Ryanair to Prohibit Checked Baggage on Certain Flights Starting Fall 2010
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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Ryanair to Prohibit Checked Baggage on Certain Flights Starting Fall 2010
In this NY Times article on the impact of baggage fees on airline finances and operations, Stephen McNamara, director of communications for Ryanair, says the airline wants to change consumer behavior.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/bu...ef=global-home
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/bu...ef=global-home
#3
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,605
Ryanair to Prohibit Checked Baggage on Certain Flights Starting Fall 2010
However getting rid of checked luggage is a perennial story about Ryanair - I've seen similar stories in 2004, 2008 & 2009.
And given the income that checked luggage generates (especially from the people who think rules don't apply to them) I can't see Ryanair doing this on any of it's routes with the possible exception of some weekend destinations where most people only have hand luggage to start with.
#4
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,919
One day all this nickle and diming is going to come back upon them like a boomerang and they are litterally going to fly themselves out of business. I will most certainly NEVER see the insdie of a Ryanair aircraft again in my life not matter how cheap.
#5
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 169
Seems they want to use the hold to carry cargo and make money from that. A possible alternative would be charging the same rate for checked luggage as the rate for cargo. That will likely increase the charges for checking luggage further but at least people will have the option of doing so.
What happens when passengers who are unaware of the checked luggage ban show up at the airport?
What happens when passengers who are unaware of the checked luggage ban show up at the airport?
#6
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I met a German girl a couple years ago in London. She'd flown Ryanair and it wasn't her first time. She was only in London for the weekend. She made a distinction between Ryanair and 'real' airlines. For her and her friends, flying Ryanair was like taking the tube at rush hour: generally uncomfortable, crowded, no 'services', travel light. The price was right when she was 'commuting' for a weekend. She never flew them for regular holidays, even intra-Europe.
I ride the city bus and streetcar when I'm in SFO for a few days; I would never consider taking a Greyhound cross-country.
#7
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By jacking fees up incrementally, if they do reach a breaking point, they could conceivably back off quickly.
#9
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,605
This year they expect to make a profit of €310 million after tax - last year they had lots of problems with writing off a loss in Aer Lingus and high fuel prices
#10
Join Date: May 2005
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#11
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 169
The article mentioned that the rate for cargo is higher than luggage. But if they operate from airports with no cargo facilities then it makes no sense. They might be trying to reduce turnaround time or weight then.
#12
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,605
Turnaround time on Ryanair is typically 30 minutes and given what Ryanair charge for luggage I'd be really surprised if they could charge more for cargo