V-Flyer

According to this, Ryanair are considering selling through travel agents. And flying mid-haul, to places like Israel and Egypt.

Perhaps easyJet and Aer Lingus doing pretty well despite the lowest-cost airline in their market is forcing a rethink?

There was talk of them flying Trans Atlantic once over, apparently the only way to access the story is to pay a supplement ?|

They say they are waiting for the price of suitable aircraft to drop.

hazban wrote:There was talk of them flying Trans Atlantic once over, apparently the only way to access the story is to pay a supplement ?|

They are still considering this... they don't specify where they will be flying from or what new brand they have in mind though...

It is also interesting to consider that if they do go through with this kind of expansion they will have to depart from their basic CS and product model to remain competitive.

Maybe if you'll excuse the pun, the penny is beginning to drop that they can't continue to treat customers like rubbish if they want to remain successful.

easyJet have shown that a LCC doesn't have to include screwing customers as part of its business model.

clarkeysntfc wrote:Maybe if you'll excuse the pun, the penny is beginning to drop that they can't continue to treat customers like rubbish if they want to remain successful.

easyJet have shown that a LCC doesn't have to include screwing customers as part of its business model.

I think you're making a big assumption that O'Leary is screwing customers as part of his business model, rather than simply because he enjoys it!

One thing is for sure
I will never fly Ryanair

I've flown Ryanair. They are sh1t, no doubt. Unfortunately, they're the only airline flying into Bremen where I go to visit some dear friends.

The way they treat pax is terrible, should have seen the way they treated a disabled pax last time I flew with them. Shocking it was, truly shocking, and just generally very rude to everyone. Our friends in Bremen call it flying wooden class as there is a distinct change from the main airport terminal to Ryanairs terminal - it's grotty, cold, looks like a warehouse, poorly lit - and cheap.

God forbid that they should get any mid or long haul routes, it would be dreadful!

I've flown Ryanair a handful of times. While I don't like them in many ways, excessive baggage charges, shabby staff, having to put your hand baggage in that silly size thingy when boarding etc etc, in some aspects, I don't mind them.

Now I know I may get pelted for saying that, so let me explain myself! If your flying short haul, ie Spain, France etc for a couple of days break, they can be a good option. I think it's knowing what to expect and let's face it, it's only 2-3 hours, so if your just taking hand luggage and check in online and get to the gate 40 mins prior to flying, you just get on, put your headphones in and shut your eyes! We fly to Malaga 2-3 times a year and have the option of Monarch or Ryanair. Monarch are a little more comfortable, but nine times out of ten, double the price.

Ryanair are generally on time and get you from A to B, so if you know what to expect and keep saying to yourself 'these two return flights have cost me £100' they can be a good option. Although, 2-3 hours is enough!!

I had the misfortune to fly with Ryanair to Dublin and back for a meeting a couple of years ago - I wasn't paying, so had no choice! One of my colleagues who is less fussy and utilises the route and low costs to best effect did get 'one over' the check-in staff which was hilarious - when asked to place his hand luggage in the metal frame, he whipped out a copy of the Ryanair terms and conditions specifying the max dimensions of hand luggage which his bag complied with and a tape measure!! He already knew that the metal frame guage measured the max dimensions from the outside of the frame not the space inside the frame. Brilliant.

LizzieP wrote:when asked to place his hand luggage in the metal frame, he whipped out a copy of the Ryanair terms and conditions specifying the max dimensions of hand luggage which his bag complied with and a tape measure!! He already knew that the metal frame guage measured the max dimensions from the outside of the frame not the space inside the frame. Brilliant.

Ha ha ha, that is fantastic.. def brought a smirk to my face this morning y) y) y)

Flown once with them to Dublin, it was shocking... The leather effect seats had that 'just wiped down' look and feel. The whole thing made me feel awful and you simply are a number to them.

However, everyone has a funny story about flying with RyanAir, or at least everyone I know!

The only saving grace on my flight was a chap sat next to me who was plastered and brought on enough booze to sink a battle ship... He was handing out tinnies all over the shop and couldnt give a crap. He was challanged, but replied 'in the 10 mins you have to turn the plane around what are you going to do?' - the answer was nothing so we all got stuck in. He stood and muttered something about leaving a bin bag at the front to put empties in so they didnt get upset to the people he was giving drinks to. It was classic, but still awful...

What would be more interesting is if Little Red started taking some of these routes alongside RyanAir & EasyJet. Could this happen...

Quite simply, Ryanair will not permit any new competitors on their home turf.

EasyJet and go tried it for a bit and did not last.

Ryanair are Ryanair. You play their game, you'll get there. Don't expect anything more than getting on a bus and you'll be fine.

Their leather look seats look smarter than some BA planes I have travelled on.

Sealink wrote:Quite simply, Ryanair will not permit any new competitors on their home turf.

EasyJet and go tried it for a bit and did not last.

Ryanair are Ryanair. You play their game, you'll get there. Don't expect anything more than getting on a bus and you'll be fine.

Their leather look seats look smarter than some BA planes I have travelled on.

BA need to up their game then..!

RyanAir, from what I know are hyper agressive and I agree will take no guff from any competitors. Low price flights will always turn volume, and profit by volume is the plan for them. They say a sucker is born every day - but sooner or later they have to realise that service counts for something?!

I do wonder however if Little Red will expand - personally I think they would do really well. That's if they could position their service as PE - so more than Easyjet but less than BA with the best service. I know I would use them for all holidays in Europe.

I would love to see Little Red expand, but I don't think it will happen unless there are compelling reasons where it will serve Virgin Atlantic/Delta.

What should happen is that Little Red get a code-share agreement with EI on Dublin/Cork/Belfast flights, with Belfast a possible candidate for Little Red branding.

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So if Ryanair become an ultra-low-cost airline... that's NICE... well that could hurt competitors even more.

I am one for competition to be honest. They have spoke about Trans Atlantic flights for £10 in the past - although I cant find the link now! This would definatly increase the amount of times we all fly across the 'pond'...

First off they need to reduce the tax on flights - but thats for another thread i am sure...

Interesting times at RyanAir - perhaps they have seen some of their online comments and are looking at changing. I would however guess this is all posturing again and they will keep with the very short haul platform.

Well, the few times I've looked at a RyanAir "10 quid return", its been 130 quid after the costs I need (luggage in the hold for instance). So, transatlantic flights for a tenner, yeah right.

I do object to people calling these lost cost airlines. If you want something similar to a BA flight to the same place (ie: with luggage to a real airport, like Alicante), you'll find them maybe a tenner cheaper. I call them "low service" airlines.

Jet2 is a low service carrier who were planning to fly to New York, from their website finally loading, I can see that they do now. Interestingly, from a number of airports, to Newark, for 379 on the limited days they fly (I chose Manchester as source). After wanting bags, and to actually check in, its up to 452 quid, reserve my seat, 480 quid, meal out 490 quid. It seems the only advantage would be localised airports, Glasgow and Manchester are already served by someone I'm sure, not sure about Leeds Bradford, East Midlands and Newcastle.

Ryanair lead by their reputation, I tend to avoid them (and their amazing drop of their hold luggage quietly to 15kg did that).

But a significant part of their drop in price is their strongarming airports into dropping their taxes, or shifting airports so their business model does involve dropping you off in the middle of nowhere, because you've paid for a flight to the middle of nowhere.

If you are ok with this, then fair enough, but I don't hire a car at the other end, and the concept of getting picked up and dropped off outside an irish pub after a 2 hour bus ride, and even more of an additional cost, does not appeal to me (not sure of how often this happens, but it did used to happen for "Brussels South", ie: Charleroi)

I wonder how many foreigners end up at "London Airport" only to find it is Luton, Stansted, etc.

Sealink wrote:Quite simply, Ryanair will not permit any new competitors on their home turf.

EasyJet and go tried it for a bit and did not last.

Ryanair are Ryanair. You play their game, you'll get there. Don't expect anything more than getting on a bus and you'll be fine.

Their leather look seats look smarter than some BA planes I have travelled on.

For flights across the Irish Sea to Dublin, Ryanair are fine for that purpose as they're very competitive in terms of price and frequency. Example: I've just booked a day trip from Manchester to Dublin for the end of November, total cost £30, depart MAN 0755 and back at 2135 the same day, perfect!

You're right in saying that they've practically driven out other LCCs from serving Ireland, so the only real competition is Aer Lingus/Aer Arann, BA and Flybe from the UK. BA and Aer Lingus serve different markets, whereas Aer Arann and Flybe concentrate on regional airports where Ryanair have either served in the past (e.g. Blackpool) or don't serve for a whole host of reasons (e.g. not viable, use the airport's fees as an excuse)

Smid wrote:Jet2 is a low service carrier who were planning to fly to New York, from their website finally loading, I can see that they do now. Interestingly, from a number of airports, to Newark, for 379 on the limited days they fly (I chose Manchester as source). After wanting bags, and to actually check in, its up to 452 quid, reserve my seat, 480 quid, meal out 490 quid. It seems the only advantage would be localised airports, Glasgow and Manchester are already served by someone I'm sure, not sure about Leeds Bradford, East Midlands and Newcastle.

Jet2 are the sole carrier on LBA/EMA/NCL-EWR services. Out of MAN they compete with United to EWR and AA to JFK, and United from GLA.

They only run a few times a year, generally for Christmas shopping flights, as well as some flights next Spring.

VS075 wrote:You're right in saying that they've practically driven out other LCCs from serving Ireland, so the only real competition is Aer Lingus/Aer Arann, BA and Flybe from the UK. BA and Aer Lingus serve different markets, whereas Aer Arann and Flybe concentrate on regional airports where Ryanair have either served in the past (e.g. Blackpool) or don't serve for a whole host of reasons (e.g. not viable, use the airport's fees as an excuse)

Aer Arann now fly as Aer Lingus Regional in Aer Lingus livery and uniforms

Some fresh thinking!

http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature. ... id=2008760

Ryanair has announced the first in a series of customer service improvements.


From November 1, customers who book directly on the Ryanair.com website will be given a 24-hour grace period to correct any minor errors, such as spellings, names or routings made in their original booking.


This does not apply to bookings made by travel agents.


From the same date, Ryanair will operate 'quiet flights' before 8am and after 9pm.

During these quiet flight periods no public announcements will be made on board other than required safety announcements.


Ryanair will also dim the lights during these quiet flights so that any customers who wish to snooze, can comfortably do so.

Also from next week, the 'Recaptcha' security code with be moved from the Ryanair.com website for individual bookings.

From December 1, Ryanair will allow passengers to bring a second small carry-on bag and will reduce its boarding card reissue fee from €70 or £70 to €15 or £15 for customers who have already checked in.