Ryanair....we're nice now.

Piliger · 14-04-2014 09:39PM

thisonetaken wrote: »

I booked a return ticket for 2 adults from Dublin to Nice for the grand total of 180 euro with Ryanair. They are unbelievable. The same flight with Aer Lingus was going to be more than double that. Its so incredible in this day and age to have a fantastic service for such a low price. I can't believe O'Leary is listening to a tiny minority of idiots who expect to pay such prices and yet receive a 5 star service including lie flat bed, champagne on take off, endless amounts of backage so they can take the kitchen sink with them, free newspaper etc. These people deserve to be laughed at and mocked. If Ryanair start rising prices because of changes caused by these idiots then I will no longer fly with them, I'll choose whatever other low cost airliner flies from here.

It's not going to happen. The whingers don't count for anything in Ryanair's p;ans. I think O'Leary is just sidestepping as a marketing tactic to wrong foot the opposition. It's very very smart. A few bits of tinkering here and there and then it's back to the usual great service. When we fly Ryanair, flights are full of people absolutely delighted to be flying so cheap, and often flying to places they could never ever have afforded to visit before. The tiny minority who are so loud about not being able to weight their bags in advance don't make a mark on the business richter scale.

MadYaker · 14-04-2014 10:26PM

I stand by what I've always said about Ryanair. If you aren't a moron and you read the rules you'll be grand. If they want to be nicer thats fine by me but I've never had any problems.

Amirani · 15-04-2014 12:16AM

markpb wrote: »

What evidence is there that it was costing them? Actual evidence, not pointless online whinging. In 2013, their operating revenue was 13%, net profit was up 2%, earnings per share were up 16%, passengers up 5% and they became the largest carrier in Europe at 8m per month. They returned €2bn to their shareholders and grew their fleet a little more. The only major safety related incident that they experienced (the pan pan incident at Madrid) was quashed by an IAA investigation.

I'd say they're doing okay.

They had lost some market share in the UK & Ireland in recent years. Obviously base and route growth in mainland Europe has been impressive, but they needed to do something about their largest market.

cournioni · 15-04-2014 12:43AM

For all of the Ryanair bashers, next time you get on an Aerlingus flight, see if it arrives anywhere close to the time on the ticket. Then compare with Ryanair.

I think you'll find that Ryanair are far superior in this and many other aspects.

Brendan Flowers · 15-04-2014 10:38AM

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

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

Yes, because Aer Lingus would be flying at those rates if Ryanair didnt exist. :rolleyes:

Some people love to bash Ryanair and yet these same people will completely ignore all that Ryanair and O'Leary have done to to improve air travel.

cruais · 15-04-2014 11:15AM

cournioni wrote: »

For all of the Ryanair bashers, next time you get on an Aerlingus flight, see if it arrives anywhere close to the time on the ticket. Then compare with Ryanair.

I think you'll find that Ryanair are far superior in this and many other aspects.

Ryanair always schedule a longer flight time than the actual flight time to cater for any delays. If no delays occur, they look fantastic then for arriving 40 mins early.

branie · 15-04-2014 12:01PM

Brendan Flowers wrote: »

Yes, because Aer Lingus would be flying at those rates if Ryanair didnt exist. :rolleyes:

Some people love to bash Ryanair and yet these same people will completely ignore all that Ryanair and O'Leary have done to to improve air travel.

People "bashed" Ryanair, as the airline was treating passengers badly.

The One Doctor · 15-04-2014 12:05PM

I had the chance to run him over a year ago as he was crossing the road. I wouldn't have done it as he's a goddamn hero.

gugleguy · 15-04-2014 12:09PM

Ryanair are to be regarded as 'nice' now because they have a new add about FREE extra something or other on Dublin Bus.

That's my AH comment.

Cienciano · 15-04-2014 12:13PM

cruais wrote: »

Ryanair always schedule a longer flight time than the actual flight time to cater for any delays. If no delays occur, they look fantastic then for arriving 40 mins early.

No. Ryanair can't make up flight times then pretend they're always on time. Stuff like that is regulated by EASA.

OldNotWIse · 15-04-2014 12:17PM

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

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.

It wont stop idiots jumping up and queueing as soon as the gates open...and then standing there unmoving for half an hour. Or the kn*bs in Juicy Couture tracksuits with their "priority boarding" complexes

brevity · 15-04-2014 12:26PM

I don't think anyone is begrudging Michael O'Leary any of his success just that times they have flown with Ryanair haven't been ideal.

I haven't flown with RyanAir in ages so if they are improving their service and the whole experience then that's pretty good for the customer. But at the end of the day, if the price is right, people will put up with not being treated with kid gloves.

I definitely do not want RyanAir to buy AerLingus though. They will very quickly change their tune if there is only one carrier in the country.

SEPT 23 1989 · 15-04-2014 12:31PM

One of Ireland's greatest ever business success stories

some people in this country don't seem to want to acknowledged that fact

Yamanoto · 15-04-2014 12:33PM

Cienciano wrote: »

No. Ryanair can't make up flight times then pretend they're always on time. Stuff like that is regulated by EASA.

In practise, many airlines routinely buffer their schedules as a means of placating passengers & making themselves look good. Ryanair are by no means the only ones to engage is such shenanigans, but they do it nonetheless.

Merkin · 15-04-2014 12:49PM

I've never had any kind of run-in with them because it's a simple case of following their very clearly set out rules and guidelines. Don't overstuff your luggage. Don't have four pieces of luggage and then bitch and moan because you're told this isn't allowed. Don't turn up without your boarding card or ID etc etc. Pretty simple really.

I've flown with them twice since the allocated seating rule etc and it marks a big improvement. You've still got the knackers poll-vaulting themselves into a queue to get on the plane first (even though you're now assigned your seat :rolleyes:) but I've always found them to be on time and get you there at a usually very reasonable price. Aer Lingus increasingly are subject to delays while I find Ryanair have always been pretty punctual.

Who gives a fig if O'Leary's new lovey-dovey initiative is disingenuous? I admire the man for making airline travel accessible to the masses and Ryanair does what it says on the tin.

zweton · 15-04-2014 12:51PM

its a pain that you can only book up to 6 months, has this always been the way?

cython · 15-04-2014 01:39PM

zweton wrote: »

its a pain that you can only book up to 6 months, has this always been the way?

Ryanair.com begs to differ, since I was just offered to book a flight in December.......

- bo - · 15-04-2014 01:43PM

I LOVE Ryanair. Half of my family live in France. I remember when I was a kid and a family of 4 of us wanted to visit. We could go once every 2-3 years. It cost a couple of hundred quid per person, with two flights (and a minimum 4 hour stopover in Paris). About 7 hours from leaving Dublin, you'd finally touch down and start your holiday.

I'm here at the moment. Two airports within an hour that Ryanair fly into. Paid €65 return. Flew here less than 5 months ago to the other airport. €47 return. Maximum 1hr 20mins' flight. Yes please. Have also got return flights in the past couple of years to Prague (€125), Krakow (€95), London (€50) and Edinburgh (€30).

Had to pay a few bob a few years ago for slightly overweight baggage. Do I hate Ryanair because of it? Nope. My fault. Haven't done it since. I have never ever had a problem with Ryanair, and I've used them a good bit. I actually enjoy reading a lot of people's rants about them, most of them are gas..

sillyoulfool · 15-04-2014 08:23PM

Trust me having flown Lufthansa last week and having had to deal with their "we couldn't give a fúck about customer service" department, Ryanair are heavenly.

cournioni · 15-04-2014 09:24PM

cruais wrote: »

Ryanair always schedule a longer flight time than the actual flight time to cater for any delays. If no delays occur, they look fantastic then for arriving 40 mins early.

Absolute rubbish, in my experience, most Ryanair flights depart on time where as Aer Lingus, particularly coming towards the end of the day are lagging waaay behind.

jonnny68 · 15-04-2014 10:25PM

cournioni wrote: »

Absolute rubbish, in my experience, most Ryanair flights depart on time where as Aer Lingus, particularly coming towards the end of the day are lagging waaay behind.

It's not absolute rubbish whatsoever, what this person says is true , I know as I travel with FR regularly and they always vastly overestimate flight time and then have that cringeworthy on time jingle.

SamAK · 15-04-2014 11:11PM

No issues with RA at all. Although I've only flown with them perhaps five times in as many years.

A couple of things though - PLEASE change the cabin colour scheme..it's fcuking awful.

And PLEASE get rid of that 'Getaway Cafe' bullsh1t announcement. It's cringe-worthy. Oh, you serve hot-dogs, chips and a whole variety of hot and cold snacks?

No sh1t Sherlock. Sky is blue, grass is green.

As long as they get me to my destination with minimal delay and without falling out of the sky, I'm happy.

branie · 22-05-2014 04:55PM

They're getting rid of the "on time" jingle for good

Fred Swanson · 22-05-2014 04:57PM

This post has been deleted.

Reformed Character · 22-05-2014 04:59PM

branie wrote: »

They're getting rid of the "on time" jingle for good

Than fck for that.

Manic Moran · 23-05-2014 03:21AM

markpb wrote: »

What evidence is there that it was costing them? Actual evidence, not pointless online whinging. In 2013, their operating revenue was 13%, net profit was up 2%, earnings per share were up 16%, passengers up 5% and they became the largest carrier in Europe at 8m per month. They returned €2bn to their shareholders and grew their fleet a little more. The only major safety related incident that they experienced (the pan pan incident at Madrid) was quashed by an IAA investigation.

I'd say they're doing okay.

They're not doing badly. But one cannot say that they don't have a perception problem. A significant amount of the population who may be tempted to fly FR could well be inclined to avoid them if possible due to that perception. I'm one of them.

The closest thing we have to Ryanair in the US is SouthWest. They do not have a perception problem. In fact, they are one of the best rated airlines in the US, even though you'll never find an inflight movie, and nothing more nutritious than peanuts or pretzels is ever slung at you by the polo-shirt wearing cabin crew. Yet if you click one of those viral YouTube videos that go around every few months about "awesome flight attendant", you can safely bet money it's Southwest. I don't believe I've ever seen a Ryanair one. Their customer service overall is excellent. No arguments over trying to avoid checking bags by bringing large carry-on, there are no checked bag fees. Change fees? Nope. They are a perfect example as to how 'no-frills' need not automatically equate to 'no customer focus.' They attract so much volume of service with low price and a pleasant experience that they happily undercut the legacy full-service airlines in ticket price, and are raking in the dollars.

I think Ryanair's new policies, if correctly carried out, can even further propel it forward.

Applause · 23-05-2014 04:06AM

I love Ryanair, I had my first flight with them in August, it was an absolute breeze. I had never been on a plane before, never travelled alone and my travel was a dream. I followed the rules and got what I paid for, what more can you expect?

Both of the Ryanair flights I have been on were before the assigned seating was introduced, I will be flying with them again in August, I'm sure it will be a pleasant experience just like before.

Ryanair will be landing me in one of the main airports of the country, in the middle of the city, actually in walking distance of my friend's flat. I will never understand the people who say they fly you to the middle of nowhere because Ryanair is the ONLY airline with a direct flight from Ireland to this tourist hotspot in the middle of summer.

EyeSight · 23-05-2014 04:33AM

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I saw this on a twitter Q&A O'Leary did months back. Not sure if they released a statement since

I don't mind them. They're fine once you follow the rules. BUT if there's some reason your flight needs to be canceled (e.g. Ash cloud) they can be brutal!

Merkin · 23-05-2014 06:02AM

Wasn't Ryanair based on the South Western Airlines business model to start with?

Manic Moran · 23-05-2014 08:05AM

Merkin wrote: »

Wasn't Ryanair based on the South Western Airlines business model to start with?

They diverged a fair bit. They kept Southwest's logistical philosophies: a single type of airframe (B737), fast turnaround times, use of secondary airports, single class, no "luxury" facilities, no lounges, unassigned seating, ticket sales through corporate website only, maybe one or two other things.

The above are not really things that anyone ever really complains about with Ryanair, except sometimes airport selection. (After some acquisitions, SW have also obtained gates at big airports).

What SouthWest doesn't do, is start at $10 a ticket, and then nickel and dime you at the airport for some infraction or other. There is no "in your face" advertising (There are some up sells, like every other airline, but not the sort which intrudes). Tickets are certainly more expensive than Ryanair, whilst still being less than most other airlines. As a result, SW passengers get both the satisfaction of knowing that they got pretty much the cheapest deal going, with also the various pleasant experiences of cheerful crew and staff at the airport who will work with you for things like changing flights without asking you for a credit card. Unless you want business class or a frequent flyer program which you can use outside the US, SouthWest is a no-brainer to check first.

Ryanair....we're nice now.

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