Ryanair, why do so many people hate them?

Fighting Irish

It's one of Ireland's best companies and is successful, so why so much hate?

hullaballoo

Careful now.

greenflash

I don't hate Ryanair. I hate the sheep-brained mongs who fly with them and think they'll miss out on something if they don't stampede the gate an hour before the flight is due to leave.

kneemos

It's one of Irelands best companies and is successfull.

maximoose

I like them. The people who don't like them are the idiots who get caught by their well publicized and well documented fees.

Mint Sauce

Where would you like me to start OP?

jamo2oo9

Their customer service is bollocks according to everyone really. If you meet the baggage restrictions, passport requirements then you will NOT be heckled by Ryanair. If you want luggage in the hold, go with someone else dearer like Aer Lingus. Not that difficult!

justanotherone

People who can't, or won't, read.

GrumPy

Big fan, can't understand the hate either - although last two flights I got were Aer Lingus, and because of their policy of assigned seats, the wait for boarding was far more relaxed.

On a typical Ryanair flight, everyone is panicked there won't be a seat left for them/ they won't get to sit beside a friend etc... :rolleyes:

Mint Sauce

maximoose wrote: »

I like them. The people who don't like them are the idiots who get caught by their well publicized and well documented fees.

I have never been caught out by their fees. I just dont pay them by deciding to fly with another airline, where I am not crammed on to a plane, and treated like I am travelling in a cattle trailer.

theteal

Define "best", OP.

They're hated because a significant proportion of people can't follow simple instructions.

bumper234

Pure and simple Irish begrudgery nothing more nothing less.

jam_mac_jam

I Don't like their constant trying to sell you things and the ****e music you have to listen to at the start of flights. I like the way they are strict on the hand luggage though and the fact you can't put the seat back. If I have a choice I will generally fly Aerlingus but they don't fly as many places so I will fly Ryanair too. Don't hate them as find them a bit annoying.

Systemic Risk

I fly with them most times i go abroad as they are cheapest. Not most comfortable for someone 6'3" but does the job. Ive a four hour flight with them to canaries later today and have bags weighted and one piece of carry on each which are of correct size, boarding passes printed and therefore hope to only have pleasant interactions with the companies representatives as usual.

I think staff are the only ones with legitimate grievances due to ****ty contracts but i suppose no one is forcing them to sign the contracts.....unless they really have no choice due to economic circumstances.

Problem123456

It's jealousy really, they are the 2nd biggest airline in Europe.

Roger_007

I neither like or dislike Ryanair. You get what you pay for. If you want top-of-the-range service, don't fly Ryanair. Everyone knows, or should know, what they are getting, or not getting, with Ryanair. If that's not good enough for you, take your custom elsewhere. Simple.

Cienciano

Only thing I don't like is on a 40 minute flight, they make an announcement trying to sell you crap every 5 minutes. Hot drinks, hot food, e-cigarettes, lottery tickets, hertz rental etc etc.
Everything else about them is ok.
I don't understand the love for aer lingus in these threads. They're pretty much the same as ryanair, but you'd swear all their seats were like first class booth in Emitates they way people talk about them.

efb

I like the way they are strict on hand luggage- some people board the plane with the contents or their wardrobe!

syklops

Fighting Irish wrote: »

It's one of Ireland's best companies and is successful, so why so much hate?

People, particularly Irish people love to hate things. Im outraged Joe! They don't like to see others doing well for themselves. Add in a little bit of faux national pride and you have a winning solution for some people.

gugleguy

I wonder what how the students in the Coke ads on billboards like or dislike Ryanair. They could put in their spake here!

bellinter

Anyone giving out about the so-called 'hidden' costs seriously needs to have a look at themselves and wonder if maybe being in a mental hospital might be more beneficial to them than being on a plane.

Every time I'm on a Ryanair flight there is some f*cker giving out that he doesnt have enough leg room, or another bitching because he had to pay for a boarding pass as he 'didnt know' he had to print it himself. You were only reminded about it at least 6 times, pal.

As has been said, these are the clowns that hate Ryanair.

salacious crumb

I travel with them quite a lot, never pay fees, never queue to get on the plane etc., etc., picked up a copy of Paul Kilduff's Ruinair recently expecting it to rip the company and Michael O'Leary to pieces and after reading it, I actually think O'Leary should be in charge of the EU, or at least this country :pac:

Lapin

I've flown with Ryanair well over 100 times and never once had a problem.

Great company and they do exactly what they claim to do - Nothing more, nothing less.

Podge83

As stated above, Ryanair's rules are there in black and white. Read them, obey them and no trouble.

However, sometimes when it suits them to get a flight off quickly they may not enforce the rules - that can be annoying. What I miss is the pocket on the back of the seat in front of you which was removed (I guess) to speed up cleaning.

My elderly mother (80 odd) had a bad experience when she was picked on at the gate as her bag was slightly "too wide". Annoying as often "wider" bags get through. It must be said though - the "max" width of 200mm (I think) is there for all to read.

You don't fly on Ryanair for the experience of a lovely flight in the romantic ideals of airflight decades ago, You fly with them to get to your destination at a reasonable cost.

People should remember that in day's gone by before Ryanair and some like other carriers that flights were less frequent, to less destinations and much more expensive.

Overall, Ryanair should be congratulated for their success!!.

LuckyLloyd

Flying with them feels adverserial. You need to be on high alert before leaving for the airport to avoid being hit with a charge of some description or another. If you do have difficulty or get the size of a bag wrong, etc then they are not pleasant and take a no prisoners attitude. Now - that is their model and it is what keeps prices down and profits up, but it is a perfectly valid reason to dislike the level of service.

Their general marketing and branding tactics (as practised all the way through to the 'on time' siren upon landing) is very cheap, tacky and in your face. This will be seen as amusing and cute by some, but is annoying to others.

They treat staff very poorly and this is something that many will find appaling and dislikeable from any business - indeed it is always a reasonable reason to take your custom elsewhere.

For every person who dislikes the company, you'll find one who doesn't mind it and one who would happily get a little Ryanair foam finger out and parade around Dublin Airport with it. But that's the nature of the service being offered, it shouldn't be surprising.

LuckyLloyd

salacious crumb wrote: »

I travel with them quite a lot, never pay fees, never queue to get on the plane etc., etc., picked up a copy of Paul Kilduff's Ruinair recently expecting it to rip the company and Michael O'Leary to pieces and after reading it, I actually think O'Leary should be in charge of the EU, or at least this country :pac:

The 'Michael O' Leary for High King of Ireland' stuff is also annoying. He's a businessman (an extraordinarily successful one). He provides cheap flights because he makes a packet from it. If he was able to make more money running a premium cost / service airline he would.

jester77

I don't get all the hate. People forget too easily and don't remember what the cost of flights were like 20 years ago. It often costs more to get to the airport now than the flight to your destination.

So what if they don't land direct in the city of your destination, Ryanair stick to cheaper airports so you can have a cheaper flight. And if Ryanair were to call the airport by its real name, then the majority of people wouldn't even know where that is.

And yes some of their rules are ridiculous, but they are very clearly stated. Follow them and you will never have a problem.

salacious crumb

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

The 'Michael O' Leary for High King of Ireland' stuff is also annoying. He's a businessman (an extraordinarily successful one). He provides cheap flights because he makes a packet from it. If he was able to make more money running a premium cost / service airline he would.

You did notice the ":pac:" at the end there, yes?

LuckyLloyd

Cienciano wrote: »

Only thing I don't like is on a 40 minute flight, they make an announcement trying to sell you crap every 5 minutes. Hot drinks, hot food, e-cigarettes, lottery tickets, hertz rental etc etc.
Everything else about them is ok.
I don't understand the love for aer lingus in these threads. They're pretty much the same as ryanair, but you'd swear all their seats were like first class booth in Emitates they way people talk about them.

- expect check in is easier;
- except there is assigned seating;
- except they are less strict about baggage sizes;
- except it is much cheaper and hassle free to get sorted if you miss your flight for whatever reason;
- except they are less obnoxious and in your face during a flight;

Little differences maybe, but the price of the flight isn't all that different either.

LuckyLloyd

salacious crumb wrote: »

You did notice the ":pac:" at the end there, yes?

I'm going to say I did, and still felt the point was worth making because some wouldn't have it there after the same sentence.

micosoft

I'm of the opinion that in this life there is a stupid tax. It's the tax we all pay on every service to deal with the costs/staffing/litigation that a given business has to suffer through the gross acts of stupidity/negligence etc of customers.

Michael O'Leary has simply ended the Stupid tax on his tickets. Forget to print out tickets? Forget correct ID? Want an assigned seat? Think you are important and should get on/off first?

You pay the stupid tax.

As a wise business aquaintence once said "The customer is always right. Just right for a different business, not mine"

If those that complain about Ryanair would only do that. But they don't because Ryanair are cheaper. So they continue to fly Ryanair and complain about their own stupidity.

brokenarms

I hate the way they treat their own employees.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2389557/Ryanair-pilots-bullied-silence-safety-Two-thirds-say-comfortable-raising-fears-bosses.html

I hate the way the pissed off employees can be rude at times.
http://www.thejournal.ie/ryanair-refuses-apologise-tohumiliated-woman-colostomy-bag-527936-Jul2012/
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100101152140AAD6axB
http://www.pprune.org/cabin-crew/230262-ryanair-cabin-crew.html

I also hate the way they disregard the safety of their customers and that they are simply lucky that a major accident has not happened yet.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/three-ryanair-mayday-calls-go-out-on-same-day-26886838.html
http://www.thejournal.ie/ryanair-passenger-safety-1033670-Aug2013/
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/5848160/

I like the prices. But I fear that I might die each time I fly with them .. A Seriously Bad airline .

Wattle

The really great thing about Ryanair is you're never with them for very long.

hatrickpatrick

It's the deceit. They call themselves the "low fares airline" without mentioning that they'll screw you from absolutely every angle with non-fare fees.

smoking_kills

Fighting Irish wrote: »

It's one of Ireland's best companies and is successful, so why so much hate?

Successful yes. Best is subjective, like where do they rate on those lists of good companies to work for?

I don't use them. they are just a pain to fly with. I'd rather pay the extra for someone else and not spend 20 mins arguing about the size of my luggage.

Plus O'Leary is a twat

fishy fishy

Cienciano wrote: »

Only thing I don't like is on a 40 minute flight, they make an announcement trying to sell you crap every 5 minutes. Hot drinks, hot food, e-cigarettes, lottery tickets, hertz rental etc etc.
Everything else about them is ok.
I don't understand the love for aer lingus in these threads. They're pretty much the same as ryanair, but you'd swear all their seats were like first class booth in Emitates they way people talk about them.

I actually like that the are making announcements every five minutes - as a nervous flyer it re-assures me that everything is okay on the plane - after all they wouldn't be selling hot food and lottery tickets of there was a major fault. So it is a positive for me. Unlike the more expensive airlines where they barely look at you and you have to try and read their faces to see if the plane is doing fine or not.

Slunk

I have no problem with them. It tends to be people who think the world revolves around them and its their rules. I've withnessed it myself with people I've flown with. Willing to risk a 60 euro baggage hold fee to squeeze in a bottle of vodka they will save a fiver on. Then complain about been asked to put the bag in the measuring cage.

brokenarms

Oh and I forgot.

I feckin hate that stupid trumpet music when the plane lands.

It encouraged the monkeys to clap.

It encourages me to thank god I survived the flight!

krudler

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

It's the deceit. They call themselves the "low fares airline" without mentioning that they'll screw you from absolutely every angle with non-fare fees.

Bar the one you pay for using a non laser card, what fees are you obligated to pay? don't like it go back to paying 500 quid to fly to london like back in the 90's

Podge83

brokenarms wrote: »

Oh and I forgot.

I feckin hate that stupid trumpet music when the plane lands.

It encouraged the monkeys to clap.

It encourages me to thank god I survived the flight!

In Fairness, this is very very annoying. Its actually quite embarrassing when some passengers clap - I do want to ask them why do they clap though!!! - anyone got any offers??

Sunglasses Ron

They broke the monopolies and cartels. Flights to as close as the UK used to cost a week or two wages. O'Leary has brought it to cheaper than a bus ticket to the wesht. I wouldn't like to spend 24 hours on a flight to the far east with them but then again I wouldn't like to take a bus from Dublin to Amsterdam either, so fair play to them I say.

Sh1tbag OToole

Ryanair tries to 'catch out' its customers with its set of constantly changing and obscure rules.

Its legal, but they are just not very nice tactics to use

Podge83

brokenarms wrote: »

Oh and I forgot.

I feckin hate that stupid trumpet music when the plane lands.

It encouraged the monkeys to clap.

It encourages me to thank god I survived the flight!

Meant to say - the monkeys are probably the same ones who'd run over your granny to get to the gate when it appears on the screen abandoning food, drink and possibly their young in the process!!!!!!!!

Amirani

brokenarms wrote: »

I also hate the way they disregard the safety of their customers and that they are simply lucky that a major accident has not happened yet.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/three-ryanair-mayday-calls-go-out-on-same-day-26886838.html
http://www.thejournal.ie/ryanair-passenger-safety-1033670-Aug2013/
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/5848160/

I like the prices. But I fear that I might die each time I fly with them .. A Seriously Bad airline .

Absolute rubbish.

The Backwards Man

Don't hate Ryanair but easyjet is ten times the airline to fly with.

RachaelVO

I love Ryanair...

They are a most unforgiving airline, but Michael O'Leary would admit to that himself. I'd never get home as much as I do if it wasn't for Ryanair. It's a bus service so I expect very little. I know about the hand luggage rules, I know to print out my own boarding pass and I know to bring my passport.

It's probably true to say that even though some of their airports are in the back arse of no where, people wouldn't have see half as much of europe as they have if it wasn't for them.

Don't like them, don't fly with them, there's plenty of other airlines that'll take your cash.

Playboy

Don't use them unless I have no other option because they are a cr*p airline. Service is bad, policies are very restrictive, extras are expensive, they arent flexible or helpful if you have an issue and generally they fly into crap airports.

I prefer to travel with an airline who treats me like a human being and where the flying experience is comfortable and relaxed. Dont particularly like the naff music they play when they land on time.

But in fairness to them they have made foreign travel accessible to a lot of people who couldnt afford it before. If you read all the small print and are organised then they can be cheap if that is your main motivation when traveling.

Simply though, if you dont like them then dont use them. Dont continue to use them and complain about them. Personally think Easyjet are a far superior budget airline to Ryanair anyways so if I had to go budget then they would be my preference.

Peregrine

Problem123456 wrote: »

It's jealousy really, they are the 2nd biggest airline in Europe.

Yep. Second to the Lufthansa group which is actually Lufthansa and a lot of other airlines.

One of the largest fleets in the world too, second largest operator of the 737 I think, after Southwest. And they've ordered 175 more and I think we can expect another large order before the end of the year.

Hoop66

I understand that people get pissed off with the myriad ways you can get "caught out" and end up paying more etc. You an't really blame them for that though, you just need to be careful.

What I don't like is when, if something goes wrong (flight cancelled for instance), they make themselves scarce. There is never anyone to talk to at the airport about problems.

VinLieger

Similar to others I only use them when i absolutely have no other choice, the entire experience of being a ryanair customer from booking to getting off the plane is horrible

brokenarms

NiallSparky wrote: »

Absolute rubbish.

Would you care to elaborate?

The rubbish you refer to are facts?

In fact the pilot who let the public know how bad safety is was giving the elbow for his trouble.

Ryanair has been accused of trying to “suppress discussion” about airline safety after it sacked one of its longest serving pilots for raising concerns about its fuel load policy.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/pilot-group-condemns-ryanair-for-sacking-pilot-who-appeared-in-documentary-1.1495631