Originally Posted by
irishguy28
With the mentions of Ryanair in this thread, I'd just like to point out that, nothwithstanding the fact that most tickets will now attract a checked luggage fee, comparisons with Ryanair are still somewhat ridiculous.
Flying Ryanair is a completely different experience to flying with KLM. KLM still has several layers of hell to descend through before we can compare them to FR!
I regularly fly Ryanair for business. and they are perfectly OK.
They offer direct flights to a range of destinations at 30% to 50% cheaper than KLM offers the same routes via AMS.
The service is similar to KLM 737, seat pitch, flying times etc. They offer a wider choice of (charged for) food and drink on board and are almost always on time.
The disadvantages for business use are:
- Poor timetabling with routes often not served at regular times or on regular days of the week.
- Frequent last minute schedule changes (usually +/- 1 hour) mean you can't plan connecting transport
- Small cabin bag allowance, randomly, but strictly enforced
And not forgetting the Ryanair service speciality -
Mean spirited revenue raising tactics, such as hidden charges: card payment charge, hold bag charge, forgetting to reserve hold bag charge, at-airport check-in charge, online check-in charge, forgetting to on-line checkin charge, wanting to alter passenger name charge, forgetting to print boarding pass charge, overweight handbag charge etc.
Although for the business traveler these charges can be claimed on expenses!