Useless airlines

[DIW35]

Have decided to go to the Valencia MotoGP in November. Have a small villa near the circuit booked, which is available Weds to Weds, which is ideal.

Booked flights with Ryanair, also Weds to Weds, as the flight times were reasonable and they flew on the days we wanted to travel.

Unfortunately, they are in the habit of changing their scheduled flights, which they have just done. Our flights have now been moved to Thurs to Thurs, which is of absolutely no fking use to me whatsoever. Why on earth would they think that having originally booked a Weds to Weds flight, a new Thurs to Thurs schedule would fit in with our plans. Idiots.

Have now got to go through the time consuming process of applying for a refund, and looking for an airline that flies on the days that we want to travel.

[off_again]

Ah, the joys of Ryanair. Not much you can do. I am pretty sure that their terms and conditions say that they can do pretty much anything they like. They are sticking to their agreement by flying you over, but that is about it. Its one of the reasons why they are so cheap.

[Rude-boy]

I used to be a fan of the budget airlines in that I could put up with a little extra hassle and underclass fellow travellers but try to avoid them at all costs now.

They simply aren't even cheap now unless you don't care to within a few days when you travel, don't mind being treated by almost all their staff as though they had just stepped in you (the Irish one in particular appears to have perfected this), have nothing but carry on and check in on-line.

We were due to go to Portugal earlier this year but had to cancel at the last minute. They wanted to charge so much for the 'no show' letter that it made it pointless to make a claim on the travel insurance.

[longblackcoat]

Rude-boy said:

I used to be a fan of the budget airlines in that I could put up with a little extra hassle and underclass fellow travellers but try to avoid them at all costs now.

They simply aren't even cheap now unless you don't care to within a few days when you travel, don't mind being treated by almost all their staff as though they had just stepped in you (the Irish one in particular appears to have perfected this), have nothing but carry on and check in on-line.

We were due to go to Portugal earlier this year but had to cancel at the last minute. They wanted to charge so much for the 'no show' letter that it made it pointless to make a claim on the travel insurance.

I was commenting on this to my wife last night. EasyJet have it made - all they have to do is be marginally less crap than Ryanair and people think they're great. Mind you, Ryanair really are appallingly bad....and they don't seem to give a stuff about customer relations.

[DIW35]

This is the first time I have ever attempted to use a budget airline, and only chose Ryanair because they had flights on the days we wanted to travel (or so I thought). Needless to say, i won't be using them again.

[andygo]

I was trying to book some flights to Bordeaux in August.

BMI Baby looked good at £98 for the two of us return.

Started to book online and by the time I got to pay it had crept up to £254. THEN they wanted another £15 to pay by debit card. Just shut the screen down and told wifey we were driving down... Thieving scummers.

[Parsnip]

Rude-boy said:

I used to be a fan of the budget airlines in that I could put up with a little extra hassle and underclass fellow travellers but try to avoid them at all costs now.

I was of the same thinking untill i got "brand name" flights paid for by my employer - really notice the difference, more legroom and the offer of free crap food and a free drink - much better than povertyair

[fatboy b]

I just try my best to avoid the (so-called) low cost guys. I refuse to fly Ryanair & BMI - Ryanair for their rip-off extras, and BMI for leaving us stranded last year and not giving a toss.

We're going to Barcelona with BA in Sept for £100 each return. At the time Easyjet were quoting around £280 for the two of us.

[UncappedTag]

They have a premium rate number too to sort out things like this. I'm trying to goto Valencia in September, but noone flies their direct from London except the likes of EJ & RA.

[Dupont666]

andygo said:

I was trying to book some flights to Bordeaux in August.

BMI Baby looked good at £98 for the two of us return.

Started to book online and by the time I got to pay it had crept up to £254. THEN they wanted another £15 to pay by debit card. Just shut the screen down and told wifey we were driving down... Thieving scummers.

Arent they the equivilent of business class tho or is BMI baby the economy version?

[onlynik]

DIW35 said:

Have decided to go to the Valencia MotoGP in November. Have a small villa near the circuit booked, which is available Weds to Weds, which is ideal.

Booked flights with Ryanair, also Weds to Weds, as the flight times were reasonable and they flew on the days we wanted to travel.

Unfortunately, they are in the habit of changing their scheduled flights, which they have just done. Our flights have now been moved to Thurs to Thurs, which is of absolutely no fking use to me whatsoever. Why on earth would they think that having originally booked a Weds to Weds flight, a new Thurs to Thurs schedule would fit in with our plans. Idiots.

Have now got to go through the time consuming process of applying for a refund, and looking for an airline that flies on the days that we want to travel.

4-11 Nov Easyjet direct from LGW - VLC £167.68 for 2 people.

[jammy_basturd]

My rents have an apartment half way between Barca and Valencia, try Iberia for flights.

[ThunderSpook]

Easyjet to Barca is another option, it's not that far to drive.

A friend of mine booked budget airline flight from Scotland to Southampton on a Wednesday lunchtime for an REM concert at the Rose Bowl that evening, they shifted that flight to the Thursday aswell. Helpful!

[andygo]

Dupont666 said:

andygo said:

I was trying to book some flights to Bordeaux in August.

BMI Baby looked good at £98 for the two of us return.

Started to book online and by the time I got to pay it had crept up to £254. THEN they wanted another £15 to pay by debit card. Just shut the screen down and told wifey we were driving down... Thieving scummers.

Arent they the equivilent of business class tho or is BMI baby the economy version?

I would put them firmly as Baby Ryanair. That sort of sneaky add on stuff does my head. On the online booking charade it asked for 10.99 per load of luggage. Click 'ok' and the cost is £15! Just think it's ever so nasty marketing.

Edited by andygo on Wednesday 22 July 18:54