Ryanair - 1Million and you WONT fly !
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Free flights woman awarded €67,500 in damages
The High Court has awarded Ryanair's one millionth passenger €67,500 damages and her costs against the low cost airline.
Link to story http://www.onbusiness.ie/2002/0619/ryanair.html
Link to story http://www.onbusiness.ie/2002/0619/ryanair.html
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...and the conclusion
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The High Court has awarded Ryanair’s 1,000,000th passenger €67,500 damages and her costs against the low cost airline.
Jane O'Keefe, a mother of two from Leopardstown Heights in Dublin, had sued Ryanair because she claimed they had reneged on a commitment made to her in 1988 of free flights for life.
By 1997 the relationship was turning sour with Jane O'Keeffe finding it increasingly difficult to deal with the airline and use her concession.
Ms O’Keeffe subsequently sued for breach of contract, with Ryanair claiming there was no contract.
Today, Mr Justice Peter Kelly – who heard the case over four days – found there was a contract and that Ryanair had not met its commitments.
Ms O’Keeffe was awarded €67,500 to compensate her for loss of her flights’ concession to date and loss into the future. She also received her costs.
Mr Justice Kelly also found her clear in her recollection of events and steadfast in her testimony.
He found her a more persuasive witness than Ryanair Chief Executive, Michael O’Leary, and rejected Mr O’Leary’s assertion that he was not hostile or aggressive towards Ms O’Keeffe.
_________
The High Court has awarded Ryanair’s 1,000,000th passenger €67,500 damages and her costs against the low cost airline.
Jane O'Keefe, a mother of two from Leopardstown Heights in Dublin, had sued Ryanair because she claimed they had reneged on a commitment made to her in 1988 of free flights for life.
By 1997 the relationship was turning sour with Jane O'Keeffe finding it increasingly difficult to deal with the airline and use her concession.
Ms O’Keeffe subsequently sued for breach of contract, with Ryanair claiming there was no contract.
Today, Mr Justice Peter Kelly – who heard the case over four days – found there was a contract and that Ryanair had not met its commitments.
Ms O’Keeffe was awarded €67,500 to compensate her for loss of her flights’ concession to date and loss into the future. She also received her costs.
Mr Justice Kelly also found her clear in her recollection of events and steadfast in her testimony.
He found her a more persuasive witness than Ryanair Chief Executive, Michael O’Leary, and rejected Mr O’Leary’s assertion that he was not hostile or aggressive towards Ms O’Keeffe.
Mistrust in Management
O'leary really is a disgrace, as proved by this case. He also manages to single handedly cast a slur on the whole concept of 'low cost' airlines. ( See thread: Low cost airlines cutting corners.)
He is also quoted in this weeks Flight International as saying he will break the law if necessary.
MOL comes across as a man completely without morals who will do or say anything as long as there is money in it.
It has been my experience that those who play with fire will eventually get burned. I would guess that this individual is in line for a good barbeque.
Despite this man I believe the concept of 'low cost' will thrive, but will Ryanair continue to do so?
Regards
Exeng
He is also quoted in this weeks Flight International as saying he will break the law if necessary.
MOL comes across as a man completely without morals who will do or say anything as long as there is money in it.
It has been my experience that those who play with fire will eventually get burned. I would guess that this individual is in line for a good barbeque.
Despite this man I believe the concept of 'low cost' will thrive, but will Ryanair continue to do so?
Regards
Exeng
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Well said, exeng.
There is nothing whatsoever with the low-cost concept. It has (I hope) a great future as part of the whole European aviation picture.
There is a LOT wrong with that grubby little man's entire attitude towards everyone and everything except money, and getting it by any means he can.
There is nothing whatsoever with the low-cost concept. It has (I hope) a great future as part of the whole European aviation picture.
There is a LOT wrong with that grubby little man's entire attitude towards everyone and everything except money, and getting it by any means he can.
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It cost Ryanair a little more than 67500 euro, more like 267500 euro when you count legal costs.
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A RYANAIR passenger who won free flights for life after becoming the airline's one-millionth passenger was yesterday awarded €67,500 after the High Court found the no-frills carrier had reneged on the deal.
Mother-of-two, Jane O'Keeffe (35), of Leopardstown Heights in Dublin, was also awarded costs, estimated at €200,000.
But the award was substantially less than the €500,000 compensation her lawyers had sought.
In his judgment, Mr Justice Peter Kelly found Mrs O'Keeffe was a more "persuasive" witness than Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary.
He also found Mr O'Leary had been bullying, hostile and aggressive in his interaction with Mrs O'Keeffe.
On October 28, 1988, Mrs O'Keeffe - then 21 and unmarried - was returning on a Ryanair flight to London following her grandmother's funeral.
During a ceremony at Dublin Airport the then chief executive PJ McGoldrick announced she was the one-millionth passenger and would have unlimited travel for herself and her nominee for life.
A video of the affair was taken and was shown during the court hearing.
Justice Kelly found that the free-flights deal offered by Ryanair that day was an enforceable contract and that Mrs O'Keeffe fulfilled her obligations to participate in publicity.
He said the arrangement had worked smoothly for many years from 1988 up to 1997 when the breach of contract took place.
Justice Kelly accepted that when Mrs O'Keeffe tried to take a free Ryanair flight to visit Scotland over the 1997 October Bank Holiday weekend, the airline reneged on the deal. Mr Justice Kelly awarded Mrs O'Keeffe damages of €6,000 for loss of entitlement for the past five years and he awarded her €1,500 in compensation for the "disappointment, frustration and upset that was suffered ... arising from the unpleasant and shabby treatment she suffered on that occasion".
He then dealt with the matter of future loss and awarded Mrs O'Keeffe €60,000 bringing her award to €67,500.
Outside the court, Mrs O'Keeffe, accompanied by husband Mark Higginbotham, said she felt vindicated by the judgment and denied she was disappointed with the award.
"I'd just like to say I'm absolutely delighted. The judge obviously considered all the evidence very thoroughly. It was very fair and I feel very vindicated by his findings," she said.
Mrs O'Keeffe, who works as a marketing executive in Rathmines, said she was glad the "ordeal" was over.
"I'm not disappointed. My legal team had always advised me that this would be approximately the figure we could expect," she said.
Asked if she would fly Ryanair again she said she had anticipated the question and believed the best answer to be "subject to availability".
Asked about Ryanair's conduct throughout she said the judgment answered that. "I can only reiterate what was said in court - I was shabbily treated by them and the judgment has vindicated me," she said.
Mrs O'Keeffe described the telephone call with Mr O'Leary as "very upsetting" and said "it was one of the reasons we ended up in the High Court".
If she wanted to fly again, she would be paying for her flights like everyone else.
In a statement issued after the judgment, Ryanair said it would not be appealing and declared itself "very satisfied" with the outcome. "Ryanair is pleased that the matter has at last been brought to a conclusion," the statement said.
During the March hearing, Ryanair had offered Mrs O'Keeffe free flights for herself and a nominated companion subject to availability, €4,000 compensation and her legal costs. Mrs O'Keeffe rejected the offer
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Of particular note is the fact that it was the way Michael O'Leary treated her on the phone that caused her to go to the High court.
Herb Kelleher he is not.
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A RYANAIR passenger who won free flights for life after becoming the airline's one-millionth passenger was yesterday awarded €67,500 after the High Court found the no-frills carrier had reneged on the deal.
Mother-of-two, Jane O'Keeffe (35), of Leopardstown Heights in Dublin, was also awarded costs, estimated at €200,000.
But the award was substantially less than the €500,000 compensation her lawyers had sought.
In his judgment, Mr Justice Peter Kelly found Mrs O'Keeffe was a more "persuasive" witness than Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary.
He also found Mr O'Leary had been bullying, hostile and aggressive in his interaction with Mrs O'Keeffe.
On October 28, 1988, Mrs O'Keeffe - then 21 and unmarried - was returning on a Ryanair flight to London following her grandmother's funeral.
During a ceremony at Dublin Airport the then chief executive PJ McGoldrick announced she was the one-millionth passenger and would have unlimited travel for herself and her nominee for life.
A video of the affair was taken and was shown during the court hearing.
Justice Kelly found that the free-flights deal offered by Ryanair that day was an enforceable contract and that Mrs O'Keeffe fulfilled her obligations to participate in publicity.
He said the arrangement had worked smoothly for many years from 1988 up to 1997 when the breach of contract took place.
Justice Kelly accepted that when Mrs O'Keeffe tried to take a free Ryanair flight to visit Scotland over the 1997 October Bank Holiday weekend, the airline reneged on the deal. Mr Justice Kelly awarded Mrs O'Keeffe damages of €6,000 for loss of entitlement for the past five years and he awarded her €1,500 in compensation for the "disappointment, frustration and upset that was suffered ... arising from the unpleasant and shabby treatment she suffered on that occasion".
He then dealt with the matter of future loss and awarded Mrs O'Keeffe €60,000 bringing her award to €67,500.
Outside the court, Mrs O'Keeffe, accompanied by husband Mark Higginbotham, said she felt vindicated by the judgment and denied she was disappointed with the award.
"I'd just like to say I'm absolutely delighted. The judge obviously considered all the evidence very thoroughly. It was very fair and I feel very vindicated by his findings," she said.
Mrs O'Keeffe, who works as a marketing executive in Rathmines, said she was glad the "ordeal" was over.
"I'm not disappointed. My legal team had always advised me that this would be approximately the figure we could expect," she said.
Asked if she would fly Ryanair again she said she had anticipated the question and believed the best answer to be "subject to availability".
Asked about Ryanair's conduct throughout she said the judgment answered that. "I can only reiterate what was said in court - I was shabbily treated by them and the judgment has vindicated me," she said.
Mrs O'Keeffe described the telephone call with Mr O'Leary as "very upsetting" and said "it was one of the reasons we ended up in the High Court".
If she wanted to fly again, she would be paying for her flights like everyone else.
In a statement issued after the judgment, Ryanair said it would not be appealing and declared itself "very satisfied" with the outcome. "Ryanair is pleased that the matter has at last been brought to a conclusion," the statement said.
During the March hearing, Ryanair had offered Mrs O'Keeffe free flights for herself and a nominated companion subject to availability, €4,000 compensation and her legal costs. Mrs O'Keeffe rejected the offer
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Of particular note is the fact that it was the way Michael O'Leary treated her on the phone that caused her to go to the High court.
Herb Kelleher he is not.
Didn't something similar happen at Virgin some years ago? I seem to recall that one of Branson's partners was promised free lifetime F-class transportation, only to find his entitlement severely limited when the beancounters worked out what the boss had committed to.
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It will be interesting to see what happens when she tries to buy her next flight. I wonder how many of the cheapest tickets will still be available for her, when she gives her name!
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The executive said that because she had nothing in writing, she was going to be limited to 12 flights a year and that Ryanair would not be liable to issue her with unlimited flights.
Just a numbered other
hmmm, you forget that that offer of 12 flights p.a. was only made in an attempt to avoid court. Ryanair originally tried to pull out all together.
Excellent result.
As for 'Mr O’Leary’s assertion that he was not hostile or aggressive towards Ms O’Keeffe.' He probably doesn't realise that he comes over as hostile and aggressive towards everyone he comes into contact with. (a view based on his TV performances) He's probably hostile and aggressive to his reflection in the shaving mirror each morning.
To Ryanair and its workers I wish only success. I look forward to MOL's bbq.
Excellent result.
As for 'Mr O’Leary’s assertion that he was not hostile or aggressive towards Ms O’Keeffe.' He probably doesn't realise that he comes over as hostile and aggressive towards everyone he comes into contact with. (a view based on his TV performances) He's probably hostile and aggressive to his reflection in the shaving mirror each morning.
To Ryanair and its workers I wish only success. I look forward to MOL's bbq.
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You miss the point, hmmmm.
Has she been told by Ryanair that her prize was £20m but later they only decided to give her £1m, would you say the same?
It's quite simple. They reneged on a promise - on a legal contract. They wanted the publicity, to be seen as the nice, generous airline when they awarded her the prize. Later on, when they reckoned the public gaze was elsewhere, they tried to take back what they had given.
More fool them.
Has she been told by Ryanair that her prize was £20m but later they only decided to give her £1m, would you say the same?
It's quite simple. They reneged on a promise - on a legal contract. They wanted the publicity, to be seen as the nice, generous airline when they awarded her the prize. Later on, when they reckoned the public gaze was elsewhere, they tried to take back what they had given.
More fool them.
Keeping Danny in Sandwiches
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An interesting article by Jeff Randall in The Sunday Telegraph headlined "Ryanair is heading for a nose dive"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/mai...23/ixcoms.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/mai...23/ixcoms.html
Last edited by sky9; 23rd Jun 2002 at 21:16.
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I understand why they offered her 12 flights per year as a "settle out of court" tactic. But as she previously noted she doens't fly 12 times a year! So what's the harm?
Sure they offered her a verbal contract of unlimited "life time travel" but I still think 12 flights a year isn't so bad.
I sense this has more of a twist then just "free flights" in this case. She has obviously sensed she can make some money and she has gone running to the nearest lawyer.
Guys, I know Ryanair are not the most favourable airline in Europe but I sense people are jumping on the band wagon just a tad to quick.
Would it be fair if she got a contract from now stating that she should recieve 12 free flights per year?
Its not at all about unlimited travel, its about all the money she thinks she is entilted to.
Sure they offered her a verbal contract of unlimited "life time travel" but I still think 12 flights a year isn't so bad.
I sense this has more of a twist then just "free flights" in this case. She has obviously sensed she can make some money and she has gone running to the nearest lawyer.
Guys, I know Ryanair are not the most favourable airline in Europe but I sense people are jumping on the band wagon just a tad to quick.
Would it be fair if she got a contract from now stating that she should recieve 12 free flights per year?
Its not at all about unlimited travel, its about all the money she thinks she is entilted to.
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Its not at all about unlimited travel, its about all the money she thinks she is entilted to.
Just had to clear that up!
