Ryanair telling consumer groups they'll do what they want.

[bdw]

"Ryanair is sticking two fingers up at every regulator and consumer group with this news."

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/travel/2011/09/ryanair-card-charges

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[deniser]

Easy, if you don't like it, just don't use them.

I haven't flown with Ryanair since reading "How a small Irish airline conquered Europe".

 

[bdw]

I don't use them but they get away with this because necessity and lack of choice sometimes forces people to use them. That can surely be the only explanation?

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[iksol]

I think it's Ryanair's prerogative to do this. As you say, consumers can choose to take their custom elsewhere if they object.

But for me, what I take exception to is that these charges should be included in the headline price, and not hidden away, and divulged only when you're in the process of booking.

This is something the regulators should be tackling. Not trying to prevent such charges, but to make sure they are declared up front.

Let's face it, the charges are not optional, few people acquire prepaid cards.

 

[ChrisAITY]

I have never flown Ryanair, and I never will I would much prefer Easyjet or BMI Baby

 

[bdw]

so if you are going to a holiday destination where Ryanair are the only direct option you would not use them?

.

 

[ChrisAITY]

Plenty of alternatives to Ryanair around Plenty of other airports as well.. My opinion.. I would never use them

 

[dagr]

Ryanair has an interesting business model. It looks like they rely on many first-time or infrequent travellers as opposed to "cherished customers". For me, their hidden charges work against them as when comparing prices, I automatically add on £40, even though sometimes it will be less. I don't think they care though.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

If I'm flying domestically I go with whoever is cheapest at the time...and even with all their complicated fee structures and add-ons they often work out to be the cheapest alongside Easyjet.

So there isn't much point in people getting upset if the total price is still the cheapest deal around...it doesn't matter how that total price was arrived at does it?

 

[deniser]

so if you are going to a holiday destination where Ryanair are the only direct option you would not use them?

.

Absolutely. I would pick a different destination.

 

[bdw]

it doesn't matter how that total price was arrived at does it?

I would say that it does when Ryanair are defying the government and watchdog organisations and making up new rules to mislead and deceive the public.

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I don't use them but they get away with this because necessity and lack of choice sometimes forces people to use them. That can surely be the only explanation?

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Might be that I can fly to Madrid and back .for less than a train ticket to london 60 miles away.:|

Earl

 

[bdw]

I think it is that Earl. I don't want to use them. That guy Ryan does my head in but if I really have to get somewhere (on business or pleasure) and he offers the only real options then ....?

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[captaincloser]

Classic UKBF 'I never' thread...

 

[GraemeL]

Is a joke involving Ryanair and a profanity allowed on the forum?

And, have you seen the Fascinating Aida 'you tube' about a budget airline. Its is so clever and very very funny. Watch it right to the very end

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPyl2tOaKxM

 

[directmarketingadvice]

That guy Ryan does my head in

"Ryan"? Do you mean Michael O'Leary?

I've no problem with him. Backed War of Attrition (one of his horses) at double figure odds when it won the Gold Cup. Lovely.

Only time I've flown Ryanair, I found them excellent.

Unlike BA, unlike BMI, unlike Air France, they were actually able to get their plane to France on time.

Steve

 

[bdw]

Yes, whatever his name is.

Unlike BA, unlike BMI, unlike Air France, they were actually able to get their plane to France on time.

You really think they are better?

This does not suggest so. http://images.emailroi.com/users/flightstats/library164.pdf

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Micky is the very few top business people with common sense.IMHO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-67AN2efZY

Earl

 

[LicensedToTrade]

I would say that it does when Ryanair are defying the government and watchdog organisations and making up new rules to mislead and deceive the public.

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But how deceptive can it actually be? It doesn't take a genius to realise that Total Price A (as provided by Ryanair at the confirmation page) is cheaper than Total Price B (as provided by a competing airline at their confirmation page).

E.g. £50 in total is cheaper than £60 in total. Does it really matter that £50 was arrived at by adding £10 flight, £10 taxes, £20 baggage fee, £10 booking fee? £50 is £50.

 

[directmarketingadvice]

You really think they are better?

Based on my countless trips between Scotland and Paris, yes.

Steve

 

[iksol]

Does it really matter that £50 was arrived at by adding £10 flight, £10 taxes, £20 baggage fee, £10 booking fee? £50 is £50.

In the great scheme of things, no it doesn't really matter.

And to you and I we can do a bit of mental arithmetic in our heads to work out the final price based on the front-page price.

But there is a significant number of consumers out there who genuinely aren't aware of Ryanair's deception, and only discover the hidden charges after going through the various booking screens.

It's a major annoyance to people trying to compare prices across the different airlines. Consumers want transparency.

If it doesn't matter, why do you think Ryanair indulges in this practice?

 

[directmarketingadvice]

If it doesn't matter, why do you think Ryanair indulges in this practice?

And while we're at it, let's have politicians - most of whom grew up rich and never had to "dirty" their hands by doing selling stuff for a living - ban us from using price points like £99, rather than £100.

After all, £99 isn't about the £1, is it?

Steve

 

But there is a significant number of consumers out there who genuinely aren't aware of Ryanair's deception,

You do mean there are a significant number of the population who are not aware of anything.

Not a lot can be done about that.

Ignorance is no excuse in law.

Earl

 

[adventurelife]

I have flown Ryanair hundreds of times. Started when they only had a couple of old 2nd hand ex German planes flying between Uk and Dublin.

It makes me laugh when people complain and go on about them.

They changed a whole industry with their innovation and enabled millions of people to travel who would not have been able to before. On the back of that thousands of other businesses have been able to start grow and expand.

We could do with a lot more companies doing what they have done.

Yes they get up to stupid tricks and should be a lot more upfront with real costs but they are still normally the cheapest option.

They have been around long enough now for people to know what they are getting. Cheap no frills transport from A to B that is on time more than the rest.

 

[maxine]

Talking of youtube http://youtu.be/Z0rxASx1SxY

 

[GraemeL]

Great Maxine! Just great!

 

[captaincloser]

Talking of youtube http://youtu.be/Z0rxASx1SxY

Just booked a return to Faro complete with £12.50 admin charge despite debit card before seeing this..


I will be thinking of this clip Maxine as I watch in envy as the speedy borders sniff at me as they 'speedy board' ....hilarious...thank you.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

Talking of youtube http://youtu.be/Z0rxASx1SxY

Really epic, I had no idea that Ryanair existed during WW2...

 

[deniser]

I admire Michael O Leary as a businessman and have no problem with Ryanair flights when they fly.

My issue is what happens when they don't fly but just cancel the flight (not for good reason other than commercial on their part) with no regard to the passenger and the consequences of that.

 

[maxine]

What pees me off is having to make sure that you understand where the airport actually is as sometimes it isn't particularly near where you think it is. I flew to Dusseldorf once and ended up with a humongous taxi ride to actually get to flipping Dusseldorf. I must have been just outside Belgium or something by the size of the fare I paid! lol

 

[B.W. & S.L. Dimmock]

supply & demand, if they still fill planes this way they`ll do it, if not they`ll have to change

 

[Scottie22]

Even with the ad-ons, Ryanair seems pretty reasonable

 

[iksol]

Nobody's suggesting that Ryanair isn't a good choice of airline to fly with. I think it's likely that on average they are the cheapest.

The point that consumers are taking issue with is that they hide their charges to the extent that it's impossible to quickly compare prices across different airlines.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

Nobody's suggesting that Ryanair isn't a good choice of airline to fly with. I think it's likely that on average they are the cheapest.

The point that consumers are taking issue with is that they hide their charges to the extent that it's impossible to quickly compare prices across different airlines.

A common approach to pricing that is replicated across many industries. There are no laws that say you must allow your prospective customers to easily compare you to your immediate competitors. Ultimately a ryanair customer knows what the total price is before they commit to exchanging money.

 

[iksol]

A common approach to pricing that is replicated across many industries. There are no laws that say you must allow your prospective customers to easily compare you to your immediate competitors. Ultimately a ryanair customer knows what the total price is before they commit to exchanging money.

Can't disagree with any of that. The consumer groups are not claiming that Ryanair have broken any law, merely that they're exploiting a loophole.

The intention is to remove that loophole and force the airlines to declare the full price up front.

I know there is no such thing as a good analogy... but here goes... Imagine you go into a shop to buy an expensive item, and just as you hand over your credit card at the till the sales assistant mentions that an extra sales tax needs to be added on top.

Seriously, you're not telling me that you wouldn't feel at least mild irritation at their tactic?

 

[LicensedToTrade]

Seriously, you're not telling me that you wouldn't feel at least mild irritation at their tactic?

Mild irritation? I'd be livid! But... if price was my biggest concern and the total price remained the cheapest around it would still make sense for me to buy it. If customer service was a priority instead then I'd go elsewhere.

 

[Mitch3473]

We use Ryanair for most of our flights.You pay your money and take your chance.Cannot fault them.
Was working for a taxi driver a few years ago and told him the price for 2 of us return to Reus ( barca).He said he's get me about 30 miles for the same price.....I had to smile

 

[LicensedToTrade]

We use Ryanair for most of our flights.You pay your money and take your chance.Cannot fault them.
Was working for a taxi driver a few years ago and told him the price for 2 of us return to Reus ( barca).He said he's get me about 30 miles for the same price.....I had to smile

It's funny you should say that as 30 miles is the typical taxi journey required to get from the airport to the destination Ryanair said you were flying to

 

[adventurelife]

It's funny you should say that as 30 miles is the typical taxi journey required to get from the airport to the destination Ryanair said you were flying to

Check them some are stupid but most are on doorstep

Edinburgh 8 miles
Alicante 6 miles
Marrakech 3 miles

To even it up

Glasgow Prestwick 22 miles

 

[bdw]

[FONT=&quot] So I see no reason why anyone should avoid using it and criticize it like this! [/FONT]

Perhaps you don,t but some of us do and that's what discussion forums are all about. It's a business. People are surely allowed to comment on the service it provides? :|

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