Why Hate RyanAir?
Oct 13, 2009 | 6:03 am
#61
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 347
He probably figured that drew the punters back rather more effectively than the rather showy, but anonymous, chorus dancers dressed in sequins.
Oct 13, 2009 | 7:18 am
#62
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,968
He most certainly is incorrect. My original post was about the fact that he said "64 million people flew Ryanair last year - that more than watched Panorama and more than watched the BBC."
If you're going to multiple-count, then a hell of a lot more than 64 million people watched the BBC last year (and likely Panorama for that matter). If you're going to single-count, then a hell of a lot fewer than 64 million people flew Ryanair last year.
If you're going to multiple-count, then a hell of a lot more than 64 million people watched the BBC last year (and likely Panorama for that matter). If you're going to single-count, then a hell of a lot fewer than 64 million people flew Ryanair last year.
Yes ... but when pedants have to slice the salami so much that they miss the bigger argument ... then they have effectively lost the argument. OK! .............. he was technically exageretaing ..... you're right .... hands up........
But, comparing an activity that 99% of the UK population do every night with the limited options that they have (turn the 'telly on and watch and largely choose between BBC1, 2 and ITV)) compared with the numbers that take flights then I'm afraid you're working a touch too hard to win your argument. Ryan is more popular amongst flying customer than the BBC is amongst viewing customers .... and with the BBC we go to prison if we don't pay the fare. MOL wins this argument IMHO.
Oct 13, 2009 | 9:49 am
#64
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,887
Why hate them?
Hate's a strong word. I flew them once and found the service poor and the check-in staff at STN rude.
What's evident is that FR as a company and MOL in particular revel, they delight in treating their customers as poorly as possible. They believe because the prices are low, they have no need to provide any recognisable level of customer service. If you don't like it then you can go elsewhere.
I don't, so I do. As a point of principle, I do anything I can not to give him my money. I'll give it to anyone I can but FR. Six and half years after that one experience and they're yet to see another farthing from me.
I can't think of another commercial enterprise, other than the Daily Mail, that I feel that way about, that I feel so strong an aversion to that I will do practically anything in order not to give them money.
What's evident is that FR as a company and MOL in particular revel, they delight in treating their customers as poorly as possible. They believe because the prices are low, they have no need to provide any recognisable level of customer service. If you don't like it then you can go elsewhere.
I don't, so I do. As a point of principle, I do anything I can not to give him my money. I'll give it to anyone I can but FR. Six and half years after that one experience and they're yet to see another farthing from me.
I can't think of another commercial enterprise, other than the Daily Mail, that I feel that way about, that I feel so strong an aversion to that I will do practically anything in order not to give them money.
Oct 13, 2009 | 9:59 am
#65
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Ayr, Scotland
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, BA EC Silver, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 228
It seems FTers don't generally use Ryanair very often, if at all. Just for information: 134 sectors so far this year, of which 26 with Ryanair and (for comparison) 43 with bmi, 10 with BA. I also spent two years commuting weekly from PIK to STN with FR.
Ryanair are: reliable & cheap. They are not: a full-service airline.
Up to, say, 75~90 minutes I would prefer FR to BA or BD. Why?
1. Price. Don't sweat the small stuff of how they charge - look at the real price. At least nine times out of ten, it will be cheaper to fly FR
2. Food. I don't want a small, foil tin of slop put in front of me called "traditional breakfast", I don't need a nasty sandwich. I like to just buy what I fancy eating - a sarnie, a choccy bar, whatever. I don't mind being stiffed on the price because I saved on the ticket price. 100 is a lot of money for BA or BD food (and that's in economy)
3. Reliability. FR are VERY reliable (mainly because they don't use busy airports like LHR?)
4. Seating. For 3 I get priority boarding. That gets me an aisle seat at or very near the front of the plane
Perhaps it's just confidence - I don't need an ageing trolly-dolly simpering at me to feel worthwhile
Ryanair are: reliable & cheap. They are not: a full-service airline.
Up to, say, 75~90 minutes I would prefer FR to BA or BD. Why?
1. Price. Don't sweat the small stuff of how they charge - look at the real price. At least nine times out of ten, it will be cheaper to fly FR
2. Food. I don't want a small, foil tin of slop put in front of me called "traditional breakfast", I don't need a nasty sandwich. I like to just buy what I fancy eating - a sarnie, a choccy bar, whatever. I don't mind being stiffed on the price because I saved on the ticket price. 100 is a lot of money for BA or BD food (and that's in economy)
3. Reliability. FR are VERY reliable (mainly because they don't use busy airports like LHR?)
4. Seating. For 3 I get priority boarding. That gets me an aisle seat at or very near the front of the plane
Perhaps it's just confidence - I don't need an ageing trolly-dolly simpering at me to feel worthwhile
Oct 13, 2009 | 11:32 am
#67
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: New York
Programs: BA, LH, VS, Hyatt, SPG
Posts: 3,813
What's evident is that FR as a company and MOL in particular revel, they delight in treating their customers as poorly as possible. They believe because the prices are low, they have no need to provide any recognisable level of customer service. If you don't like it then you can go elsewhere.
Oct 13, 2009 | 1:27 pm
#68
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Posts: 12,083
'We are a low cost airline' always seems to be the excuse but I do not believe it is valid.
FR seem to have much wider range of direct services to and from the UK regions than any full service carrier, so perhaps the choice is not really there. Carcassonne to Leeds (from 28 March 2010) anyone?
Oct 13, 2009 | 1:33 pm
#69
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,968
Perhaps many are missing at least one point.
The reason why most companies experience customer disatisfaction is a combination of poor performance and advertising induced inflated expectations. MOL is genuinely telling customers that his prodcut is cheap and so is the Customer Service. He basically says if you want CS go elsewhere. Ithink this approach is refreshingly honest.
The reason why most companies experience customer disatisfaction is a combination of poor performance and advertising induced inflated expectations. MOL is genuinely telling customers that his prodcut is cheap and so is the Customer Service. He basically says if you want CS go elsewhere. Ithink this approach is refreshingly honest.
Last edited by uk1; Oct 13, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Oct 13, 2009 | 1:35 pm
#70
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Here is an entertaining news release from the FR site (my emphasis):
Made me chuckle. 
Ryanair, Britains favourite airline, today (Tue 13th Oct) released 1.1million FREE seats after BBC Panorama screened its hatchet job on Ryanair last evening in which it uncovered nothing, nada, rien, diddly squat. Ryanair criticised Panorama for its refusal of Ryanairs offer of a live or uncut pre-recorded interview with Michael OLeary, but this refusal isnt surprising given that Panorama had no real case or valid points which would stand up to interview.
Last night Panorama made 11 false or misleading claims as follows:
1. Panorama featured check in problems at Stansted one weekend in August with no mention of the fact that on the other 32 weekends since web check-in was introduced Ryanair has seen no problems whatsoever at Stansted or the other 150 airports Ryanair operates from.
2. Panorama quoted a Which magazine survey which has no basis in reality whatsoever since Which continue to nominate British Airways as Britains favourite airline despite the fact that three times more passengers prefer Ryanair.
3. Panorama claimed that Ryanair charges 5 to all passengers for web check-in but omitted that more than half of Ryanairs passengers avoid this fee by booking Ryanairs promotional fares (which include free web check-in).
4. Panorama interviewed a website usability expert, who claimed that ryanair.com was designed to force passengers to buy Ryanair travel insurance. Panorama hid the fact that over 96% of Ryanair passengers decline travel insurance, which clearly confirms that this website usability expert was clueless.
5. Panorama produced a Professor of Corporate Reputation to suggest that people feel cheated by Ryanair which is clearly false when over 66 million passengers this year will choose to fly Ryanair because they feel cheated by BAs and Easyjets high fares.
6. Panorama claimed that Ryanairs 25 minute turnaround was a record time. This is false since Southwest Airlines in the US operates a 15 minute turnaround.
7. A Panorama actor claimed that cabin crew would not get a contract if they didnt meet their targets at the end of the day or year. Totally false.
8. Panorama claimed that cabin crew pay 2,000 to train and qualify as cabin crew but conveniently omitted that these payments were not paid to Ryanair.
9. Another Panorama actor claimed Ryanair had no respect or dignity for pilots or cabin crew this is a false claim put about by the British Airways pilots union. Respect and dignity in Ryanair come in the form of high pay, rapid promotion and job security unlike at BA where pilots are facing job cuts and pay cuts.
10. Panorama falsely claimed that no food or drinks are provided to cabin crew without pointing out that each pilot and cabin crew member receives a food allowance on every flight to pay for their own food and drinks.
11. Panorama claimed that OLeary is a bully this is clearly false when the whole world knows that OLeary is a kind and gentle, caring and thoughtful, sensitive and saintly human being widely beloved by all Ryanairs 6,500 people and its 66m passengers.
To celebrate the total failure of BBC Panoramas hatchet job, Ryanair has today released 1.1million free seats - 100,000 for each of the 11 above lies or false claims made by Panorama last night.
Ryanairs Michael OLeary said,
Last nights programme was more Bananarama than Panorama. The BBC had no case, no facts and no clue. The only benefit it provided to viewers was the 1.1million free seats Ryanair will give away as a result of its false claims.
66 million passengers know that flying Ryanair guarantees the lowest fares, the best punctuality, no check-in queues and the pleasure of joining the Michael OLeary fan club. Ryanairs 1.1million free seats, for travel in November and December, are now available on www.ryanair.com and we urge passengers to snap them up.
Last night Panorama made 11 false or misleading claims as follows:
1. Panorama featured check in problems at Stansted one weekend in August with no mention of the fact that on the other 32 weekends since web check-in was introduced Ryanair has seen no problems whatsoever at Stansted or the other 150 airports Ryanair operates from.
2. Panorama quoted a Which magazine survey which has no basis in reality whatsoever since Which continue to nominate British Airways as Britains favourite airline despite the fact that three times more passengers prefer Ryanair.
3. Panorama claimed that Ryanair charges 5 to all passengers for web check-in but omitted that more than half of Ryanairs passengers avoid this fee by booking Ryanairs promotional fares (which include free web check-in).
4. Panorama interviewed a website usability expert, who claimed that ryanair.com was designed to force passengers to buy Ryanair travel insurance. Panorama hid the fact that over 96% of Ryanair passengers decline travel insurance, which clearly confirms that this website usability expert was clueless.
5. Panorama produced a Professor of Corporate Reputation to suggest that people feel cheated by Ryanair which is clearly false when over 66 million passengers this year will choose to fly Ryanair because they feel cheated by BAs and Easyjets high fares.
6. Panorama claimed that Ryanairs 25 minute turnaround was a record time. This is false since Southwest Airlines in the US operates a 15 minute turnaround.
7. A Panorama actor claimed that cabin crew would not get a contract if they didnt meet their targets at the end of the day or year. Totally false.
8. Panorama claimed that cabin crew pay 2,000 to train and qualify as cabin crew but conveniently omitted that these payments were not paid to Ryanair.
9. Another Panorama actor claimed Ryanair had no respect or dignity for pilots or cabin crew this is a false claim put about by the British Airways pilots union. Respect and dignity in Ryanair come in the form of high pay, rapid promotion and job security unlike at BA where pilots are facing job cuts and pay cuts.
10. Panorama falsely claimed that no food or drinks are provided to cabin crew without pointing out that each pilot and cabin crew member receives a food allowance on every flight to pay for their own food and drinks.
11. Panorama claimed that OLeary is a bully this is clearly false when the whole world knows that OLeary is a kind and gentle, caring and thoughtful, sensitive and saintly human being widely beloved by all Ryanairs 6,500 people and its 66m passengers.
To celebrate the total failure of BBC Panoramas hatchet job, Ryanair has today released 1.1million free seats - 100,000 for each of the 11 above lies or false claims made by Panorama last night.
Ryanairs Michael OLeary said,
Last nights programme was more Bananarama than Panorama. The BBC had no case, no facts and no clue. The only benefit it provided to viewers was the 1.1million free seats Ryanair will give away as a result of its false claims.
66 million passengers know that flying Ryanair guarantees the lowest fares, the best punctuality, no check-in queues and the pleasure of joining the Michael OLeary fan club. Ryanairs 1.1million free seats, for travel in November and December, are now available on www.ryanair.com and we urge passengers to snap them up.
Oct 13, 2009 | 2:37 pm
#71
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Over 50% book promotional fares (with 0.00 check in fee), hardly a minority. In fact, it's a majority. 
As has been shown time and time again, FR is often cheaper or not much more expensive than BA. Isn't the average FR fare around 37? Do keep up!
As has been shown time and time again BA is often cheaper or not much more expensive than FR.
Oct 13, 2009 | 4:06 pm
#72
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: New York
Programs: BA, LH, VS, Hyatt, SPG
Posts: 3,813
There's a game the BA execs play: Three men in a balloon. One has to go. This round has Walsh, O'Leary and Branson. So who does Walsh save? "O'Leary," he says. "Ten times out of ten. He's also done a lot more for the aviation industry."
Oct 14, 2009 | 3:03 am
#73
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Well, we just got 2 of FR's 1m 0p seats to get the parents-in-law over in December.
We had to pay for the return, so total cost for 2 pax including 1 suitcase was €152. This covers everything inc the card fee. BA on the same route would have been at least double price and the FR airport is actually nearer to their house than the BA airport.
That said, you also have to factor in a contribution to the FR emergency fund. Last year they cancelled the flight and we had to pay 300 to buy 2 one-ways on Easyjet for same day departure - a cost we would probably not have paid had they booked BA. However, they've done this flight about 15 times now and this was the only muck-up so far.
We had to pay for the return, so total cost for 2 pax including 1 suitcase was €152. This covers everything inc the card fee. BA on the same route would have been at least double price and the FR airport is actually nearer to their house than the BA airport.
That said, you also have to factor in a contribution to the FR emergency fund. Last year they cancelled the flight and we had to pay 300 to buy 2 one-ways on Easyjet for same day departure - a cost we would probably not have paid had they booked BA. However, they've done this flight about 15 times now and this was the only muck-up so far.
Oct 14, 2009 | 3:36 am
#74
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But the like-it-or-not facts are:
- FR's sector revenue yield is below BA's on European services;
- FR is a successful airline.
Oct 14, 2009 | 5:03 am
#75
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,876
I've flown FR a couple of times years ago, before they started heaping on even more extra charges. Both return flights were on time and it was actually a pleasant experience....
However - They started messing about with the routes and schedules at PIK which meant some flights either left too early in the morning or arrived back too late at night. As it was impossible to get to or from PIK by public transport and given we only lived 15 minutes away from GLA that put paid to us using FR again.
Great to use if you get a bargain or want a direct flight but I would definitely pay the extra 'insurance' to fly BA for peace of mind and the extra schedules if anything goes wrong.
However - They started messing about with the routes and schedules at PIK which meant some flights either left too early in the morning or arrived back too late at night. As it was impossible to get to or from PIK by public transport and given we only lived 15 minutes away from GLA that put paid to us using FR again.
Great to use if you get a bargain or want a direct flight but I would definitely pay the extra 'insurance' to fly BA for peace of mind and the extra schedules if anything goes wrong.