Ryanair is to cancel thousands of its own customers’ bookings after they were made through internet travel agents whose activities it says are illegal.
The airline is targeting price comparison websites on which you can buy Ryanair flights without having to go directly to the Irish firm’s site.
Ryanair says this is against its terms and conditions, and the technology used slows down its site for other users.
But travel agents said the move was “foolish” and “unreasonable”.
Consumer groups said they were “stunned” by the move.
‘Unnecessary charges’
So-called “screenscraping” websites account for about 0.5% of Ryanair’s bookings, equivalent to about a thousand a day.
These websites use a technology that allows their booking tools to marry up to those of Ryanair and other low cost airlines, and execute a sale.
The customer, however, never leaves the original price comparison site.
We hope that by getting rid of screen scrapers we will speed up passenger processing times on Ryanair.com
Ryanair spokesman
But Ryanair insists these sites’ activities are illegal and passengers using them are being forced to pay more for fares and other services.
Ryanair has taken legal action against Italian company BravoFly to force it to stop screen scraping the airline’s website, having earlier taken similar steps against German firm V-tours.
Ryanair defended its decision to cancel bookings made this way for trips from Monday onwards, saying it was “a quicker and more effective way of discouraging this unlawful activity”.
“We hope that by getting rid of screen scrapers we will speed up passenger processing times on Ryanair.com as well as ensuring that Ryanair passengers are not paying unnecessary handling charges or higher fares,” spokesman Howard Millar said.
‘Foolish’
Passengers whose bookings have been cancelled will be compensated.
However, if the price comparison websites fail to tell passengers that their flights have been cancelled, there is little to prevent those affected turning up at airports all over Europe without a seat on a plane.
Airlines should be finding ways to make it easier for families to book and travel in the way that is convenient for them, not making it even harder
Rochelle Turner, Which?
This is because Ryanair often does not have the contact details for passengers who book their tickets using these sites and as a result is unable to let them know directly of any cancellation or changes to their flights.
This is another reason why Ryanair said it dislikes these types of bookings.
The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said Ryanair was being “foolish” and “unreasonable” while consumer group Which? also criticised the airline’s policy.
“At a time when many people are struggling to afford holidays overseas, airlines should be finding ways to make it easier for families to book and travel in the way that is convenient for them, not making it even harder,” said Rochelle Turner, from Which? Holiday.
Source: BBC.
By: cal900 - 9th August 2008 at 20:35
I suppose they feel they have a strong enough brand now. Where all potential customers will go direct to them without thinking about other rivals.
By: MSR777 - 9th August 2008 at 18:02
I find it curious that the staunchest supporters of the ‘free market’ are so often the first to complain when market forces don’t work in their favour.
Mentioning no names, naturally…… 😎
I don’t find it curious at all. Most Free Market “Stalinists” react in this way whenever they see others of the same ilk doing likewise, its a fact of life. Here is a situation where Ryanair is not in control of these bookings or those making them and more importantly for them, is not able to subsidise the unrealistic fares being charged unless coralling the ‘punters’ through their own website to purchase the additional things to make the operation pay. The passengers must vote with their feet, there are many other cheaper and better airlines out there….use ’em.
By: Skymonster - 9th August 2008 at 17:37
More likely IMHO, the real reason(s) for them doing this are:
1. Ryanair isn’t always the cheapest. If Ryanair are listed on flight comparison sites against other airlines which are sometimes cheaper, punters may actually start to realise that Ryanair always being cheap is sometimes more hot air than truth
2. If punters buy flights on Ryanair’s site, they may buy hotels, insurance, car rental etc on Ryanair’s site – and Ryanair openly admits that ancilliary revenue is important to them. If punters buy Ryanair flights from other sites, they probably won’t buy ancilliary stuff through Ryanair’s site either
So what Ryanair is doing seems to me to come more closely to a restriction in trade than anything to do with the other “excuses” being trotted out – typical Ryanair, in other words.
A
By: Newforest - 9th August 2008 at 16:00
They say all publicity is good, even bad publicity, but this looks like a shot in the foot.:p
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th August 2008 at 15:52
I don’t see Ryanair doing anything wrong here. It’s their product so they are fully within their right to say who can and cannot sell it.
By: Grey Area - 9th August 2008 at 15:42
I find it curious that the staunchest supporters of the ‘free market’ are so often the first to complain when market forces don’t work in their favour.
Mentioning no names, naturally…… 😎
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August 9, 2008 at 2:52 pm