how much do you really hate Ryan Air?

Mad Finn · 09-10-2006 05:48PM #1

Here's a put up or shut up question. Name the last five flights you took in or out of Ireland THAT YOU PAID FOR YOURSELF, and name the airline you flew with.

Does not include 'corporate' flights that your company or somebody else paid for. It's easy to go business class when somebody else is paying the tab.

Last five flights that were paid from your own pocket: where to and who with?

That should give some indication of how competitive the market really is. And how broad the choice is.

In my case

From..........To..............With
Dublin.........Milan (ret)...Aer Lingus
Kerry..........Dublin.........Aer Arann
Biarritz........Dublin.........Ryanair
Dublin.........Beauvais.....Ryanair
Dublin.........Luton (ret)..Ryanair

In the case of Kerry Dublin and Biarritz Dublin you have no choice. You have to go with the carriers mentioned. In the case of Milan you have the option to fly to Bergamo with Ryanair but the difference in cost is minimal and Aer Lingus offered better timing for my purposes.

Dublin Beauvais cost about a euro a head. No brainer. We had the time, we saved the money.

Dublin Luton. End destination was St Albans. Luton was nearest airport. No brainer.

murphaph · 09-10-2006 06:44PM

Manchester : Ryanair
Warsaw : Aer Lingus
Prestwick : Ryanair
Glasgow : Aer Lingus
Cologne : Germanwings

mmmmmm, could have sworn I'd used Ryanair more than that! Pretty even spread. The last flight to MAN was 99c plus taxes and that was booked just 4 days before travel. Ryanair are grand so long as you just follow the instructions, heck, the pretty check in girl even let me off the extra charge for checking a bag the last time I flew with Ryanair.

kippy · 09-10-2006 06:58PM

London - Ryanair
Edinburgh - Ryanair
Madrid - Aer Lingus
Barcelona - Aer Lingus
Charlois - Ryan air.
All flights were less than 120 return-london/edinburgh substantially less.

I think the two Spainish flights were with Iberia one way (I think they are Aerlingus partners)

Were RyanAir to buy Aerlingus it would be pretty obvious who most of this company would be flying with-indeed, I think were you to look at passanger numbers for Ryanair in most EU countries you would probably see them as being very high.
I dont think this is a problem so long as the prices remain relatively cheap.
Kippy

Red Alert · 09-10-2006 07:18PM

People who hate ryanair are those who are disorganised.

Alun · 09-10-2006 07:23PM

Red Alert wrote:

People who hate ryanair are those who are disorganised.

??????

A Dub in Glasgo · 09-10-2006 08:30PM

Glasgow - Dublin Aer Lingus
Glasgow - Dublin Aer Lingus
Prestwick - Dublin Ryanair
Glasgow - Dublin Aer Lingus

Going to Dublin on Friday night with Aer Lingus with my wife and 2 kids for £37 return each. Aer Lingus was much cheaper than Ryanair for that flight as they had a 3 day sale.

GerardKeating · 09-10-2006 08:30PM

a Dozen Dublin-London flights, two Dublin-Birmingham flights and Dublin-Dusseldorf & Dublin-Munich Flights in the past two years

One of the Brum flights was RyanAir, all the rest were Aer Lingus.

Ryanair were not an option for the Munich trip. RyanAir and Aer Lingus were competitive with each other for most of the other trips but i went with AL most of the time.

Lennoxschips · 09-10-2006 09:53PM

Dublin - Amsterdam, one-way (Aer Lingus)
Amsterdam - Cork, return (Aer Lingus)
Amsterdam - Cork, return (Aer Lingus)
Amsterdam - Cork, return (Aer Lingus)
Amsterdam - Newcastle, return (KLM)

markf909 · 09-10-2006 09:56PM

Gatwick - Ryanair
Toulouse via LGW - Easyjet / Ryanair
NY - Aer Lingus
Edinburgh - Ryanair
LA - Aer Lingus

I have been moving towards flying with Ryanair a lot since I stopped getting flights on expenses

therecklessone · 09-10-2006 10:20PM

Last 5 (all return trips):

1. Dublin - Manchester (RYR out, AL in)
2. Dublin - London Stansted (RYR)
3. Dublin - Manchester (RYR)
4. Dublin - London Stansted (RYR)
5. Dublin - London Heathrow (BMI)

Price was main consideration for 1 and 3. Destination was only consideration for 2 and 4. Time of return flight was main consideration for 5.

I've approx. 25 more flights to take before the end of the year, roughly 50% are with Ryanair. Got some great deals in their €10 seat sale recently,but I'd have probably booked with them anyway cos they're the only airline serving Stansted, and thats the nearest airport to where I want to get.

Nuttzz · 09-10-2006 10:57PM

Dub - Liverpool - Ryanair
Dub - London - Ryanair
Dub - Manchester - Ryanair
Dub - budapest - Malev
Dub - Stanstead - Ryanair

Our man in Havana · 10-10-2006 05:40AM

Waterford-Luton Aer Arann (no choice)
Dub- Prague Aer Lingus
Dub - LAX Aer Lingus
Dub - BRS Aer Lingus
SNN - IAD via LHR British Airways

Not a ryanair among them!

Ruu_Old · 10-10-2006 05:49AM

Starting with the latest ones first:

Dub->Chicago-Aer Lingus (One Way)
Dub->London City-Cityjet (Air France) City airport ftw! Paid a bit extra but worth it.

Dub->Heathrow-BMI
Dub->Frankfurt-Ryanair
Dub->Liverpool-Ryanair.

I thought I used Ryanair a bit more than that.

JaysusMacfeck · 10-10-2006 05:57AM

Dub - Barcelona - Aer Lingus
Dub - Eindhoven - Ryanair
Dub - Murcia (Spain) VIA Glasgow - Ryanair
Dub - Barcelona - Aer Lingus
Dub - Edinburgh - Ryanair

Much of a muchness.

Traffic · 10-10-2006 09:42AM

Dublin - Manchester Ryanair
Dublin - New York Aer Lingus
Dublin - Manchester Aer Lingus
Dublin - Luton Ryanair
Dublin - Berlin Aer Lingus

Ive never had any problem with Ryanair

El Stuntman · 10-10-2006 12:20PM

the thread title seems wierd? what's 'hating Ryanair' got to do with your question?

David McWilliams has a good article on Ryanair right now and asks some good questions

mickoneill30 · 10-10-2006 12:37PM

Dublin - Boston - Aer Lingus
Dublin - Frankfurt - Aer Lingus
Dublin - Manchester - Ryanair

No problems with Ryanair. The automated check in on the AL to Boston was brilliant though. I was checked in and had gotten rid of my bags 5 mins after walking into the airport. Ryanair is fine but I prefer to get a seat number though when I get on a plane. I just like sitting in the boarding area and waiting for my block of seats to be called out. It's too much like a free for all when you don't have a seat number. Too many idiots all trying to get on at the same time. Are they afraid it's going to go without them? Do Ryanair save money by not giving you a seat number? Does it save ink or something?

therecklessone · 10-10-2006 02:38PM

mickoneill30 wrote:

Do Ryanair save money by not giving you a seat number? Does it save ink or something?

Speeds up boarding according to them.

BendiBus · 10-10-2006 02:54PM

Dublin-Gatwick 5xReturns with Ryanair.

No problems. Flights as cheap as just €25, max < €60 (incl taxes charges etc.)

seamus · 10-10-2006 03:03PM

1. Dublin - London (Return) - Aer Lingus €115.89
2. Dublin - London (Return) - Aer Lingus €95.89
3. Dublin - London (Return) - Aer Lingus €185.69 (booked ten days before the flight)
4. Dublin - Malaga (Return) - Aer Lingus €368.64
5. Dublin - London (Return) - Aer Lingus €193.42 (booked five days before the flight)

Each time I checked Ryanair and they were either as expensive, or worked out more expensive when extra travelling costs were taken into account.

divot · 10-10-2006 03:15PM

Ok - I'm counting back from Christmas 2006 as I've a couple personal ones booked... these are all departing Dublin...

1. Edinburgh, Aer Lingus
2. Edinburgh, Aer Lingus
3. Glasgow, Aer Lingus
4. Liverpool, Ryanair
5. Greece, charter/package

Liverpool was Ryanair because Aer Lingus dropped it as a route from Dublin. I would have paid a reasonable premium to fly Aer Lingus if it'd been possible, and even looked into the possibility of going DUB-Manchester on Aer Lingus and getting the train to Liverpool.

Ryanair used to be reasonable, on-time mostly, and not too uncomfortable. Now they are a living h*ll to fly with, charge you for checking in one bag (! - take note Aer Lingus!) - most evening/night flights run late, and they allegedly give pilots financial incentives to cut corners, leading me to feel there is a disaster-inviting culture of corner cutting in operation.

I'm not fond of them and avoid them at all costs now, both when work is footing the bill, and when I am.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 10-10-2006 03:37PM

Hamburg-Lubeck - Ryanair
Birmingham - BMI Baby
Berlin - Aer Lingus
Copenhagen - SAS
India - Bmi/Qatar airways

Tend to go with the one flying closest to a lunchtime take off even if it means a little extra. Only Ryanair flight was because it was with girlfriend and three kids and economy took over.

Mad Finn · 10-10-2006 04:57PM

El Stuntman wrote:

the thread title seems wierd? what's 'hating Ryanair' got to do with your question?

A lot of people whinge about Ryanair. I was wondering how many grumbled about them but nevertheless found their prices just too tempting to ignore.

I am pleasantly surprised by the breadth of answers. I thought more people would have flown Ryanair a greater proportion of the time. Instead people seem to be examining their options and picking the flight that suits them best, taking into account factors such as overall cost (incl getting to and from airports) time of departure, distance from final destination etc etc.

It would seem from this, admittedly small sample, that people do not have a dogmatic anti-Ryanair stance ("they're nasty to people in wheelchairs, I'll never fly them again") nor do they have a petulantly pro Ryanair ("Mick O'Leary's great. He's responsible for cheap flights and I love the way he kicks the unions") outlook.

Instead, they avail of the many attractive alternatives that are available now in a highly competitive market in which, let's not forget, both airlines currently participate profitably. Competition is broadening choice and benefitting the travelling punter, ie us. O'Leary was dead right about that.

Now he wants to change his tune and expect us all to follow it. No way Micko. Let's keep the competition on the air ways out of Ireland. You're doing well out of it. So is Aer Lingus and so are we.

Mad Finn · 10-10-2006 05:28PM

El Stuntman wrote:

David McWilliams has a good article on Ryanair right now and asks some good questions

Apart from his annoying habit of coining irritating epithets (Low-GI Jane, Kells Angels and the one he will never be forgiven for: the Celtic Tiger) I usually have a lot of time for McWilliams. But this article is rubbish. It's based on premises that are just plain false.

eg

"O'Leary is an outsider". Horse Dung!!! O'Leary is very well connected with his posh school background and his close personal friendships with the likes of Charlie McCreevy and Mary Harney.

'O'Leary is a straight talker' Yeah right! There's a subtle difference between 'obnoxious' and 'straight'. If he stuck to his guns on the principle that 'competition is good for customers' he might be entitled to the 'straight-talking' label. But having lambasted cosy monopolies for years he now wants to become one. "It's different when it's me" he seems to be saying.

O'Leary is a business man. He does what is best for HIS business. It is only incidental that occasionally that coincides with what is best for his customers. His first loyalty is to his shareholders.He would have no obligation, compunction or even desire to keep a separate Aer Lingus offering an alternative to Ryanair on short haul routes. Instead, it would be a major asset stripping job.

"Ryanair is the only game in town" Er no. not at all. There are plenty of other airlines for whom Aer Lingus could offer complementary rather than competitive options. It's not beyond the bounds of possibilty that a European airline might be attracted by Ireland's relatively uncluttered air space, to concentrate transAtlantic 'hub' activities here, freeing them up to compete more effectively on short-haul in Central Europe.

There is of course a dispute over the shape of aviation in the future. Airbus is betting on the hub and spokes model with heavy traffic between high-density hubs and connecting flights between the hubs and outlying regions. Boeing says the future is point to point.

As congestion builds, the hub and spoke model will become 'the only game in town'. It will have to be.

cast_iron · 10-10-2006 05:48PM

I agree with Stuntman - in fairness, the thread title is a bit misleading.
People have't really shown how much they hate Ryanair - just how often they fly with them.

Mad Finn · 10-10-2006 06:42PM

cast_iron wrote:

I agree with Stuntman - in fairness, the thread title is a bit misleading.
People have't really shown how much they hate Ryanair - just how often they fly with them.

Well. OK. But did the first post not explain what it was all about?

I think the posts in general show that people are sophisticated shoppers.They fly Aer Lingus when it makes sense to do so and Ryanair when it makes sense to do so.

looksee · 10-10-2006 07:23PM

Only travelled once with Ryanair - Dublin Birmingham (I think). They abandoned about 15 or 20 people, didn't call the flight, no-one to ask, just put us on the next flight no comment or apology. Obviously wasn't worth their while flying with small number. Had to get accommodation in Dublin as all transport down-country had finished, cheap flight ha! (Though in fact it wasn't a cheap flight). Hail Aer Arran and Waterford Airport.

Lennoxschips · 10-10-2006 07:33PM

i flew with ryanair once, in 2001, for 50 cents, but have boycotted them since all the revelations about their bad business practices came out.

A Dub in Glasgo · 10-10-2006 10:09PM

I have flown with Ryanair since 1991, back then they were a clear winner between Britain & Ireland. Now, I am finding Aer Lingus comparable when you take into account checked in baggage and fees per person for credit card payment.

cast_iron · 10-10-2006 10:30PM

Mad Finn wrote:

I think the posts in general show that people are sophisticated shoppers.They fly Aer Lingus when it makes sense to do so and Ryanair when it makes sense to do so.

It's the same with all these "surveys". Never really accurate.
You have to look at the people who responded. Most appear to fly quite alot - it's kinda why they responded.
People who fly - but not very often - didn't really respond. There are quite alot of these people out there.
Also, people who use boards would be alot more computer literate than the average flyer, and therefore more able to chase prices on 20 different webites and the like.

Couple these facts with the fact that it has had so few respondants, and i would render it a rather useles poll.

jahalpin · 10-10-2006 10:44PM

The five flights i've been on were (all return);

Dublin - Las Palmas (Via MAN) (Aerlingus \ ThompsonFly)
Dublin - East Midlands (Ryanair)
Dublin - London Heathrow (Aer Lingus)
Dublin - London Heathrow (Aer Lingus)
LHR - CDG (British Airways)

Overall the best airline i've ever flown on has been Virgin Atlantic. Ryanair are OK but their customer service leaves a lot to be desired!!

Ryanair are also by far the most expensive when you book late, when I was going to Manchester to get my flight to Las Palmas, Ryanair were looking for €199 each way plus taxes and charges, whereas Aer Lingus was only €150 all in ( Booked around 12 hours before flight)

how much do you really hate Ryan Air?

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