Ryanair have another mutiny

[the_lone_wolf]

Strange how this story changed from being "Students forced to leave a flight because they refused to cooperate during a safety briefing" to "Student mutiny of Ryanair flight" between the 01:00 World Service news to the 09:00 BBC news on R4 this morning...

Sounds like a bunch of self entitled idiots got what they'd get from any airine, screw around when safety is at stake and you'll have problems. It was the police that ordered the flight be emptied...

[fergywales]

Ryanair, it actually pains me to admit, is a godsend to some people.

My parents live in SW France and have done for 10 years. I live in South Wales. Back when they first retired, I had three choices; drive, and either Ferry or Chunnel it (cost £350 return), train then Eurostar then TGV (cost £290) or Fly Cardiff to Charles de Gaulle then connect to Limoges (cost £650).

Then Ryanair started flights to Limoges. Suddenly I could get there and back (if booked in advance when tickets were cheap) for £100! Yes, way back there was no cost to check in, no cost for baggage, on board food and drink compared to rail prices, and they didn't run quite as punctually as they do now. However, last week I booked a return flight for the end of February, flight, taxes (and that truly is all you need, regardless of what the website says) £67!

So you have to pay £6 for a plastic bag with vodka in it (need something to steady the nerves, not a fan of flying as I used to be) and the cabin crew are either the disowned gay children of the Russian mafia or perma-tanned Tracey's from Basildon, but for the chance to get a 1300 mile round trip for the price of 6 months road tax, I'll keep quiet and hope the pilot is better than some of the ones I've experienced in Asia flying local flights.

[fatboy b]

pano amo said:

There are no secrets before you fly Ryanair.

Not strictly true. We stayed at a hotel near Luton as we had to catch an early morning flight. Turns out they changed their baggage policy from 20Kg to 15 Kg that day. Yes it's in their new T&Cs, but slightly unfair to expect you to jump on a computer (if there is one!) to recheck allowances at 4 in the morning when you already have your bags packed from the previous day. That was the last time I flew with them.

[plg]

fatboy b said:

Not strictly true. We stayed at a hotel near Luton as we had to catch an early morning flight. Turns out they changed their baggage policy from 20Kg to 15 Kg that day. Yes it's in their new T&Cs, but slightly unfair to expect you to jump on a computer (if there is one!) to recheck allowances at 4 in the morning when you already have your bags packed from the previous day. That was the last time I flew with them.

Surely the terms apply <at time of booking> and it was the check in staff trying it on?

[fatboy b]

plg said:

Surely the terms apply <at time of booking> and it was the check in staff trying it on?

Not with Ryanair they don't.

The check-in staff weren't having any of it. We had to buy another bag from a shop at the airport, and transfer 5kgs worth over. That was cheaper than paying excess baggage. Other pax were doing similar.

[98elise]

I can't see what all the fuss is about

They offer a cheap simple no frills service. Other airlines offer a more expensive more frills service, with an option to pay for a very expensive service.

Its a free market, so just pay for the service you want!

I've flown with them once, last year during the summer holidays. It was exactly what I expected (a bus with wings), and was very cheap for that time of year. I will definately fly with them again.

The only difference is next time I'll not put a bag in the hold. Its so much easier just to turn up with small bags, and walk straight past check in, into the departures lounge.

[Globs]

98elise said:

I can't see what all the fuss is about

If you went to the post office with a parcel, and they said you could pay extra to send an extra parcel, what would you do as they explained that the weight of the two resulting parcels had to equal the weight of the original?

[98elise]

Globs said:

If you went to the post office with a parcel, and they said you could pay extra to send an extra parcel, what would you do as they explained that the weight of the two resulting parcels had to equal the weight of the original?

Not sure what you're getting at?

Ryanair offer a service, due to the bad press they get I...

(1) read up on their terms and conditions (and followed them)
(2) looked at other airlines (much more expensive)

The flight was exactly what I paid for (simple, basic, cheap), and there were no additional charges. For a couple of hour flight into europe they are very hard to beat.

They are very profitable, so they must be doing something right.

[youngsyr]

audidoody said:

Flown RA to Toulon many times. The formula is simple:

1. Book as far in advance as possible and NEVER try and change your booking after purchase.

2. On no account take hold luggage (apart from the cost you'll queue for ha;f an hour at bag drop)

3. Do not ask for any extra services (wheel chairs etc)

4. Print your boarding pass out

5. Ignore Priority Boarding

6. Buy sandwich/bagette mineral water etc at Pret in airport

7. As soon as safety briefing is over - insert iPod ear phones

8. Eat Pret sandwich at 30,000 ft

8. At destination exit aircraft

It works.

You seemed to have missed out:

9. Wait for the 90 minutes the plane is delayed without any announcements or screen updates so you're left wondering just when the hell the plane is going to take off, or whether it's going to go at all.

10. Be forced to queue up outside on the taxiway for 10 minutes before entering the aircraft in the rain. Of course, you aren't allowed to take umbrellas as hand luggage.

Both of which I had the misfortune to encounter the last and only time I've taken a Ryanair flight in the past 10 years.

I will now go well out of my way to fly with any other airline on the return flights that I take each week.

[Adrian W]

Ryanair is Ryanair, it's a bus service and it's crap, as others have said don't buy anything other than the flight and manage your expectations. I went to Spain for lunch recently AM flight out no bags PM flight back, all went perfectly.

To all the smug gits on here who claim that they read and understand every word of the Ts & Cs.....I don't believe you!

[fatboy b]

98elise said:

(2) looked at other airlines (much more expensive)

No, not always. I've traveled a few times in the last few years where the national carrier was cheaper (BA & AF). It's all about the marketing too. They convince you that they're cheapest so you don't bother doing the rounds.

[youngsyr]

fatboy b said:

98elise said:

(2) looked at other airlines (much more expensive)

No, not always. I've traveled a few times in the last few years where the national carrier was cheaper (BA & AF). It's all about the marketing too. They convince you that they're cheapest so you don't bother doing the rounds.

Indeed, if you're booking on the day of the flight, I've found that other carriers are always cheaper.

Even if booking a week in advance, there is very little in it between Ryanair and other carriers on the flights and taxes alone. When you add all the additional charges Ryanair bung on (online booking fee for each flight, card fee for each flight, etc) then the other carriers are often cheaper.

Plus they have the bonus of staff who give you drinks, a meal/snack and who generally do not act like they're doing you a huge favour by being there.

[Alfa numeric]

fatboy b said:

98elise said:

(2) looked at other airlines (much more expensive)

No, not always. I've traveled a few times in the last few years where the national carrier was cheaper (BA & AF). It's all about the marketing too. They convince you that they're cheapest so you don't bother doing the rounds.

I've never flow Ryanair because when I've added up all the extra charges they levy it's often dearer than "normal" airlines, and that's before you add the cost of the taxi ride to get you to the town that you've supposedly landed in.

[Globs]

98elise said:

Globs said:

If you went to the post office with a parcel, and they said you could pay extra to send an extra parcel, what would you do as they explained that the weight of the two resulting parcels had to equal the weight of the original?

Not sure what you're getting at?

I was getting at the dishonest luggage policy, of selling people 'extra bags' but not allowing them to put anything into them.

Have a read of my post again and see if you get it.

[Spoof]

It actually looks like Ryanair did the right thing, but it seems this was more down to the Captain than management, probably why it was the right decision.

I have many unlucky friends who fly for Ryan, the management treat staff like they treat their customers - some can't wait to jump ship.

[oldcynic]

Isn't the origin of this story in the fact that Ryamair have a smaller definition of cabin baggage than any other airline? So the compact, lightweight case you've been carrying around Europe for the last 10 years suddenly attracts an extortionate extra fee.

[Zaxxon]

RyanAir is really a once in a lifetime experience for most sane people.

Once is enough. I feel sorry for those people that have to deal with them regularly.

[hairykrishna]

Despite their stty service they're rarely cheaper. It's just the fact that they look cheaper until you get to the very last steps of booking when they start adding in charge for using a card to pay etc.

[98elise]

Globs said:

I was getting at the dishonest luggage policy, of selling people 'extra bags' but not allowing them to put anything into them.

Have a read of my post again and see if you get it.

The allowance is by case isn't it. Pretty sure it was when we flew.

Something like 10kg per per per hand luggage, then 15kg on the checked bag. They didn't weigh any of our hand luggage though

[98elise]

Alfa numeric said:

I've never flow Ryanair because when I've added up all the extra charges they levy it's often dearer than "normal" airlines, and that's before you add the cost of the taxi ride to get you to the town that you've supposedly landed in.

I think thats the point, everything is an option so you can get the price right down if you want to. For a family holiday booked in the middle of the summer break I was amazed at the low price.

The destination for us was 10 minutes from the beach apartment we rented. The national carriers went to the main city airport, which was a good hour away.

I'm going on the only flight I took with them though, it just worked out well for us. My neighbour uses them 3 of 4 times a year as he has a place in spain, he loves the prices.