Is Michael O'Leary a "skanger"?

mike65 · 20-12-2003 1:19pm #1

Fromm www.unison.ie

AIRLINE chief Michael O'Leary is facing a barrage of criticism after he advised his staff to steal pens from hotels and legal offices.

The Ryanair boss offended a range of people, from airline bosses and education experts to manufacturers of highlighter pens, in a newspaper interview published yesterday.

His comment that he tells staff not to buy pens but to steal them has riled a number of groups, including hoteliers, who said it added to the bills of other customers.

Others said they could not understand anyone encouraging their staff to steal.

Chris Reynolds, managing director of highlighter and pen makers Stabilo in the UK, asked whether it would be alright if he went into Mr O'Leary's office and stole his personal computer.

"What will they be told to steal next? Fax machines, printers? Where does it stop? It's appalling and as bad as telling people to steal a little old lady's handbag."

What next, commanding his pilots to nick EasyJet 737s when they're not looking?

Mike.

the Guru · 20-12-2003 2:58pm

Is any one here on this board that has stayed in a hotel never taking anything from a room I dont think so !!!!!

Actually I think I will have a shower and dry myself with that towel from a certain hotel in galway then wear the bathrobe from Cork and use the shower cap from derry when I am hoovering then go and read the bible.

So im going to be busy for the next hour or so

sceptre · 20-12-2003 3:02pm

Heh, I've heard this in the past.

20-12-2003 4:51pm

I can't imagine someone "advising" people to do it, but he probably just made some sort of passing comment or joke or something that was blown out of proportion on a slow news day...

Michael Collins · 20-12-2003 5:25pm

Originally posted by utility_
I can't imagine someone "advising" people to do it, but he probably just made some sort of passing comment or joke or something that was blown out of proportion on a slow news day...

Ah yes the voice of reason! Sir, I salute you. I hate when this kinda thing happens with something that was more than likely a joke to begin with

herbie747 · 20-12-2003 5:30pm

Who cares?
It just a few stupid pens anyway. I doubt he even said it in the first place. What benefit would that be to Ryanair to steal a couple of pens? The guy is loaded. He can afford a box of pens if he can afford to buy a few 737's. We're talking about PENS here people!! Friggin' pens!

I like the quote from the pen guy in the UK - what a loser. He must think he's a big-shot now, after they got a comment from him. How irrelevant! It's not as if they even robbed HIS pens. Does he represent all the pen owners of the world??

Lump · 20-12-2003 11:39pm

No.... he's not, I'm sure he never said that.... Ryanair is a great company to come out of ireland.... look at what else we have to offer. Eircom and ESB ffs as two other major companies. I fly with ryanair all the time, I have never had issues with lateness, lost bags or any of the other horror stories you hear.

John

AdMMM · 21-12-2003 12:12am

lol

Red Alert · 21-12-2003 1:07pm

Ryanair's about the only credible irish company abroad. Air lingus are a complete joke and most of the semi-states are like a pack of clowns, not to mention Eircom who should really go home and die.

And yes, i do admit that i take all the pens, shampoos etc from every hotel i stay in!

Lump · 21-12-2003 1:09pm

At last some one agrees with me.... note this day!

John

sionnach · 21-12-2003 1:53pm

um, the two options in ur poll are basically: 1. yes 2. yes

Lump · 21-12-2003 4:04pm

Yea, I only noticed that after I had voted.... YOU TRICKED MEH YOU CLOWN!

John

flogen · 21-12-2003 9:57pm

His comment that he tells staff not to buy pens but to steal them has riled a number of groups, including hoteliers, who said it added to the bills of other customers

tripe, thats just the hotels trying to pass blame on their extortion, crappy bookies pens are not THAT expensive.

Ryanair's about the only credible irish company abroad

yeah, i hate M O Leary, i think hes a complete tool and i despise his "im so cool.... look Im wearing jeans!!!" public attitude, but i must say hes a superb business man and has made a small time Irish company into one of the worlds biggest players, just look at the profits he managed to rack up during the airline crisis after September 11th, he must be doing something right (that may be due to pen stealing and poor treatment of staff, but hey, hes rich cos of it... i doubt he cares that much)

Im sure afew years ago Ryanair was about as big as AerArann.

Flogen

edit: oh, and can you ammend your poll to have the option of: 'no, hes just an asshole'

sceptre · 22-12-2003 2:10am

Originally posted by flogen
Im sure afew years ago Ryanair was about as big as AerArann.

Pretty much. They started to take off when they dumped the meals and went no-frills. About 1992 or so if I remember rightly. It's not an original idea (Air Fred got there first) but was pretty new in the European market.

jd · 22-12-2003 2:22am

Michael O'Leary is a superb business man and good luck to him..
I won't fly Ryanair though.
If a part from a plane needs to be replaced it has to be signed off by four beancounters-not an enginer techician in sight..
all very well until something goes wrong
john

ToxicPaddy · 22-12-2003 10:21am

Originally posted by jd
If a part from a plane needs to be replaced it has to be signed off by four beancounters-not an enginer techician in sight..
all very well until something goes wrong
john

Ugghh, scary thought..

Never flew with them, dunno if I would after finding out that...

Have to agree tho, Michael O'Leary maybe a complete w*nker but he is still a class
businessman and has done wonders with Ryanair.. It might be an idea to let him
loose on a few other companies out there...

BuffyBot · 22-12-2003 3:28pm

If a part from a plane needs to be replaced it has to be signed off by four beancounters-not an enginer techician in sight..

Not quite true. Their engineering division is pretty damn good, compared to some other airlines.

jd · 22-12-2003 3:40pm

Originally posted by BuffyBot
Not quite true. Their engineering division is pretty damn good, compared to some other airlines.

Oh _ know-just that there is a limit to how much i like to see assets sweated..

Sleipnir · 22-12-2003 3:58pm

Originally posted by jd

If a part from a plane needs to be replaced it has to be signed off by four beancounters-not an enginer techician in sight..
all very well until something goes wrong
john

hah! All airlines do that!
They buy parts from aeroplace junkyards (there's a HUGE one in Africa somewhere)
and that's why you get the
"spare parts are being flown in so there will be a large delay"
They have to find the part in the yard and rip it out and there isn't an airline in the world that doesn't do it that way.

Victor · 22-12-2003 10:10pm

Originally posted by Lump
Eircom and ESB ffs as two other major companies. I fly with ryanair all the time, I have never had issues with lateness, lost bags or any of the other horror stories you hear.

Well Eircom have never lost my bags either and the ESB have never said the toaster would be 15 minutes late.

shabbyroad · 22-12-2003 10:21pm

2 words : Evening Herald.

thankyouverymuchladiesandgentlemen... uh-uh....

Walter Ego · 23-12-2003 12:52pm

Originally posted by Lump
I fly with ryanair all the time, I have never had issues with lateness, lost bags or any of the other horror stories you hear.

John

Yes, but have any of your pens mysteriously disappeared?

Lump · 23-12-2003 6:22pm

No..... the lead went out of my pencil once, I don't think that was ryanairs ault though.... or was it, maybe I could Sue

John

Is Michael O'Leary a "skanger"?

Is the Ryanair boss a Skanger? 21 votes

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