Changes to Ryanair! Good news!

Mince Pie · 25-10-2013 12:22PM #1

I have to say I'm thrilled with the changes! Finally able to bring a handbag on and no more being harrassed to buy scratchcards!

http://www.thejournal.ie/ryanair-baggage-fees-quiet-flights-1146808-Oct2013/

Love 'em or hate 'em its good news. Maybe O'Leary ain't so bad after all?

anncoates · 25-10-2013 12:28PM

The picture of Michael in that article certainly cuts a most sombre and business-like dash and adds a pleasing touch of sincerity and gravitas to the proposed improvements.

tmc86 · 25-10-2013 12:31PM

It only took them this long to attempt to rebuild their image. better late than never I suppose!

SEPT 23 1989 · 25-10-2013 12:32PM

Not a fan of the new Michael O' Leary at all

razorblunt · 25-10-2013 12:32PM

They're on the charm offensive now, his Twitter Q&A had some gems.
It's one thing to offer low cost but when you get feedback that your company is the most hated one then it's time to change.

Edinburgh airport ran a campaign recently to ensure 1 bag of goods bought in the airside shops was nto included in the hand luggage count, every airline agreed except for Ryanair. EDI Airport's poster campaign the listed all the company logos. 2 months later they humbly followed suit.

They might finally be seeing sense.

25-10-2013 12:32PM

"The airline is also getting rid of the much-hated Recaptcha security feature on its website in which customers were required to type two words which were often difficult to distinguish into a text box ."

Are they really that much of an annoyance? I mean, they serve a purpose.

tmc86 wrote: »

It only took them this long to attempt to rebuild their image. better late than never I suppose!

As if their old image was doing them any harm ...!

Ryanair carried almost 80 million international passengers last year, nearly 30 million more than any other airline.

Source: The Telegraph.

Mince Pie · 25-10-2013 12:33PM

Deleted User wrote: »

"The airline is also getting rid of the much-hated Recaptcha security feature on its website in which customers were required to type two words which were often difficult to distinguish into a text box ."

Are they really that much of an annoyance? I mean, they serve a purpose.

Its certainly not as annoying as Ticketmasters. Its like trying to crack the enigma code on that site.

TheIrishGrover · 25-10-2013 12:35PM

Deleted User wrote: »

"The airline is also getting rid of the much-hated Recaptcha security feature on its website in which customers were required to type two words which were often difficult to distinguish into a text box ."

Are they really that much of an annoyance? I mean, they serve a purpose.

Read something about this a few weeks ago.They're going to have to include SOME security measures

Actually, I suppose captcha is normally used to stop bots. I presume they'll have standard security measures when using CCs etc

si makhlouf · 25-10-2013 12:36PM

When will they start implementing these changes?

25-10-2013 12:36PM

I wonder should Michael see a doctor?

25-10-2013 12:40PM

ReCaptchas and Captchas are important to pretty much everything online, especially any sort of ticket seller. They insure that you're a human and not a bot, which would be programmed to buy up all the tickets. But, with regards to ReCaptchas, they serve an even bigger purpose; you're helping to digitize books.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8_yaIYkNxQ

flanzer · 25-10-2013 12:46PM

All good I suppose, but the Quiet Flight thing is a laugh. Has anyone ever slept on their non-reclining church pew like seats? And if you have, have you ever woken up refreshed without pain in your back/neck

I don't know whether to sleep with my head on the 'bench' in front, or my head up straight

RikkFlair · 25-10-2013 12:52PM

anncoates wrote: »

The picture of Michael in that article certainly cuts a most sombre and business-like dash and adds a pleasing touch of sincerity and gravitas to the proposed improvements.

"Look at me! I'm mad so I am!"

Blured · 25-10-2013 01:06PM

Deleted User wrote: »

ReCaptchas and Captchas are important to pretty much everything online, especially any sort of ticket seller. They insure that you're a human and not a bot, which would be programmed to buy up all the tickets. But, with regards to ReCaptchas, they serve an even bigger purpose; you're helping to digitize books.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8_yaIYkNxQ

Just on this, for the last few months Ryanair have been using adds and not ReCaptchas and Captchas. They would make you watch a Mr Sheen ad and then reveal the phrase you need to write at the end e.g. Mr Sheen cleans the best blah blah.

It was really annoying, especially when pricing flights out of several airports over a few months

vitani · 25-10-2013 01:06PM

I was reading that going 'great, that's amazing, that's good news' when I realised I was getting excited because they were doing things that practically every other airline does already. Great PR for them though.

Mince Pie · 25-10-2013 01:08PM

I have always found that I only needed to log the captcha once and just hit new search when looking for different flights and dates.
I travel to the UK a lot and there are two airports that I use so always look to find the best price and times to suit.

Seaneh · 25-10-2013 01:09PM

Only thing that makes a difference for me is the quiet flights.

Because I read the damned rules and do what I'm meant to before arriving at the airport so never have to pay extra.

I guess the €30 extra baggage feel at the desk is handy too, only a little more than booking a bag on the site so gives me the ability to change my mind last minute and bring an checked bag without being charged too much extra.

Fighting Irish · 25-10-2013 01:09PM

Mince Pie wrote: »

I have to say I'm thrilled with the changes! Finally able to bring a handbag on and no more being harrassed to buy scratchcards!

http://www.thejournal.ie/ryanair-baggage-fees-quiet-flights-1146808-Oct2013/

Love 'em or hate 'em its good news. Maybe O'Leary ain't so bad after all?

lol, watch the prices go up

pickarooney · 25-10-2013 03:32PM

Deleted User wrote: »

ReCaptchas and Captchas are important to pretty much everything online, especially any sort of ticket seller. They insure that you're a human and not a bot, which would be programmed to buy up all the tickets. But, with regards to ReCaptchas, they serve an even bigger purpose; you're helping to digitize books.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8_yaIYkNxQ

Someone programs a bot to buy up all the tickets on a flight - Win for Ryanair
Someone then re-sells the tickets and pays €100 for the name change - Win for Ryanair

What's the downside exactly?

Dartz · 25-10-2013 03:44PM

You know how you know Ryanair take safety seriously?

They don't charge extra to bring a parachute onboard.

Lemlin · 25-10-2013 03:50PM

I don't think they're doing that much to mend their reputation.

I sent them a complaint by letter (as they had no email back then) on September 8. I have yet to receive a reply.

I also emailed the complaint to them when their new email facility was setup but I just received a response saying they hadn't received my letter and could I post it again.

I had already attached the letter to emails to them 3 times. They seem happy to ignore that now that they've asked me to post it by snail mail again.

Going on two months now and still no response.

25-10-2013 04:00PM

Those sound like pretty good changes
I might even consider flying with them again

howtomake · 25-10-2013 04:06PM

Fighting Irish wrote: »

lol, watch the prices go up

My thoughts exactly, although my first thought was to make sure this it wasn't April's fools day.

So Ryanair will stop paying Solve Media, for their captcha services. Meh, not exactly doing us a favour, more themselves.

murpho999 · 25-10-2013 04:14PM

Delighted with the captcha thing. Bloody nuisance.

Actually turned me off using the site, putting that in that time.

Also, I know a person who has to book lot of flights for her company and it drove her demented.
I think it may have actually cost Ryanair revenue.

Good to see the other steps too, espeically the silent flights, hope they don't turn the engines off though!

Dman001 · 25-10-2013 04:20PM

I don't know why so many people get so wound up over Ryanair's policies. Think of them like a taxi service - a no-frills method from getting you from A-to-B, cheaply at that. Obey a few of their "rules" (which aren't that big of a deal anyway, and usually save yourself a lot of effort too) and you won't hit unnecessary fees. Want anything more? Fly with Aer Lingus or someone else. Flying is a bit of a nuisance as it is, why would I want it to be an expensive nuisance at that?

Fair play to them though for caving and bringing in a few changes. I do believe, however, that offering friendly customer service doesn't cost a company anything. From some of the stories I've heard from people dealing with Ryanair, they should be aiming to train their staff in being more courteous and helpful.

oppenheimer1 · 25-10-2013 04:56PM

pickarooney wrote: »

Someone programs a bot to buy up all the tickets on a flight - Win for Ryanair
Someone then re-sells the tickets and pays €100 for the name change - Win for Ryanair

What's the downside exactly?

Its not the bots buying tickets that they don't want. They don't want screen scraper programs using the site. What they want is that if someone wants a ryanair flight that they go to their own website not a third party. The original idea was that their cheap flights brand was so strong that people would always go their first. Keeping live flight prices off price comparison sites. Its why if you go to skyscanner and see a ryanair flight, the price is rarely live but from the last time one of the skyscanner team checked the price.

The only reason that Ryanair are trying to soften their image now is because the hard nose image they portray is hurting their bottom line. They've worked out that if they get rid of some annoyances they'll increase their passenger load. Total in flight sales might be about €200 per flight. If they increase passenger numbers by 4 per flight, the measure will pay for itself, if the measure reduced sales completely.

I've been on Ryanair flights many times, and have never a bad experience - I play by the rules. However I am still reluctant to fly with them and they are generally the last option for me, for the reason that their charges are punitive when things go wrong - and sometimes they do. The announcements are annoying, particularly on an early or very late flight. They need to fix the queueing system though - but my fellow passengers are more to blame for that tbh.

When things go according to plan, they were fine to fly with, they were essentially a coach service with wings. When they don't do, they are a nightmare to deal with - if they improve that they might go up in my airline list.

John T Carroll · 23-11-2013 02:57PM

si makhlouf wrote: »

When will they start implementing these changes?

Just printed Boarding Pass for Nov.30th to Tenerife......no change as yet, guess I'll have to leave my handbag at home!....see extract from some paper or other below.
"From 1 Dec, Ryanair will allow passengers to bring a second small carry-on bag (e.g. small handbag or airport shopping bag, no bigger than 35 x 20 x 20 cms) on board. The move is designed to allow a bottle of wine or equivalent to be carried… though there’s no mention of laptops."

hfallada · 23-11-2013 03:02PM

Ryanair has completely changed the way we fly. It brought affordable airline tickets to everyone and made other airlines make their fares more affordable. Whether you choose to fly with Ryanair or not. They are the reason why an Aer Lingus airline ticket is now affordable

Grayson · 23-11-2013 03:04PM

I do hope that the allowance for a handbag also covers duty free bags. It used to annoy me so much that I couldn't carry on 200 cigarettes unless they were in my carry on bag.

Boombastic · 23-11-2013 03:07PM

What's the betting people still won't be able to follow the rules...I don't like the new rules, they'll allow idiots to get on the plane, although it'll still be better that the sour faced pusses that aer lingus crew seem to have perfected

nibtrix · 23-11-2013 03:12PM

John T Carroll wrote: »

Just printed Boarding Pass for Nov.30th to Tenerife......no change as yet, guess I'll have to leave my handbag at home!....see extract from some paper or other below.
"From 1 Dec, Ryanair will allow passengers to bring a second small carry-on bag (e.g. small handbag or airport shopping bag, no bigger than 35 x 20 x 20 cms) on board. The move is designed to allow a bottle of wine or equivalent to be carried… though there’s no mention of laptops."

Yeah but you can happily buy duty free on the way home and not have to jam it into your carry on bag.

Changes to Ryanair! Good news!

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