Ryanair Changing Their Ways?

radharc · 18-01-2014 12:58AM #1

Anyone just see the Ryanair ad on TV3? Thought I was seeing things, they definitely went down the no-frills advertising route anyway, the ad looks like it was made by some transition year students.

Received an email today too (from Michael O'Leary no less) announcing new changes from 1st February…2 free carry on bags, allocated seating etc.

So what do people think? New people friendly airline or still the same money suckers?

18-01-2014 01:01AM

You joking? They're worse than ever. You used to be able to get on the plane and sit where you wanted, provided you turned up early(ish). Now you have to pay 5 euro per seat, each way, to guarantee being able to sit next to the people you're travelling with. A family of 5 could end up spending 25 quid each way. Much worse, IMO.

wazky · 18-01-2014 01:05AM

radharc wrote: »

2 free carry on bags

So what do people think?

I can get both the kids and the wife on board for free now.

Oranage2 · 18-01-2014 01:05AM

I've flown Ryanair about 10 times and never had a problem. Had a flight delayed once but I arrived at the airport late so a blessing in disguise.

They're cheap and you get what you pay for.

Sir Arthur Daley · 18-01-2014 01:05AM

Ryanair must be the most annoying crowd to fly with.

JustLen · 18-01-2014 01:05AM

Is the second bag the same size or is it a overnight sized bag?

18-01-2014 01:09AM

I gave up on Ryanair years ago. Woeful treatment of customers on all kinds of levels. I usually fly Aer Lingus now. A better experience all round, though the have gone downhill a bit in recent years. I would rather pay the extra few quid for Aer Lingus though.

Maybe Ryanair will change, though I would not believe a word out of O'Leary's mouth.

Amirani · 18-01-2014 01:09AM

Katelyn Narrow Karaoke wrote: »

You joking? They're worse than ever. You used to be able to get on the plane and sit where you wanted, provided you turned up early(ish). Now you have to pay 5 euro per seat, each way, to guarantee being able to sit next to the people you're travelling with. A family of 5 could end up spending 25 quid each way. Much worse, IMO.

Book together and you'll automatically be allocated seats together. There won't be families of 5 paying 25 quid.

I've flown with Ryanair 4 times in 2014 and their attitude to carry on baggage has changed massively.

Sir Arthur Daley · 18-01-2014 01:10AM

The two free bags is prob for all the shoite they will make one buy on the flight, the best part of a Ryanair flight is stepping off the plane.

SV · 18-01-2014 01:11AM

Ryanair are fine, a lot of the complaining comes from people not looking up costs and expecting everything to just be free.
If you're going over with the one bag and literally treat it like an air taxi then it's perfect.

If you want more than that then pay more, but don't give out because the cheaper service doesn't do the same.

The changes can only improve things and make them a little cushier, but they're perfectly fine as is, imo.

Larianne · 18-01-2014 01:11AM

I don't trust them... why are they being more accommodating to passengers...
Somethings not right....
:cool:

Amirani · 18-01-2014 01:12AM

JustLen wrote: »

Is the second bag the same size or is it a overnight sized bag?

Measurements are smaller on just 1 dimension iirc.

SV · 18-01-2014 01:13AM

NiallSparky wrote: »

Measurements are smaller on just 1 dimension iirc.

I imagine it's to accommodate for handbags/laptop bags along with the luggage.

Amirani · 18-01-2014 01:13AM

Larianne wrote: »

I don't trust them... why are they being more accommodating to passengers...
Somethings not right....
:cool:

Apparently directors and large shareholders were fed up with the abuse they received when they mentioned their involvement with the airline.

ted1 · 18-01-2014 01:14AM

Katelyn Narrow Karaoke wrote: »

You joking? They're worse than ever. You used to be able to get on the plane and sit where you wanted, provided you turned up early(ish). Now you have to pay 5 euro per seat, each way, to guarantee being able to sit next to the people you're travelling with. A family of 5 could end up spending 25 quid each way. Much worse, IMO.

Why do you insist on sitting together ?

irishgeo · 18-01-2014 01:15AM

Larianne wrote: »

I don't trust them... why are they being more accommodating to passengers...
Somethings not right....
:cool:

because passengers numbers and profits were failing because people were paying extra to fly aer lingus etc for better customer service.

the shareholders were not happy, hence the turnaround.

Annasopra · 18-01-2014 01:15AM

Larianne wrote: »

I don't trust them... why are they being more accommodating to passengers...
Somethings not right....
:cool:

Because they know have a bad reputation for customer service and they probably reckon the only way to overcome that is change it.

18-01-2014 01:16AM

NiallSparky wrote: »

Book together and you'll automatically be allocated seats together. There won't be families of 5 paying 25 quid.

I've flown with Ryanair 4 times in 2014 and their attitude to carry on baggage has changed massively.

You sure? That's not what they told me. I know with Easyjet that one of the main reasons people reserve seats is to make sure they sit next to the other people in their party. Couldn't see why Ryanair would be any different.

Annasopra · 18-01-2014 01:17AM

radharc wrote: »

Anyone just see the Ryanair ad on TV3? Thought I was seeing things, they definitely went down the no-frills advertising route anyway, the ad looks like it was made by some transition year students.

Received an email today too (from Michael O'Leary no less) announcing new changes from 1st February…2 free carry on bags, allocated seating etc.

So what do people think? New people friendly airline or still the same money suckers?

still treating their employees like dirt I'd say.

Smidge · 18-01-2014 01:17AM

Hang on,
ALL carry on baggage used to be free(ie 4 people flying, 4 pieces of carry on free of charge as it was one piece each)

So now its only 2 free carry on per group or 2 per person?

18-01-2014 01:19AM

ted1 wrote: »

Why do you insist on sitting together ?

Plenty of reasons to want to sit next to someone. I have medical issues and am just much happier if my OH is next to me and not halfway up the plane. And why wouldn't you want to sit next to your partner/friend/relative to chat during the flight?

Larianne · 18-01-2014 01:20AM

NiallSparky wrote: »

Apparently directors and large shareholders were fed up with the abuse they received when they mentioned their involvement with the airline.

irishgeo wrote: »

because passengers numbers and profits were failing because people were paying extra to fly aer lingus etc for better customer service.

the shareholders were not happy, hence the turnaround.

mango salsa wrote: »

Because they know have a bad reputation for customer service and they probably reckon the only way to overcome that is change it.

Oh! Didn't think that was the reason.. bit of a u-turn by O Leary so.

Smidge wrote: »

Hang on,
ALL carry on baggage used to be free(ie 4 people flying, 4 pieces of carry on free of charge as it was one piece each)

So now its only 2 free carry on per group or 2 per person?

You can carry on one bag (the regular carry on size) and a second smaller carry on, for free. Been this way since before Christmas.

Now the cabins are packed with luggage. They were trying to get people to check in bags for free the last time I flew with them.

irishgeo · 18-01-2014 01:22AM

i think the story of the doctor been charged to change his flight when his family had been killed in fire in england and another story along similar lines didnt do them any good either.

keith16 · 18-01-2014 01:24AM

irishgeo wrote: »

i think the story of the doctor been charged to change his flight when his family had been killed in fire in england and another story along similar lines didnt do them any good either.

Yeah, "stories" like that don't do them any good when people only hear what they want to.

That charge was later rescinded. What's the "other story"?

Rubylolz · 18-01-2014 01:27AM

If at all possible, I will avoid flying Ryanair. Hate the bright yellow colour, hate the hurry hurry aspect - always leaves me wondering if they have checked the plane fully before they let it off again! but then again you get what you pay for

Sir Arthur Daley · 18-01-2014 01:28AM

Does anyone ever win any big amount of money on the scratch cards they sell?

Bepolite · 18-01-2014 01:29AM

I've never had an issue with Ryan Air and I've been flying with them for over a decade. I never understood why people expected 5 star treatment for the price of a bus ticket. I expected bus treatment and was never disappointed. I'd had some great flights with them and some less than brilliant, all as good or better than the National Express or Bus Eireann.

A couple of years back when we got snowed in at Dublin Airport the service was fantastic. The Capitan kept everyone informed, invited the kids (and the big kids) up to the cockpit and even went out to go a try and figure out was was going on. I think my ticket cost me a tenner and I was able to exchange it for any ticket on the same route or get a refund. The only problem was there was no one there to tell me to do this I simply looked it up on the website. I saved it until I needed a last minute flight back to blighty and scored myself a €200 seat for my tenner ticket.

Never had an issue with hand luggage being blessed with the triple gift of being able to read, owning some scales and a measuring tape. The mistake O'Leary always made was not spinning RyanAir the right way. If it had been "build your own flight only pay for what you use" no one would have batted an eyelid. Instead he put it across as "**** you we're cheap" - I never understood that ethos. That said they're a massive profitable airline with an excellent safety record - he must be doing something right.

If Aerlingus is cheaper I use them, if RyanAir are cheaper I use them, frankly not having seats that go back is a Godsend for me 6'2 with a wife who is 6'3 and has 3" longer legs than me RyanAir is bearable.

EDIT: Also one of the very few airlines that will take you with a broken leg - you pay for three seats to be fair but it's far cheaper than an air ambulance back to Ireland.

ringadingding · 18-01-2014 01:30AM

I flew with them recently, I hated it.
From the booking, to the online checking in, to the baggage drop, to the plane... I just didn't feel one bit at ease, and I'm an experienced flyer, I just felt like they were out to nail me for some extra charge.

I needed a brandy to steady my nerves before hitting the confirm booking button.

Had our baby on board with us, it didn't go well, I forgot a feeding spoon, or had packed it in the checked in bags, my bad.
Baby got hungry, I asked for a plastic spoon from the trolley, was informed that they only can give spoons with food, so j asked to order food, they had sold out of all food, I asked if I could still get the spoon, to feed the now crying baby, was informed that the cutlery must tally dishes sold at the end of the shift.
No food to sell, no wriggle room on plastic cutlery.
Ended up feeding a crying baby his purée off of my fingers, he never settled after that and was a pain in the ass to me and the other passengers.

I know it was my fault, but jaysus, she could have given me the fûcking spoon

Never again

ted1 · 18-01-2014 01:31AM

Katelyn Narrow Karaoke wrote: »

Plenty of reasons to want to sit next to someone. I have medical issues and am just much happier if my OH is next to me and not halfway up the plane. And why wouldn't you want to sit next to your partner/friend/relative to chat during the flight?

Because I'll be spending the next few days with them non stop and I like my peace and quiet while flying

ted1 · 18-01-2014 01:33AM

ringadingding wrote: »

I flew with them recently, I hated it.
From the booking, to the online checking in, to the baggage drop, to the plane... I just didn't feel one bit at ease, and I'm an experienced flyer, I just felt like they were out to nail me for some extra charge.

I needed a brandy to steady my nerves before hitting the confirm booking button.

Had our baby on board with us, it didn't go well, I forgot a feeding spoon, or had packed it in the checked in bags, my bad.
Baby got hungry, I asked for a plastic spoon from the trolley, was informed that they only can give spoons with food, so j asked to order food, they had sold out of all food, I asked if I could still get the spoon, to feed the now crying baby, was informed that the cutlery must tally at the end of the shift.
Ended up feeding a crying baby purée off of my fingers, he never settled after that and was a pain in the ass to me and the other passengers.

I know it was my fault, but jaysus, she could have given me the fûcking spoon

Any time we've flown with kids they have been great. I wouldn't base the whole airline on one bad staff member

anncoates · 18-01-2014 01:35AM

Oranage2 wrote: »

Had a flight delayed once but I arrived at the airport late so a blessing in disguise.

A most rational service provider criticism.

Ryanair Changing Their Ways?

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