More Ryanair robbery

Fair enough. I suppose it’s easy enough for those who pay attention to this industry to stay clued up on these things (which is the perspective I was looking from), but it may come accross as a raw deal to the average Joe (or Jill!).
I have also never flown with them either actually – but only because I never been travelling on one of their routes, I wouldn’t object to flying with them though.

do you not think if Ryanair added all these additional, optional charges to the original price of the ticket people would THEN complain that Ryanair have bumped their prices up? You’d also get people complaining they’re paying for things they don’t need (on a low cost service)

Nope, this is designed to catch the casual traveller out. The experienced Ryanair-ite might know to internet checkin, but the average traveller will still assume that they can checkin at the airport and will then be in for a shock. Sure its in the Ts&Cs, but you know what Ts&Cs are for… Don’t believe me? Check how many people get caught out by the Ryanair “you can’t combine your baggage allowance into a single bag” rule – I know the guy who runs the hobby shop in the terminal at EMA and he sells LOADS of bags every day to Ryanair passengers who’ve been caught out and feel cheated. This charge also discriminates against those going away for several days, who may not have access to the internet whilst they’re away – why should they have to pay more just because the hotel or villa they’re staying in doesn’t have internet?

But if you really want to allow people to chose what services they pay for, how about the Ryanair saying “Here’s the price for your flight… Now, if you chose to internet checkin we’ll reduce that price by two pounds per leg, and if you chose not to take baggage, we’kk knock another fiver off that price for each leg”? Of course they won’t do that, because the headline price would be higher and they want the stupid punters believing Ryanair is cheap. And that’s just what those who suck up all the “Ryanair is always the cheapest” messages – stupid.

Andy

PS: I guess its all fairly irrelevent as far as I’m concerned – Ryanair has never had a penny of my money and they never will have any money from me – in fact, they wouldn’t get a penny of my money if they were the only airline on the planet

Seeing as the WHOLE World likes to pick at things…..do you not think if Ryanair added all these additional, optional charges to the original price of the ticket people would THEN complain that Ryanair have bumped their prices up? You’d also get people complaining they’re paying for things they don’t need (on a low cost service). People can’t win now-a-days 😎 I’m with you on this one Paul!

Symon

No I don’t, and I don’t consider having to use a check in as an extra service either, an optional service maybe but certainly not an extra one. Until they start an online check in service for passengers with luggage then they are holding passengers with luggage to ransom. By all means give a discount to someone who doesn’t need to check in, for whatever reason, but don’t penalise the passenger who must.

The fact is there is no such thing as a standard ticket price on Ryanair, as I mentioned earlier it’s a bit like going on e-bay. Adding the cost of the check in onto the initial price is not going to make a bit of difference to your average bargain grabber.

BTW I’m arguing a principal here, not about a couple o’ measly quid…;)

Seeing as the WHOLE World likes to pick at things…..do you not think if Ryanair added all these additional, optional charges to the original price of the ticket people would THEN complain that Ryanair have bumped their prices up? You’d also get people complaining they’re paying for things they don’t need (on a low cost service). People can’t win now-a-days 😎 I’m with you on this one Paul!

Symon

I think it just annoys people Paul, obviously not everyone of course.;) Call me old fashioned if you will, but I like to pay a single price for a service.

It annoyed me at first, Allen, and I understand why it annoys other people. I’ve had little whinging sessions myself at Ryanair’s seemingly endless methods of getting money from people, but having thought about it I just can’t bring myself to complain too much about them. Especially as they’re taking me to Germany, the land of awesome alcohol, for 13 quid next month! Well… OK, 17 quid! 😀

Paul

Which is why I stressed as long as people are aware of the charges. Also, remember I’m speaking from my own personal viewpoint, that being I genuinely couldn’t care less whether I pay for it when I book the ticket or at the check-in desk. As said, I can see your point perfectly, I just personally don’t see what all the fuss is about.

Paul

I think it just annoys people Paul, obviously not everyone of course.;) Call me old fashioned if you will, but I like to pay a single price for a service.

Buying a lo-co ticket these days is a bit like E-bay bartering… Perhaps that’s the next step for airline ticket sales…? Oops how’s that Singapore Airlines, A380 seat sale going… ? 😀

Because it is misleading to suggest a product costs price “A” when it actually costs price “B”

Which is why I stressed as long as people are aware of the charges. Also, remember I’m speaking from my own personal viewpoint, that being I genuinely couldn’t care less whether I pay for it when I book the ticket or at the check-in desk. As said, I can see your point perfectly, I just personally don’t see what all the fuss is about.

Paul

I can see your point, Allen, and I think it’s a very fair one, albeit rather cynically expressed! Speaking personally though, whether they consolidate it into the price of the ticket or not doesn’t matter in the slightest to me as I’d still be paying it anyway. As long as people are made aware there will be a charge when you check in I don’t really see what the problem is.
Of course, that’s just my opinion. 🙂

Paul

Because it is misleading to suggest a product costs price “A” when it actually costs price “B”… As we’ve agreed it has to be paid anyway, so put the correct label on the can of worms please… Whilst all in all it’s still a cheap deal, it most certainly has the feel and look of con in progress !

And Paul, I wasn’t being cynical I’m waaaay beyond that stage when it comes to the likes of Ryanair and their policies… ( heavily sarcastic maybe ? 😀 )

I think the problem here is that Ryanair appear to be taxing people for something they thought they’d already paid for… ?

Yes it’s already a cheap flight, but why not just consolidate the extra couple of quid in the overall price ? Is it so much to assume an airline has already agreed to carry your luggage when you buy the ticket ? Apparently not anymore ?

This is probably just another example of ‘the thin end of the wedge’. Where will a policy of breaking down and pricing every airport and inflight service end…? Paying extra to walk through the terminal door, paying extra to sit down in the departure gate, paying extra to look out the window ???

OK, airports and aircraft have to be paid for, but let’s not fleece the customers with pretend cheap flights, then bump the price up with ridiculous and petty extra charges like these. Just put them there in the first place, within the price of the ticket like everyone else does. I can understand why people get annoyed with this, imagine if other companies operated in the same manner…?

Perhaps Boeing will offer Ryanair a 737 without a baggage hold next, they’ve already done away with the reclining seats, in fact why not save more money by doing away with the cabin windows too ? Maybe they could replace the cabin crew with time share holiday and double glazing salesmen ?

I can see your point, Allen, and I think it’s a very fair one, albeit rather cynically expressed! Speaking personally though, whether they consolidate it into the price of the ticket or not doesn’t matter in the slightest to me as I’d still be paying it anyway. As long as people are made aware there will be a charge when you check in I don’t really see what the problem is.

Of course, that’s just my opinion. 🙂

Paul

Perhaps Boeing will offer Ryanair a 737 without a baggage hold next, they’ve already done away with the reclining seats, in fact why not save more money by doing away with the cabin windows too ? Maybe they could replace the cabin crew with time share holiday and double glazing salesmen ?

Don’t give ’em ideas, Allen 😮 Actually, of all the penny pinching that Ryanair do, I actually like the non-reclining seat. Nothing worse than the lazy b’stard in front recling his seat and making your already limited space less.

But yes, having tried to defend them above, I agree that the headline price should be that you pay. I can make an exception for the apd tax as that just emphasizes to everyone just who the real robbers are but lump everything else in together. Then, if you want to encourage them to check-in online, give ’em a discount 🙂

I found out about this yesterday and I must say, at first I was somewhat disgusted. Having thought a little more about it I’m now starting to think the only thing that is ridiculous is how people can get return flights, for example as LBARULES and myself have next month from EMA to SXF for £13, and consider paying another £4 robbery. You’re boarding a 60 million dollar machine and travelling in a way that even 10 years ago many people wouldn’t have even been able to consider. Is it really that bad?

Precisely! Nowhere in the terms and conditions of flying with Ryanair does it say ‘a hefty purchase of over priced food and drink on board is compulsory’. You have a choice. I don’t actually consider things like tea and coffee on board FR to be stupidly overpriced, but then again I spend a lot of time travelling and I’m used to things on the move in motorway service stations and airports being a little more expensive than your average greasy cafe or shopping centre.

People’s concepts of budget airlines astounds me sometimes, it has to be said. Another £2.00 is added per sector to the cost of an already extremely cheap ticket, and people say they’ll never fly with Ryanair again. As much as I try, that totally defies all logic to me.

Paul

I think the problem here is that Ryanair appear to be taxing people for something they thought they’d already paid for… ?

Yes it’s already a cheap flight, but why not just consolidate the extra couple of quid in the overall price ? Is it so much to assume an airline has already agreed to carry your luggage when you buy the ticket ? Apparently not anymore ?

This is probably just another example of ‘the thin end of the wedge’. Where will a policy of breaking down and pricing every airport and inflight service end…? Paying extra to walk through the terminal door, paying extra to sit down in the departure gate, paying extra to look out the window ???

OK, airports and aircraft have to be paid for, but let’s not fleece the customers with pretend cheap flights, then bump the price up with ridiculous and petty extra charges like these. Just put them there in the first place, within the price of the ticket like everyone else does. I can understand why people get annoyed with this, imagine if other companies operated in the same manner…?

Perhaps Boeing will offer Ryanair a 737 without a baggage hold next, they’ve already done away with the reclining seats, in fact why not save more money by doing away with the cabin windows too ? Maybe they could replace the cabin crew with time share holiday and double glazing salesmen ?

Agree with Paul. Yes, all the bits and pieces add up but a return flight anywhere for less than fifty quid is still an absolute bargain. Especially when you consider that the Treasury gets twenty quid of it. Twenty years ago I was paying £90 for a return shuttle flight from Glasgow to Heathrow and that came with a whole string of conditions attached – book at least two weeks in advance, stay a Saturday night etc. Twenty years on I can get a similar flight with RYR or EZY for about half that or perhaps a quarter of that in real terms.

Of course if you don’t like the locos, you can still fly with a ‘proper’ airline. As has been noted, their fares can be only a bit more expensive than the locos nowadays. But do you seriously think that they would be anything like that low if we didn’t have the locos? No chance. You would be forking out £200+ for a domestic flight at the least.

I found out about this yesterday and I must say, at first I was somewhat disgusted. Having thought a little more about it I’m now starting to think the only thing that is ridiculous is how people can get return flights, for example as LBARULES and myself have next month from EMA to SXF for £13, and consider paying another £4 robbery. You’re boarding a 60 million dollar machine and travelling in a way that even 10 years ago many people wouldn’t have even been able to consider. Is it really that bad?

Who is making you pay for online check in, a bag, priority boarding, a can of Pepsi? Absolutely no one. If you can’t survive LGW-DUB without a can of pop, well…..

Precisely! Nowhere in the terms and conditions of flying with Ryanair does it say ‘a hefty purchase of over priced food and drink on board is compulsory’. You have a choice. I don’t actually consider things like tea and coffee on board FR to be stupidly overpriced, but then again I spend a lot of time travelling and I’m used to things on the move in motorway service stations and airports being a little more expensive than your average greasy cafe or shopping centre.

People’s concepts of budget airlines astounds me sometimes, it has to be said. Another £2.00 is added per sector to the cost of an already extremely cheap ticket, and people say they’ll never fly with Ryanair again. As much as I try, that totally defies all logic to me.

Paul

Thank god for bmi.

Well said! Air Berlin are my favourite Loco but I have seen a recent down grading such as lack of drinks or snacks/sandwiches onboard.

and I would never pay for priority boarding as I think it is pointless!

Of course it is pointless, at our airport, you are first out of the door and then you get on a bus with ninety other people! What a con!

The thing was though, alot of flights were actually just that recently 2P flights. You talk about extra charges. Who is making you pay for online check in, a bag, priority boarding, a can of Pepsi? Absolutely no one. If you can’t survive LGW-DUB without a can of pop, well…..

Ok, I apologise because I did not make this known before…I flew with FR to DUB in June for the first time, and it was just a short day-trip so I did not have to pay to check-in a bag, and I would never pay for priority boarding as I think it is pointless!

What I was trying to get across was the fact that when you click onto Ryanair’s (and many other airlines!) websites, the price that they advertise on the front page is not necessarily the total cost involved…

At present FR charge for online check-in, baggage charge and priority boarding…dont they?

Can you survive a short holiday with just a cabin bag? One person,who was the CEO of Saab Aircraft used to travel into his work every day with a clean set of underwear, and a toothbrush. That was all he needed to travel anywhere in the world at short notice. The old saying about packing to travel – put everything you need into your bag, then take half the stuff out, is even more true when you are going away for a short break.

I regularly travel with just the small BA cabin bag you can see in my avatar, in fact I’ve just spent a week in Spain with it…

A lot of the charges are costs that are charged to Ryanair by their service providers. Apart from the Priority Boarding charge, I think all the other costs reflect the cost of having passengers and bags checked in by contractors. It used to be that these duties were performed by airline employees who were paid to be there, whether they checked in a whole plane load, or they stood around on duty while there were no planes to handle.

Where there is a Government charge that Ryanair has to collect, it is fair enough that the airline should be allowed to show that as part of the broken down cost of the ticket. Airlines used to be able to absorb the cost of having electronic payments processed.

Can you survive a short holiday with just a cabin bag? One person,who was the CEO of Saab Aircraft used to travel into his work every day with a clean set of underwear, and a toothbrush. That was all he needed to travel anywhere in the world at short notice. The old saying about packing to travel – put everything you need into your bag, then take half the stuff out, is even more true when you are going away for a short break.

But once you add on all the additional charges, a 2p can be alot more expensive than you might first think!

When people say they want to travel for low-cost, I think what they really mean is that they want ‘value-for-money’.

The first (and unfortunatley the last!) time I flew with FR, I managed to get flights from LGW to DUB for 99p each way, but once you added on the tax, you then have to consider the credit card fee, baggage fee, online check-in fee and priority boarding fee; and then you got the horrendous charge of £1.20 for a mini-can of pepsi whilst onboard…!

The thing that annoys me most about low-cost airlines is that they even have the cheek too charge you for using a debit card!:mad: I can understand a small charge for using a credit card, but to charge you for using your own money that is in your account is scandolus. One particular lo-co I know of recently announced that they were actually lowering the card charges they levied…what they did not let on was the fact that they were now charging each passenger a fee for using a credit/debit card, even if they were travelling in a group and paying with just one card! Thus making it even worse for customers/passengers!

All I can say now is that I am glad that the Department of Fair Trading and European Commission are pressing for all airlines to include all taxes, fees and charges onto their fares…the days of the so called ‘2p flight’ are certainly numbered!

Rant over.:D

The thing was though, alot of flights were actually just that recently 2P flights. You talk about extra charges. Who is making you pay for online check in, a bag, priority boarding, a can of Pepsi? Absolutely no one. If you can’t survive LGW-DUB without a can of pop, well…..

I have mixed feelings about the check in charge. The last time I tried to check in online, the scanner at the airport wouldn’t read my boarding card. If the same thing happened again, would they charge me when I returned to check in for another boarding card? Also, the amount of people that are ‘not allowed’ to check in online according to FR is ridiculous.

The poor people of Ireland are very restricted now! Do we fly with cheapo Ryanair and pay extra for just about everything or do we fly with Aer Lingus and fear that industrial action my force our flight to be cancelled!

The again you guys in the UK havnt got it much better Lo Co or BA! I dont know whats worse. Thank god for bmi.