What is your view on Knock Airport charging everyone a tenner to leave it?

Graham

It appears the good folk of Mayo have been volunteered to pay for the next few years worth of departure fees in advance:

Mayo County Council will borrow €7.3 million to pay off a large portion of IWAK’s debt in return for a 17.5 percent stake of the airport another €1.7 million is to be repaid by the Western Development Commission.

ScumLord

Graham wrote: »

It's probably just a coincidence that keeping this additional charge hidden works in Knocks favour.

They don't hide the charge, it's on their website and they tell the airlines to tell their passengers about the charge. Most do, bar one. What more do you expect them to do?

signostic

Graham wrote: »

It appears the good folk of Mayo have been volunteered to pay for the next few years worth of departure fees in advance:

Mayo County Council will borrow €7.3 million to pay off a large portion of IWAK’s debt in return for a 17.5 percent stake of the airport another €1.7 million is to be repaid by the Western Development Commission.

MCC`s first meeting at the airport didn`t go to well....although it was not the subject of the airport that caused the uproar.

http://www.independent.ie/tablet/news/mayo-council-in-disarray-as-ceo-is-accused-of-telling-lies-30811961.html

Andy From Sligo

so amateurish and unprofessional though robbing people from a tenner just before they get on a flight, yeah right, lovely friendly airport that is - as i said before put a big box in the terminal somewhere and a sign above "thank you for your Donation - it goes towards running and development of this airport" then leave it up to the passengers whether they want to donate or not

mass_debater

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

so amateurish and unprofessional though robbing people from a tenner just before they get on a flight, yeah right, lovely friendly airport that is - as i said before put a big box in the terminal somewhere and a sign above "thank you for your Donation - it goes towards running and development of this airport" then leave it up to the passengers whether they want to donate or not

You'd be back here posting about how it was amateur and unprofessional to let the place close and not take action

Andy From Sligo

mass_debater wrote: »

You'd be back here posting about how it was amateur and unprofessional to let the place close and not take action

so you think if it was left to people donating then they wouldnt get enough and have to close then?

mass_debater

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

so you think if it was left to people donating then they wouldnt get enough and have to close then?

Yes. They are not Shannon, they cannot get their debts written off, they have to remain competitive

Graham

mass_debater wrote: »

Yes. They are not Shannon, they cannot get their debts written off, they have to remain competitive

Apart from the €7.3 million and €1.7 million of debt that just vanished.

Voodoomelon

Pretty sure I had to pay a fee in Bangkok and that's a big ass airport.

ollkiller

Fantastic airport to use. Great for the west of Ireland. If paying a tenner means it stays open then so be it. Obviously some people will give out about anything.

mass_debater

Graham wrote: »

Apart from the €7.3 million and €1.7 million of debt that just vanished.

Vanished? The debts are being paid. It's in return for 17.5% stake. A good business deal for the airport going forward. Seems you really do have an axe to grind when it comes to IWAK.

Graham

ollkiller wrote: »

Fantastic airport to use. Great for the west of Ireland. If paying a tenner means it stays open then so be it. Obviously some people will give out about anything.

If the airport and its airline partners were upfront about the tenner, passengers could decide for themselves whether it's worth paying the exta cost to travel via Knock.

mass_debater wrote: »

Vanished? It's in return for 17.5% stake. A good business deal for the airport going forward. Seems you really do have an axe to grind when it comes to IWAK..

Nice selective recall. That post was in response to your 'Shannon gets its debt written off' post. Just like Knock airport getting its debt purchased by Mayo CoCo.

Now Knock airport have received local government funding, I wonder if we can expect to see the end of the hidden departure fees.

anto9

Have a nice day wrote: »

It's a very relaxing airport unlike every other airport in the world.

Koh Samui ,Thailand wins the title of the most relaxing Airport in the World that i have flown through .

http://www.samuiairportonline.com/images/samui12.jpg

mass_debater

Graham wrote: »

Nice selective recall. That post was in response to your 'Shannon gets its debt written off' post. Just like Knock airport getting its debt purchased by Mayo CoCo.

Now Knock airport have received local government funding, I wonder if we can expect to see the end of the hidden departure fees.

It's an investment by MCC for 17.5% stake. It's a great move for the airport, that hopefully makes it a level playing field.
You've not explained why you've a vendetta against IWAK, what is your axe? Do you not see it as a valuable amenity to the area? Do you not want to see it survive

Graham

mass_debater wrote: »

It's an investment by MCC for 17.5% stake. It's a great move for the airport, that hopefully makes it a level playing field.
You've not explained why you've a vendetta against IWAK, what is your axe? Do you not see it as a valuable amenity to the area? Do you not want to see it survive

Please try not to personalise this. The only thing I have taken issue with is the insidious departure fee that the airport continue to sneak upon the majority of its passengers. This is quite easily to resolve, Ireland West Airport Knock should either stop charging it or insist the airlines inform their customers of this fee at the time of booking.

bucketybuck

mass_debater wrote: »

Most? It's common knowledge at this stage. You can't back up that claim

It most certainly is not common knowledge.

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

Since when did Knock airport start issuing the bills to passengers?

What an incredibly strange thing to say in a thread about Knock airport charging passengers.

ScumLord

Graham wrote: »

This is quite easily to resolve, Ireland West Airport Knock should either stop charging it or insist the airlines inform their customers of this fee at the time of booking.

As you keep being told the airline does inform people and airlines, most airlines pass on this information except for one it seems. You know it's only ryanair that doesn't pass on the information but continue to blame knock.

veryangryman

ScumLord wrote: »

As you keep being told the airline does inform people and airlines, most airlines pass on this information except for one it seems. You know it's only ryanair that doesn't pass on the information but continue to blame knock.

Only Ryanair? Out of curiosity, i just did a quick booking with Aer Lingus who also neglect to mention the issue.

ScumLord

veryangryman wrote: »

Only Ryanair? Out of curiosity, i just did a quick booking with Aer Lingus who also neglect to mention the issue.

No they don't, after you select the dates of the flights the first thing on the next page is a warning about the fee.

Graham

ScumLord wrote: »

No they don't, after you select the dates of the flights the first thing on the next page is a warning about the fee.

Do you think it's ok for an Airport to spring a last minute charge on passengers even though it is aware that the majority of passengers have not been informed of this charge in advance?

Beano

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Pretty sure I had to pay a fee in Bangkok and that's a big ass airport.

if you did you were scammed. no suprise exit or entry fees in subarnabhumi. Unless they have introduced the visa fee on arrival they have been talking about for the last 18 months.

ScumLord

Graham wrote: »

Do you think it's ok for an Airport to spring a last minute charge on passengers even though it is aware that the majority of passengers have not been informed of this charge in advance?

The problem is ryanair not telling their passengers, how are you still able to ignore that simple fact?

Graham

ScumLord wrote: »

The problem is ryanair not telling their passengers, how are you still able to ignore that simple fact?

I answered previously, the Airport have a moral obligation to make sure passengers are informed along with the airline. If they can't fulfil that, they should stop collecting the change.

I'll ask again as you chose to ignore the question:

Do you think it's ok for an Airport to spring a last minute charge on passengers even though it is aware that the majority of passengers have not been informed of this charge in advance?

ScumLord

Graham wrote: »

I'll ask again as you chose to ignore the question:

I can't answer your question, it's nonsensical because the airport do inform their customers. Either directly through their website, at the airport and also through warning their customers (the airlines) that they need to inform their customers (passengers) in accordance with EU law.

Every airline bar one gives the warning up front before selling the ticket, but you choose to ignore this fact and instead choose to blame the company that's done everything you ask for. The fact that Ryanair is the biggest airline so will have the most passengers uninformed is inconsequential to the argument.

Andy From Sligo

im just on the IWAK website - why shove the details at bottom right of page - so underhanded stick it up top of page big letters ... are are they not wanting it to be prominent as to avoid putting people off????

I not a professional with designing websites but even I know if you have an 'Important Notice' you shove it bang right up the top of the page in fairly big letters so people with poor eyesite can read it properly - not display it at bottom of page in small writing easily missed - no wonder people still get a nasty shock/surprise as they are going through departures ...

mass_debater

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

im just on the IWAK website - why shove the details at bottom right of page - so underhanded stick it up top of page big letters ... are are they not wanting it to be prominent as to avoid putting people off????

I not a professional with designing websites but even I know if you have an 'Important Notice' you shove it bang right up the top of the page in fairly big letters so people with poor eyesite can read it properly - not display it at bottom of page in small writing easily missed - no wonder people still get a nasty shock/surprise as they are going through departures ...

It's there as plain as day in the images which rotate on both mobile and desktop versions of the site

Andy From Sligo

mass_debater wrote: »

It's there as plain as day in the images which rotate on both mobile and desktop versions of the site

ah right i just looked at it again - plain as night time so it was , missed it first time - why the hell have they got it on a scrolling advert box thingy that keeps changing quickly ... oh yeah i know they dont want to display it STATICALLY and plain in large writing at the top of the page ... because they dont want to put customers off :rolleyes:

mass_debater

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

ah right i just looked at it again - plain as night time so it was , missed it first time - why the hell have they got it on a scrolling advert box thingy that keeps changing quickly ... oh yeah i know they dont want to display it STATICALLY and plain in large writing at the top of the page ... because they dont want to put customers off :rolleyes:

Oh ffs, it's in the rotating banner images because that's where you put banner announcements and adverts, to catch attention. Your straw men arguments are not working

Graham

mass_debater wrote: »

Oh ffs, it's in the rotating banner images because that's where you put banner announcements and adverts, to catch attention. Your straw men arguments are not working

You don't put something on screen for 2 seconds at a time, rotating with 5 other banners if you want to draw attention to it.

You fix it, prominently, front and centre.

Andy From Sligo

Graham wrote: »

You don't put something on screen for 2 seconds at a time, rotating with 5 other banners if you want to draw attention to it.

You fix it, prominently, front and centre.

my sentiments exactly ....

mass_debater

Graham wrote: »

You don't put something on screen for 2 seconds at a time, rotating with 5 other banners if you want to draw attention to it.

You fix it, prominently, front and centre.

Ffs, it's clear as day, couldn't be clearer and it's more than 2 seconds. Click on the image it brings you to the page. Clutching at straws now

Aongus Von Bismarck

I've used the airport on a number of occasions over the past couple of years. Shannon is an easier trip for many of us who want to end up in Galway. It must suit those from Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon though.

The €10 fee is not an issue. It's a lovely little airport with regular flights. Mick O'Leary is very happy to land planes there. I've been happy to have landed there. And to have left from there. It's a lovely little success story. Surviving and expanding. Making it easier to do business in the area. Making it easier for people to head home. Or for tourists to visit. €10 is the cost of a box of fags or two pints of beer. I'd value the convenience. Some people want to complain about everything.

supersean1999

Agree with the last line above, 100%

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

mass_debater

Fred Swanson wrote: »

You could imagine the uproar if Dublin airport started demanding a €10 tax. It wouldn't last too long.

What, you think people would stop using it and drive to Cork or Shannon.

Andy From Sligo

would be better to do this way on their website and less transparent and upfront for everyone to see straight away:




.... or abolish the €10 fee and take the fee from somewhere else!

supersean1999

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

ok:rolleyes:

Graham

It's the completely underhand way it's implemented.

If the airport is so absolutely confident that passengers are prepared to pay an additional €10 'for the convenience' on top of the airfare then why not be up-front about it? Why have it in a rotating banner that displays the charge for 3 seconds and even then, only after a notification about Ryanair's bag policy and an advert for airport parking?

In any other circumstances, a hidden fees amounting to millions of Euro would have people out waving banners and staging sit-ins.

supersean1999

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

would be better to do this way on their website and less transparent and upfront for everyone to see straight away:

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x361/Andyr_45/iwak.jpg


.... or abolish the €10 fee and take the fee from somewhere else!

A week after your thread started we get the point, now where is the unfollow button

Andy From Sligo

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

... €10 is the cost of a box of fags or two pints of beer. I'd value the convenience. Some people want to complain about everything.

its not just about the fee its about:

*There is a problem (for one reason or another) the people who get to the gate and havent heard of this fee or havent noticed it on the website or when booking!

*People who get to the gate who havent got a tenner on them or who have spent all their euros or who want to spend their last ten euro in the departure lounge shops

*why can not a 'professional' outfit like this airport secure this development/airport running fee from other sources instead of asking it from the public/travellers at the last minute like this?

ABajaninCork

Departure tax is common throughout the West Indies and the airport will only takes cash. What really gets up my pipe is the fact the tax has to be paid in $US. The cheeky gits won't take the local $'s...

Never heard of it here though...

Graham

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Departure tax is common throughout the West Indies and the airport will only takes cash. What really gets up my pipe is the fact the tax has to be paid in $US. The cheeky gits won't take the local $'s...

Never heard of it here though...

It's not a tax that Knock Airport are charging, it's an additional tenner 'fee'.

ABajaninCork

Graham wrote: »

It's not a tax that Knock Airport are charging, it's an additional tenner 'fee'.

Same meat - different gravy. It's paid on departure is it not?

jjbrien

I flew out of there last year my wife and i had to pay the tenner each, which annoyed us. Also the parking was a total rip off in the end it would have worked out cheaper for us to use Dublin. After the parking and airport fee. Is a nice little airport though. If i needed to fly in there and have someone pick me up Id have no issues using it.

cgill

This is a topic that has been discussed to death. Some of the posts on this are ridiculous and misinformed. The haters of the charge are never going to change their view so there is no reason to keep arguing about it. The airport are not acting illegally, Ryanair is the root of all these problems and Knock need this fee to stay open day to day.
Dont like it? Go to Dublin or Shannon thats exactly what you would have to do if there was no fee!!! The statement that there is no evidence of any development is just wrong. Obviously it has been said by someone with no knowlege of the industry and doesnt understand what ILS or RESA upgrades are to mention a few.

Graham

The sad thing is I really can't see this ending well for the airport.

At some point airlines that are not clearly communicating the 'airport development fee' will face a legal challenge to force compliance with legislation. When this happens traffic will drop hurting both the airlines and ultimately the airport itself.

How much traffic will the airport loose when this happens? I hope they have one hell of a contingency plan.

I hope the future of the airport doesn't rest on the continued obfuscation of the real cost to passengers.

cgill

Graham wrote: »

At some point airlines that are not clearly communicating the 'airport development fee' will face a legal challenge to force compliance with legislation.

I hope the future of the airport doesn't rest on the continued obfuscation of the real cost to passengers.

If it was breaching regulations do you not think that this would have been addressed by now?! If it is in fact illegal (I'm no lawyer) and has been overlooked by authorities then there may be disastrous consequences but I certainly hope that day never comes. In an economic recession, Knock has had a continuous rise in passenger numbers and I hope this continues for the future. The fee is necessary for the airport to continue to be a major asset for the western region and I am sure that the majority of its users have no hesitation paying it. It's €10 is it really going to break the bank? Undesirable as it may be it's the price to pay for convenience and a stress free journey.

bertie 56

The point of view of one former worker there :

" The truth about galway airport.


The staff at galway airport have worked very hard over the last number of years to further the business, look after its customers and build themselves a future. Along with a small group of other employees of the airport, we wanted to clarify a few things and set the record straight.
We believe the airport has been mismanaged terribly over the last number of years. We have heard the Minister for Transport say that the airport is running with a huge cost base, this is true. The top four managers, who consist of the "senior management team" run up a wages bill in excess of half a million euro. This doesnt include company cars, credit cards, gym memberships, health insurance, unlimited phone bills and big expense accounts. This perhaps wouldn't be too bad if any significant milestones had been achieved in the last few years, but instead all that has happened has been a litany of disasters. A navigation device for aircraft which cost a quarter of a million euro called an NDB which has never been switched on! An emergency water supply which cost tens of thousands of euro, also never used and not installed correctly, massive lights on the aircraft parking areas bought, installed and never used, costing an absolute fortune.
They have sat back and watched while airlines pulled out and destinations were dropped. The airport went from having 16 busy routes over 3 airlines, to having no routes and no airline, only empty promises of return, that not even the airlines own employees believe. From processing over 300,000 passengers a year, to processing 0! And the airport management and board of management have sat back and watched it all happen, nothing done about it, nothing changed. Managers kept in their positions because of pride, the unwillingness to admit that the dream team wasnt working.

Staff positions and promotions were never done fairly and always carried out in secret, with little regard to qualifications or suitability or even age or life experience. As it was put recently, the airport has only served as a breeding ground for management and their offspring, with nepotism, absenteeism and office romance dictating the direction the airport was taken. "

The full post is here :
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=75586199&postcount=190

Andy From Sligo

if it was good airport run at Business level then should it not run without the 10euro development fee? - should not this airport be self sufficient even without the development fee - if an airport needs this extra revenue at departure gate level to 'survive' then there is something drastically wrong with the running of it in my eyes....

veryangryman

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

if it was good airport run at Business level then should it not run without the 10euro development fee? - should not this airport be self sufficient even without the development fee - if an airport needs this extra revenue at departure gate level to 'survive' then there is something drastically wrong with the running of it in my eyes....

In one of the lowest populated regions of the country, it is surviving very, very well. Outshining Airports that are much closer to cities (Galway. Sligo, even Waterford).

Yes the tenner is a bit annoying. But again, its a great facility for the people of Connacht. If they could drop an airport in the midlands (and charge me a tenner extra for flying out), I would use it in preference to Dublin too.