
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Thinking about it, give me a minute.
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
WHBM,Strange logic you use
The Republic of Ireland may only have just shy of 5 million inhabitants but its largest airport DUB handles a lot more than 5 million passengers a year indeed enough I'd wager to 'sustain' more than one large based carrier.
So what happens in the Marathon? One winner and everyone else just fades away into the shadows, disappears never to be seen again? I don't think so somehow. There is a second and third place medal awarded and then there are all those others who weren't 'placed' but will be back next year to try for gold.
It could be argued that Competition at its very best is a very fluid state one in which there are winners, near winners, losers and absolute losers. So this year one particular airline wins Gold and its closest competitor 'wins' silver another 'wins' bronze and the 'also rans' get a tin medal for finishing but then there will be a few absolute losers who won't finish and won't be back next year.
Aer Lingus has changed considerably over the past few years much to the dissatifaction of many Irish people who yearn for the old 'flag carrier' days they have changed their business model to become more competitive and today they do compete with Ryaniar and the many other carriers that operate services to and from the ROI. Some may argue they're not winning but they are still in the race.
But seriously how can you apply your Marathon analogy to the aviation business (or any business for that matter)? there are so many variables involved, price, comfort, service, availabilty, timing, additional charges and the list goes on. Competition is a many facated thing it isn't I believe as black and white or absolute as you may suggest.
Perception is a personal thing
I am not Irish and I don't work for either Aer Lingus or Ryanair.
The Republic of Ireland may only have just shy of 5 million inhabitants but its largest airport DUB handles a lot more than 5 million passengers a year indeed enough I'd wager to 'sustain' more than one large based carrier.
So what happens in the Marathon? One winner and everyone else just fades away into the shadows, disappears never to be seen again? I don't think so somehow. There is a second and third place medal awarded and then there are all those others who weren't 'placed' but will be back next year to try for gold.
It could be argued that Competition at its very best is a very fluid state one in which there are winners, near winners, losers and absolute losers. So this year one particular airline wins Gold and its closest competitor 'wins' silver another 'wins' bronze and the 'also rans' get a tin medal for finishing but then there will be a few absolute losers who won't finish and won't be back next year.
Aer Lingus has changed considerably over the past few years much to the dissatifaction of many Irish people who yearn for the old 'flag carrier' days they have changed their business model to become more competitive and today they do compete with Ryaniar and the many other carriers that operate services to and from the ROI. Some may argue they're not winning but they are still in the race.
But seriously how can you apply your Marathon analogy to the aviation business (or any business for that matter)? there are so many variables involved, price, comfort, service, availabilty, timing, additional charges and the list goes on. Competition is a many facated thing it isn't I believe as black and white or absolute as you may suggest.
Perception is a personal thing
I am not Irish and I don't work for either Aer Lingus or Ryanair.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: London
Age: 56
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ryanair Monopoly: is that where you thought you were landing on Mayfair but you end up on Old Kent Road and have to take a bus the rest of the way?
ok, ok, sorry - I'll get my coat.
13Alpha
ok, ok, sorry - I'll get my coat.
13Alpha
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Missed The Point
My point is RYANAIR - and airport info displayed on Teletext and internet can show the destination as BARCELONA when it is not. If they fly to REUS or GIRONA, fine, but why do they say they are going to BCN? Is this not misleading and potentially causes unsuspecting new pax trouble? No other airline I know of does this. One of the reasons I distrust Ryanair.
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ryanomics
Sorry to go off at a tangent folks, but reading theses posts I begin to see at last where my view of airline economics have gone wrong! In order to fly and make a profit (as opposed to running on cash-flow, which has been a common problem with rapidly expanding airlines and travel agents), you get the manufacturer to pay you for the privilege of your using their aircraft, you get the airports to pay you for the honour of your flying people in and out and using the loos, you get the crew to pay for their training, and prove their loyalty in advance by travelling all over europe at their own expense to train, and you get the pax to pay you bonuses for such luxuries as checking in, carrying baggage, etc. You also charge them for paying you a fare! Are they also getting the fuel free? If only Freddie Laker had known all this! Next stage could be to get the pax to pay for cleaning (after all, they make the mess), the pilots to pay for landing and handling (because they fly the plane somewhere). Maybe they should have a coin op table and sick sack dispenser on seat backs?
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: merseyside
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ryanair Crews using Gerona Take Note !
Not Sure where this post really needs to go ?
I travel into Gerona at least twice a month - I always fly Ryanair and have never really had any problems untill december 2008 which i thought was a one off !
However yesterday an incident occurred ( FR 1945 Liverpool ) which further confirmed to me that there are things going on airport side that the Ryanair crews flying in and out of Gerona need to be aware of ?
There is a very over zealous spanish lady with a seriously bad attitude problem causing ructions at the boarding gates ...
yesterday there was a near a riot at our boarding gate because of this ladys actions .. which to tell you the truth delayed boarding by at least 15 minutes and upset a lot of boarding passengers ..including 3 elderly ladys who where left in tears .
It was apalling . Seriously !
Previously she had swooped like a vulture at the bottom of the stairs checking the size of everyones hand luggage . Those whose bags failed to make the grade where promptly sent to the check in desk and made to pay 30 + euro's to put the bag on the aircraft . Fair enough ..thats the rules but she has such an apalling manner about her ...do your job but do it in a polite manner !
There was a 20 minute window of oppurtunity when she left battle stations to go for a break ....
There we where all happy travellers...
Our aircraft had arrived , change round , refuelling etc completed .
Ready to board in orderly que's pilots waiting patiently for passengers and then SHE appeared dragging the metal cage which measures the size of your hand luggage with her - she took it right up to the gate door ?
It was like something out of a horror movie ....The whole que went silent watching as the metal screeched along the floor .
Then she proceeded to board passengers ..
The next thing i know she is screaming at everybody " you must check your bags fit in the cage and if they dont fit stand to the side " which to everyones credit they did do- me included .
The que was building up , boarding gate getting blocked , people trying to ram bags into the cage . People running off like frightened school kids , stuffin suitcase up jumpers etc
Then it kicked off big time as she physically man handled 3 female english pensioners to one side and told them " if your bag dos'nt fit then you are not flying "
I was incredoulous .. So the old dears got very upset and said in a very polite manner " look if we owe you for the bags cant we just pay you its not a problem " .
her attitude stunk " its too late your not going to board this aircraft . you will have to get another flight tomorrow " ..
well as soon as the others in the que who had been waiting patiently heard this bedlam ensued .....
we had the ridicolous scenario of people emptying bags , clothes everywhere and layering said clothes on their bodys in order to get their bags to fit in the cage !
Half the passengers looked like mitchelin men ...
which surely isnt a good thing shud an emergency occur as none ov them would fit thru the doors !!! and impede everyone elses exit whilst we are at it !.
we even had the stupid scenario of some poor guy who had already had his bag checked in the cage downstairs and it fitted perfectly yet he had foolishly purchased some duty free and rather than have the bottles rattling round in a plastic bag he had put them inside his suitcase !! So now the bugger wouldnt fit in the cage !!
big , big , mistake ...he was trying to explain as to how his bag had incresed in size and she was screaming at him " where is your receipt ? where is your carrier bag i want proof you purchased these items here "
Meanwhile our crew are waiting for us to board not having a clue what was going on the other side of the boarding gate ...
It was a total farce and crews should be made aware of what is going on and pass the information to the powers that be at Ryanair . This is definatly affecting turn around and also passenger confidence in the airline .
In the end the boarding passengers turned hostile and people where shouting and swearing ..it got pretty scary ...she relented , very reluctantly and allowed people thru ...we still had to wait over ten minutes before the three elderly ladys where allowed to board ...they where kept like hostages untill said bags fitted !
All arrived on board very upset and all over dressed !
My own bag didnt fit perfectly in the cage but when i took my rather large book out of the front pouch it fell into place...she glared at me with evil eyes..i walked away book in hand triumphant !
The mad thing is that only a few people had any difficulty getting their hand luggage in the over head lockers .my own suitcase glided in effortlessly .
What a crazy situation .
I luv Flying Ryanair ... but someone has to do something about what is happening at Gerona Airport because it is effecting everyone not just us passengers but the crews too ...only they won't be aware of what is really causing the delays in boarding their flights !!
Please pass this info on .. cheers
I travel into Gerona at least twice a month - I always fly Ryanair and have never really had any problems untill december 2008 which i thought was a one off !
However yesterday an incident occurred ( FR 1945 Liverpool ) which further confirmed to me that there are things going on airport side that the Ryanair crews flying in and out of Gerona need to be aware of ?
There is a very over zealous spanish lady with a seriously bad attitude problem causing ructions at the boarding gates ...
yesterday there was a near a riot at our boarding gate because of this ladys actions .. which to tell you the truth delayed boarding by at least 15 minutes and upset a lot of boarding passengers ..including 3 elderly ladys who where left in tears .
It was apalling . Seriously !
Previously she had swooped like a vulture at the bottom of the stairs checking the size of everyones hand luggage . Those whose bags failed to make the grade where promptly sent to the check in desk and made to pay 30 + euro's to put the bag on the aircraft . Fair enough ..thats the rules but she has such an apalling manner about her ...do your job but do it in a polite manner !
There was a 20 minute window of oppurtunity when she left battle stations to go for a break ....
There we where all happy travellers...
Our aircraft had arrived , change round , refuelling etc completed .
Ready to board in orderly que's pilots waiting patiently for passengers and then SHE appeared dragging the metal cage which measures the size of your hand luggage with her - she took it right up to the gate door ?
It was like something out of a horror movie ....The whole que went silent watching as the metal screeched along the floor .
Then she proceeded to board passengers ..
The next thing i know she is screaming at everybody " you must check your bags fit in the cage and if they dont fit stand to the side " which to everyones credit they did do- me included .
The que was building up , boarding gate getting blocked , people trying to ram bags into the cage . People running off like frightened school kids , stuffin suitcase up jumpers etc
Then it kicked off big time as she physically man handled 3 female english pensioners to one side and told them " if your bag dos'nt fit then you are not flying "
I was incredoulous .. So the old dears got very upset and said in a very polite manner " look if we owe you for the bags cant we just pay you its not a problem " .
her attitude stunk " its too late your not going to board this aircraft . you will have to get another flight tomorrow " ..
well as soon as the others in the que who had been waiting patiently heard this bedlam ensued .....
we had the ridicolous scenario of people emptying bags , clothes everywhere and layering said clothes on their bodys in order to get their bags to fit in the cage !
Half the passengers looked like mitchelin men ...
which surely isnt a good thing shud an emergency occur as none ov them would fit thru the doors !!! and impede everyone elses exit whilst we are at it !.
we even had the stupid scenario of some poor guy who had already had his bag checked in the cage downstairs and it fitted perfectly yet he had foolishly purchased some duty free and rather than have the bottles rattling round in a plastic bag he had put them inside his suitcase !! So now the bugger wouldnt fit in the cage !!
big , big , mistake ...he was trying to explain as to how his bag had incresed in size and she was screaming at him " where is your receipt ? where is your carrier bag i want proof you purchased these items here "
Meanwhile our crew are waiting for us to board not having a clue what was going on the other side of the boarding gate ...
It was a total farce and crews should be made aware of what is going on and pass the information to the powers that be at Ryanair . This is definatly affecting turn around and also passenger confidence in the airline .
In the end the boarding passengers turned hostile and people where shouting and swearing ..it got pretty scary ...she relented , very reluctantly and allowed people thru ...we still had to wait over ten minutes before the three elderly ladys where allowed to board ...they where kept like hostages untill said bags fitted !
All arrived on board very upset and all over dressed !
My own bag didnt fit perfectly in the cage but when i took my rather large book out of the front pouch it fell into place...she glared at me with evil eyes..i walked away book in hand triumphant !
The mad thing is that only a few people had any difficulty getting their hand luggage in the over head lockers .my own suitcase glided in effortlessly .
What a crazy situation .
I luv Flying Ryanair ... but someone has to do something about what is happening at Gerona Airport because it is effecting everyone not just us passengers but the crews too ...only they won't be aware of what is really causing the delays in boarding their flights !!
Please pass this info on .. cheers
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Temporarily Uncertain...
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
May I suggest that you notify the ground staff at girona directly with a letter of complaint as Ryanair do not have any ground staff of their own so by notifying them, nothing will change. However - as i said - if you complain to the Girona Airport authorities (maybe next time your there, try to get her name) then something may be done.
Sounds like a nightmare! But im glad you enjoy flying with RYR!
Sounds like a nightmare! But im glad you enjoy flying with RYR!
Psychophysiological entity
Nonsense! If someone can take the time to advise the affected airline via Pprune, that should be enough. To suggest a passenger should be given the task of putting things right is absurd. Ryanair make the money by using the airport, they have a vested interest in getting some sort of order back.
I just don't know how people like this woman exist. Under a totalitarian regime perhaps, but in modern Europe? I know just how long she would have spoken to me like that. Measure the time in pico-seconds.
I just don't know how people like this woman exist. Under a totalitarian regime perhaps, but in modern Europe? I know just how long she would have spoken to me like that. Measure the time in pico-seconds.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: merseyside
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bag War
Ollie268
Thanks for that info ..Will do that next flight out . hand it in personally .
I did'nt think she worked for Ryanair as she wears a totally different uniform ..
It crossed my mind she might be on comission tho ? so many euro's for any extra bags etc ..as that could be the only reason in my mind that she was so vehenment in her actions unless she seriously is that awfull a personality .
Usually spanish people are very respectfull of the elderly but not this young lady !
Like i said i have been flying Ryanair all over Europe and never have i ever experienced anything like this before and in fact i have always championed the airline .
Think the crews need to know as well tho especially the captains...they would probably have more sway than us p.a.x ...
Thanks for that info ..Will do that next flight out . hand it in personally .
I did'nt think she worked for Ryanair as she wears a totally different uniform ..
It crossed my mind she might be on comission tho ? so many euro's for any extra bags etc ..as that could be the only reason in my mind that she was so vehenment in her actions unless she seriously is that awfull a personality .
Usually spanish people are very respectfull of the elderly but not this young lady !
Like i said i have been flying Ryanair all over Europe and never have i ever experienced anything like this before and in fact i have always championed the airline .
Think the crews need to know as well tho especially the captains...they would probably have more sway than us p.a.x ...
