Ryanair....we're nice now.

stmol32

I'm curious about peoples opinion on Ryanair's new image offensive.

Are they genuinely trying to change or is it just Michael O'Leary's ego has taken a battering because he's now dimly aware of how people see him?

Any thought AH denizens?

Fr_Dougal

He's only being 'nice' so Ryanair can takeover Aer Lingus.

Donkey Oaty

We will get the same old regurgitated opinions on this as always.

I will say this though: if Ryanair is good enough for David Cameron's PR advisors to recommend to people other than themselves, it's surely good enough for us.

Outkast_IRE

He is being "nice" because he took a verbal beat down at the shareholders meeting. Profits took a hit and many shareholders blamed their lack of customer service skills and harsh policies.

kneemos

stmol32 wrote: »

I'm curious about peoples opinion on Ryanair's new image offensive.

Are they genuinely trying to change or is it just Michael O'Leary's ego has taken a battering because he's now dimly aware of how people see him?

Any thought AH denizens?

Seriously doubt he gives a fart what people think about him.

lukesmom

kneemos wrote: »

Seriously doubt he gives a fart what people think about him.

Tis all about the power and mulah!

GenieOz

I think he's a legend. Don't know why people don't like him..Irish begrudgery in full flow!

darkpagandeath

lukesmom wrote: »

Tis all about the power and mulah!

Yeah you cant vote out the shareholders but they can vote him out

jam_mac_jam

I prefer them when they are not as nice. I am dreading flying with them now that everyone will be bringing 17 bags on the plane. I would rather they kept their rules. I don't really care about assigned seating although there may be less queuing.

Intensive Care Bear

I like Ryanair, i've flown with them hundreds of times and never had a problem. It's pretty simple, don't be a moron and you wont get hit with any surprise charges.

The Backwards Man

They are losing the popularity war to other low cost hairlines. Image is everything, even if you aren't compenting on the same routes.

Needs must.

Gumbo

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

He is being "nice" because he took a verbal beat down at the shareholders meeting. Profits took a hit and many shareholders blamed their lack of customer service skills and harsh policies.

This is what a staff member told me on a night out a bit back.

darkpagandeath

The Backwards Man wrote: »

They are losing the popularity war to other low cost hairlines. Image is everything, even if you aren't compenting on the same routes.

Needs must.

Exactly most companies know there competitors offer a similar service/price, So one way to get ahead is having better customer service this is the likes of what Dell did in the Pc market.

stmol32

The Backwards Man wrote: »

They are losing the popularity war to other low cost hairlines. Image is everything, even if you aren't compenting on the same routes.

Needs must.

I reckon you've cracked it backwards man (I like that username).
I have a sense of dread everytime I fly with them.
A sense of what's going to wrong now, so much so that when they play the Da-Da-De Dah!! at the end of the flight I think "great, I didn't get fecked over".

But I am a sciency nerd by nature (not by profession) and I have to go by the data which says that although I always expect the worst I have to acknowledge I've never actually had a bad personal experience flying that was directly related to Ryanair.

I do still dislike Michael O'Leary's personality and I also dislike his work practices. Basically I reckon this new image change, while very manufactured, is probably a good thing for passengers but I hope it also filters down to a better work environment for the staff.

Maybe if we're not expecting to be shafted we'll give them a bigger break, It's not their fault they're working for Mr. Burns.

fleet_admiral

GenieOz wrote: »

I think he's a legend. Don't know why people don't like him..Irish begrudgery in full flow!

me too. ive flown with them loads of times and never had a problem.

Micky Dolenz

Ryanair, as expensive as Aer Lingus and 10 times worse.

Boombastic

flew recently
allocated seating
opening back and front doors
2 bags - was asked did I want to one in the hold free ( I didn't)
my route, half the price of aerlingus and host/ess more polite

also when you ring their customer service, quick response no holding etc

what's not to like

mikeym

I hate the Ryanair ads were O'Leary comes on and acts all nicey nicey we love the customer act.

biko

I'm curious about OP's opinion on Ryanair's new image offensive.

Are they genuinely trying to change or is it just Michael O'Leary's ego has taken a battering because he's now dimly aware of how people see him?

Any thoughts OP?

kneemos

mikeym wrote: »

I hate the Ryanair ads were O'Leary comes on and acts all nicey nicey we love the customer act.

At least they're refreshingly honest about their distain for the customer.

Lapin

I've flown with Ryanair regularly for over 20 years and never had a problem.

I've always found them to be nice !

stmol32

biko wrote: »

I'm curious about OP's opinion on Ryanair's new image offensive.

Are they genuinely trying to change or is it just Michael O'Leary's ego has taken a battering because he's now dimly aware of how people see him?

Any thoughts OP?

Sorry man I hate when OP's do that.
I deliberately left it vague to see what people thought.

My opinion is: it's very manufactured, and may be disingenuous, on the part of Ryanair management but still can't be anything but a good thing for staff and passengers.

Not G.R

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Ryanair, as expensive as Aer Lingus and 10 times worse.

2 adults to Paris 22nd to the 24th April

Ryanair €220 for both.
Aer Lingus €797 for both

So if you could make up more stuff that'd be greattt.

Ryanair will get you to London for cheaper than the price of a taxi to Dublin Airport.

People who hate them generally cant follow their well defined rules.

One of the best Air lines in Europe IMO.

Outkast_IRE

Not G.R wrote: »

2 adults to Paris 22nd to the 24th April

Ryanair €220 for both.
Aer Lingus €797

So if you could make up more stuff that'd be greattt.

To be fair you are doing the same as he did, you have selectively picked a particular route for your comparison.

Aer Lingus go to CDG which many people find much better to get to and from.

It would be quite easy for me to pick one of their summer only routes such as Cork - Alicante, and say aer lingus is cheaper than Ryanair during peak summer time if you need to bring baggage etc.


Aerlingus can be cheaper for some routes, Ryanair is cheaper for many routes. But Aerlingus will fly you to the main airport everytime, not some ex-military airfield 40 miles from your actual destination.

Aerlingus cork to paris 23rd april €83 each one-way granted, but if you book early and pick your dates there are some good prices to be had with aerlingus too.

Donkey Oaty

Not G.R wrote: »

2 adults to Paris

Do you mean Beauvais?

branie

I too had no problems with Ryanair when I flew with them in the past.

Micky Dolenz

Not G.R wrote: »

2 adults to Paris 22nd to the 24th April

Ryanair €220 for both.
Aer Lingus €797 for both

So if you could make up more stuff that'd be greattt.

Ryanair will get you to London for cheaper than the price of a taxi to Dublin Airport.

People who hate them generally cant follow their well defined rules.

One of the best Air lines in Europe IMO.

On the routes I fly the prices are same/similar. Aer Lingus has more comfy seats and in general their airports are better located when time is an issue.

I've flown Ryanair before and will again but Aer Lingus is a far superior carrier.

Not G.R

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

To be fair you are doing the same as he did, you have selectively picked a particular route for your comparison.

Aer Lingus go to CDG which many people find much better to get to and from.

It would be quite easy for me to pick one of their summer only routes such as Cork - Alicante, and say aer lingus is cheaper than Ryanair during peak summer time if you need to bring baggage etc.


Aerlingus can be cheaper for some routes, Ryanair is cheaper for many routes. But Aerlingus will fly you to the main airport everytime, not some ex-military airfield 40 miles from your actual destination.

Aerlingus cork to paris 23rd april €83 each

That's fair. I happened to pick that city/date because I booked it recently and was shocked by the price difference. Im not against flying Aer Lingus and am pro flying whom ever will get me there cheapest. 9 times out of 10 that's Ryanair.

Cantremember

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

We will get the same old regurgitated opinions on this as always.

I will say this though: if Ryanair is good enough for David Cameron's PR advisors to recommend to people other than themselves, it's surely good enough for us.

FFS. Read what you write and cringe. Who gives a flying fick about their opinion. If you have that servile an attitude you belong being treated like shyte by Ryanair.

cloud493

Any airline that can get me to liverpool and back for £9 can treat me however they like.

Cantremember

Ryanair have changed their tune because it was costing them. If it no longer costs them to be ignorant aggressive and treat their customers like shyte then normal service will resume.

Not G.R

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

Do you mean Beauvais?

Its 1/2 an hour from CdG to Gare du Nord by train.
Its 1 hours plus 15 minutes on a metro to Paris city centre from Beauvais.

+45 minutes > +€570

In my eyes anyway.

maryishere

Fair play for Davis Cameron the UK prime minister taking his family to the canaries at Easter with RYANAIR. If its good enough for him (rather than fly first class on B. Airways somewhere ) its good enough for the rest of us.

I could not see Ryanair ever being good enough for our Taoiseach or Presidents to fly with though on 4 hour journeys. Anyone ever meet Bertie or Brian or Mary in the queue with their sambos for a nice long 4 hour Ryanair flight, no first class section , no in flight movies.

Seaneh

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

On the routes I fly the prices are same/similar. Aer Lingus has more comfy seats and in general their airports are better located when time is an issue.

I've flown Ryanair before and will again but Aer Lingus is a far superior carrier.

I've flown both all over Europe and if anything Ryanair have more comfortable planes and far, far, far less delays.

I avoid Aer Lingus whenever possible because I've had more delays with Aer Lingus than I have with all the other airlines I've flown with in Europe combined.
Aer Lingus are more expensive, have a similar level of service, similar legroom, older planes and have more delays. Anyone who chooses Aer Lingus over Ryanair is deluded.

Seaneh

Cantremember wrote: »

Ryanair have changed their tune because it was costing them. If it no longer costs them to be ignorant aggressive and treat their customers like shyte then normal service will resume.

I never had a problem with Ryan Air staff because I always made sure to follow their rules, which I agreed to when booking my flight, it's not rocket science.

Cienciano

I often hear that Aer Lingus is pretty much the same price, but any time I've checked they're way more expensive.
I just did a random check, both fly to the same airport in Barcelona. For this day next month, coming back the next day, Aer Lingus works out at €130.38, Ryanair works out at €59.98.

Piliger

Cantremember wrote: »

Ryanair have changed their tune because it was costing them.

And yet there is no evidence of that whatsoever.

Piliger

Seaneh wrote: »

I never had a problem with Ryan Air staff because I always made sure to follow their rules, which I agreed to when booking my flight, it's not rocket science.

Over the last five years I have flown with them literally a couple of dozen times. Never had a moment's problem. Not one. Simple rules. Fantastic price. And I always found the flight staff great. People will whinge about anything.

Capt'n Midnight

Until people start reporting that they have actually become nicer I'll treat this as yet another completely meaningless PR attempt.

Cienciano

Short haul flight is like getting a bus. Imagine someone telling you they're going from Dublin to Portlaoise by bus, but they're willing to pay €40 extra for a certain bus company because they get an extra inch legroom and the driver says "thank you" when he checks your ticket?
Madness. Cheapest wins for me.

daRobot

The only reason that they're attempting an image makeover, is due to Stelios and the Easyjet operation taking a lot of business from them.

There comes a time and point where another company will capitalise on the weakness of another's operation. And in this case it's the poor customer service, and general level of derision shown to their paying customers, and now they've realised they need to change, and fast.

Piliger

Mr.S wrote: »

This. I don't understand why people expect top quality service when they are paying piss cheap flights.

Ryanair can get me to London for €40 return in the regular sales, i expect my seat and thats about it, I don't care/want/expect them to do anything more!

Never had a problem with Ryanair tbh, if you stick to their (clear) rules, your grand.

People forget so fast and turn to abuse. Before Ryanair we were paying >£200 punts on OLD MONEY just to get to London ! and you had to stay two nights there if I recall correctly.

Butterface

I live in the UK (midlands) and fly back and forth nearly once a month with Ryanair - Throughout the year, the average cost of my flights one way is 20euro. I then get to Dublin airport and get on a Bus Eireann bus and they charge me 22euro single to my home town.. bah!

The first flight I took with the allocated seating actually delayed our take-off.. but the last few flights were grand. Better than everybody running across the tarmac to get on the plane first.

Cantremember

Piliger wrote: »

And yet there is no evidence of that whatsoever.

LOL

Cantremember

Seaneh wrote: »

I never had a problem with Ryan Air staff because I always made sure to follow their rules, which I agreed to when booking my flight, it's not rocket science.

I've never had a problem either because I followed their mad rules and put up with their idiotic destinations. I regret every euro I gave them; their treatment of their staff was a national embarrassment.

Cantremember

Piliger wrote: »

People forget so fast and turn to abuse. Before Ryanair we were paying >£200 punts on OLD MONEY just to get to London ! and you had to stay two nights there if I recall correctly.

People don't owe Ryanair the time of day. They're a profit making operation who were paid for their service. They can f*ck right off expecting gratitude.

Cienciano

Cantremember wrote: »

I've never had a problem either because I followed their mad rules and put up with their idiotic destinations. I regret every euro I gave them; their treatment of their staff was a national embarrassment.

Hold on. You "put up with their idiotic destinations"? You're the one who chose to fly there. Just because you choose to fly to an airport miles away from where you want to go, its Ryanairs fault?

Cantremember

Cienciano wrote: »

Hold on. You "put up with their idiotic destinations"? You're the one who chose to fly there. Just because you choose to fly to an airport miles away from where you want to go, its Ryanairs fault?

Why do you think I said put up with.

grimm2005

Cienciano wrote: »

I often hear that Aer Lingus is pretty much the same price, but any time I've checked they're way more expensive.
I just did a random check, both fly to the same airport in Barcelona. For this day next month, coming back the next day, Aer Lingus works out at €130.38, Ryanair works out at €59.98.

I completely agree, I'm going to Barcelona at the end of the month and it cost me €60 return on Ryanair versus €140 that Aer Lingus were offering. Sure there are occasions where you can get a cheaper or close in price flight on Aer Lingus but it's very rare in my experience. I'll mix and match if I can get a more convenient departure time for my return flight for example but only if the price is similar.

Have flown about 90% of my flights in the last couple of years with Ryanair and pretty much never had a problem. Today was my first Aer Lingus flight this year (just return leg, outbound with Ryanair, same airport) because it was a slightly later flight and only €10 more expensive. Had to queue about half an hour for check in (no kiosks and wasn't going to check in online on the last night of my trip), then my flight was delayed 40mins.

It's just way less hassle on Ryanair. Yes, their cabins are tacky and seats slightly less comfortable but I could have spent that €10 for an exit row seat on Ryanair (€15 per flight on Aer Lingus btw) and had a much more comfortable flight (being 6ft6' doesn't make for comfortable flights!) and avoided those annoyances.

Clearlier

Piliger wrote: »

People forget so fast and turn to abuse. Before Ryanair we were paying >£200 punts on OLD MONEY just to get to London ! and you had to stay two nights there if I recall correctly.

Ryanair's emergence as a low cost carrier certainly helped the downward direction of fares but most of the credit/fault for the previously higher fares falls at the feet of the government. Someone may correct me on the details but essentially the EU was gradually opened up to all carriers and most of the protectionist laws helping national carriers do whatever they wanted were abolished.

Piliger

Cantremember wrote: »

People don't owe Ryanair the time of day. They're a profit making operation who were paid for their service. They can f*ck right off expecting gratitude.

Well I am very grateful to them. They enabled me to fly to many many places I would never ever have been able to fly over the years, and continue to this day. They do it efficiently and safely and CHEAPLY. It has enriched my life and my friends lives.