Comments on: Airline Review: Ryanair http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/airline-review-ryanair/ Nomadic Matt's Travel Site Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:15:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Beermatmanhttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/airline-review-ryanair/#comment-70081 Beermatman Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:26:30 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=348#comment-70081 Ryanair's idea of travel is much the same as hopping on a bus. Why does no one complain about the service offered on a coach? What ever you think of this company their marketing is brilliant. Cheers Beermatman Ryanair’s idea of travel is much the same as hopping on a bus. Why does no one complain about the service offered on a coach?
What ever you think of this company their marketing is brilliant.
Cheers
Beermatman

]]> By: Janehttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/airline-review-ryanair/#comment-54212 Jane Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:20:15 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=348#comment-54212 I'm actually surprised this article was re-posted again on facebook after the dior service ryanair provided to passengers during the recent volcanic ash sitation in Europe. They are currently under investigation because of how bad they treated their passengers during this time, and did provide them with the services they were entitled too under EU law. The also have one of the worst complaints records for any airline in Europe ever. I've flown with Ryanair about 3 or 4 times in the past, and I would never fly with them again. I appreciate that they are cheap, and I am more than happy with no frills when I'm flying, but I feel they advertise flights as £1 or £0, when in fact it is always going to be more than that when you add taxes, and any baggage costs (most people have to fly with luggage), it is usually no cheaper than other carriers such as EasyJet, Flybe, or Jet2. They are also really strict with the amount of hand luggage you can take on, and the service I experienced was not just non-existent, it was damm right rude! Although mostly the staff have been fine with me, on a recent flight to the Canary Islands I witnessed one member of staff actually shouting at passengers. This could have been just one bad member of staff, but neverthelesss, I've never seen this happen on any other airline in Europe. I would much rather pay £5 more, and fly with a different budget airline in Europe that provides me with better service, and whom I know will deal with any complaints should they arrise. If flying somewhere where no other budget airline flys, I would actually rather pay more for the flight, fly to the main airport, and have a nice flight rather the hoarded like cattle experience Ryanair provides! I’m actually surprised this article was re-posted again on facebook after the dior service ryanair provided to passengers during the recent volcanic ash sitation in Europe. They are currently under investigation because of how bad they treated their passengers during this time, and did provide them with the services they were entitled too under EU law. The also have one of the worst complaints records for any airline in Europe ever.
I’ve flown with Ryanair about 3 or 4 times in the past, and I would never fly with them again. I appreciate that they are cheap, and I am more than happy with no frills when I’m flying, but I feel they advertise flights as £1 or £0, when in fact it is always going to be more than that when you add taxes, and any baggage costs (most people have to fly with luggage), it is usually no cheaper than other carriers such as EasyJet, Flybe, or Jet2. They are also really strict with the amount of hand luggage you can take on, and the service I experienced was not just non-existent, it was damm right rude! Although mostly the staff have been fine with me, on a recent flight to the Canary Islands I witnessed one member of staff actually shouting at passengers. This could have been just one bad member of staff, but neverthelesss, I’ve never seen this happen on any other airline in Europe.
I would much rather pay £5 more, and fly with a different budget airline in Europe that provides me with better service, and whom I know will deal with any complaints should they arrise. If flying somewhere where no other budget airline flys, I would actually rather pay more for the flight, fly to the main airport, and have a nice flight rather the hoarded like cattle experience Ryanair provides!

]]> By: João Almeidahttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/airline-review-ryanair/#comment-42555 João Almeida Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:09:19 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=348#comment-42555 A few extra thoughts on Ryanair or other low-cost airlines, and how tickets sometimes aren't that cheap: -the fact that they fly to secondary airports means flying to nearby cities far away from your destiny, which means there isn't the regular direct train or shuttle downtown, and sometimes this could mean an extra cost to reach your destiny. -it's very common for these flights to leave/arrive very early or late, which could mean the only means to reach your destination is by taxi, an extra cost. -when booking return tickets it's very common to only find very cheap tickets for one of the trips A few extra thoughts on Ryanair or other low-cost airlines, and how tickets sometimes aren’t that cheap:
-the fact that they fly to secondary airports means flying to nearby cities far away from your destiny, which means there isn’t the regular direct train or shuttle downtown, and sometimes this could mean an extra cost to reach your destiny.
-it’s very common for these flights to leave/arrive very early or late, which could mean the only means to reach your destination is by taxi, an extra cost.
-when booking return tickets it’s very common to only find very cheap tickets for one of the trips

]]> By: jodan younghttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/airline-review-ryanair/#comment-13109 jodan young Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:25:59 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=348#comment-13109 ryanair are a small cheapish airline i mean what is the point in £1 to pee!! i am a ryanair fan but that doesent let me say things like this and see the song it can be realy cringy ryanair are a small cheapish airline i mean what is the point in £1 to pee!! i am a ryanair fan but that doesent let me say things like this and see the song it can be realy cringy

]]> By: Davehttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/airline-review-ryanair/#comment-12484 Dave Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:11:18 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=348#comment-12484 I know this blog post was from 2008 but I had to leave a comment and disagree with you describing their planes as old... The average age of the Ryanair fleet is 3.5 years, the youngest of any airline. Im assuming you were onboard one of the older planes which are drab and run down but in fairness to ryanair the majority of their planes are new, with more new aircraft constantly being delievred! I know this blog post was from 2008 but I had to leave a comment and disagree with you describing their planes as old… The average age of the Ryanair fleet is 3.5 years, the youngest of any airline. Im assuming you were onboard one of the older planes which are drab and run down but in fairness to ryanair the majority of their planes are new, with more new aircraft constantly being delievred!

]]> By: wandermomhttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/airline-review-ryanair/#comment-4669 wandermom Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:55:42 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=348#comment-4669 We planned and booked our trip to Italy in January this year, but then a last-minute wedding necessitated a change in plans. I tried to change our NWA tickets, but at $400/each, that was going to be too pricey. So hoping our kids were old enough to manage a hideous Seattle-Heathrow-Luton-Pisa routing we picked up some super-cheap 5am seats on a Ryanair flight. So far so good. When my kids finally arrived in Lucca, we sat down for well-deserved sodas. In the ensuing silence, my 12-yr-old said "Mom, I never, ever, want to fly Ryanair again". In his opinion, Ryanair is as close to utter torture as a person can possibly get while travelling. While I'm paying for tickets for all of us, my bet is he'll be grumbling at least once or twice more as we take advantage of cheap seats. But, it does make you think, have Ryanair taken things to such a low level of non-service that it's making other airlines start behaving in the same way ? That would be a sad thing. We planned and booked our trip to Italy in January this year, but then a last-minute wedding necessitated a change in plans. I tried to change our NWA tickets, but at $400/each, that was going to be too pricey. So hoping our kids were old enough to manage a hideous Seattle-Heathrow-Luton-Pisa routing we picked up some super-cheap 5am seats on a Ryanair flight. So far so good.
When my kids finally arrived in Lucca, we sat down for well-deserved sodas. In the ensuing silence, my 12-yr-old said “Mom, I never, ever, want to fly Ryanair again”. In his opinion, Ryanair is as close to utter torture as a person can possibly get while travelling. While I’m paying for tickets for all of us, my bet is he’ll be grumbling at least once or twice more as we take advantage of cheap seats. But, it does make you think, have Ryanair taken things to such a low level of non-service that it’s making other airlines start behaving in the same way ? That would be a sad thing.

]]> By: Tanyahttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/airline-review-ryanair/#comment-4042 Tanya Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:47:35 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=348#comment-4042 I've flown ryanair and was mostly happy with my experience. Yeah, there' s no service, but with the crabby, minimal service you get on the big airlines (mostly the American ones, I've noticed), you might as well pay less than half the price for what amounts to pretty much the same thing. I’ve flown ryanair and was mostly happy with my experience. Yeah, there’ s no service, but with the crabby, minimal service you get on the big airlines (mostly the American ones, I’ve noticed), you might as well pay less than half the price for what amounts to pretty much the same thing.

]]> By: Evahttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/airline-review-ryanair/#comment-3990 Eva Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:37:10 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=348#comment-3990 Hey Matt,Sounds like they've changed their system a bit since I tried to use those un-usable gift certificates (a couple years back). Glad to hear it, but I still won't be giving them another chance!I don't fly American either, but I've never heard of a legacy carrier just leaving passengers completely adrift at an airport with no refund or alternate flight arrangement provided though... Hey Matt,

Sounds like they’ve changed their system a bit since I tried to use those un-usable gift certificates (a couple years back). Glad to hear it, but I still won’t be giving them another chance!

I don’t fly American either, but I’ve never heard of a legacy carrier just leaving passengers completely adrift at an airport with no refund or alternate flight arrangement provided though…

]]> By: Quickroutehttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/airline-review-ryanair/#comment-3987 Quickroute Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:05:28 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=348#comment-3987 I'm not a huge Ryanair fan but they did force the competition to raise its game and lower its prices. As a result I got to travel to destinations in Europe I wouldotherwise not have been able to afford so my hats off to Ryanair! I’m not a huge Ryanair fan but they did force the competition to raise its game and lower its prices. As a result I got to travel to destinations in Europe I wouldotherwise not have been able to afford so my hats off to Ryanair!

]]> By: NomadicMatthttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/airline-review-ryanair/#comment-3979 NomadicMatt Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:56:28 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=348#comment-3979 @Eva: I went looking on their website and there is a free number but it clearly says that flights are only available via phone and that "Web fares/discounts are available using voucher payment."This is what they say about flight cancellations "Ryanair does not provide monetary compensation under Article 7 of EU Regulation 261/2004 for flights which are delayed or cancelled for reasons beyond Ryanair's control (extraordinary circumstances). You may therefore wish to ensure that you have suitable private insurance cover in force to cover such eventualities. Your rights under EU Regulation 261/2004 are unaffected, so in the case of denied boarding, flight cancellation or a delay in excess of two hours you will be provided with a written notice setting out the rules for compensation and assistance in line with such Regulation."Sorry you had a bad experience with them but this experience could be repeated with airlines like American.But I do agree, check the airport transport! SO many airlines (not just ryan air) fly into secondary airports and transportation from them is sometimes expensive. I took Transavia to Bordeaux's secondary airport in Bergerac and it cost me 30 euros to get into Bordeaux center!! @Eva: I went looking on their website and there is a free number but it clearly says that flights are only available via phone and that “Web fares/discounts are available using voucher payment.”

This is what they say about flight cancellations “Ryanair does not provide monetary compensation under Article 7 of EU Regulation 261/2004 for flights which are delayed or cancelled for reasons beyond Ryanair’s control (extraordinary circumstances). You may therefore wish to ensure that you have suitable private insurance cover in force to cover such eventualities. Your rights under EU Regulation 261/2004 are unaffected, so in the case of denied boarding, flight cancellation or a delay in excess of two hours you will be provided with a written notice setting out the rules for compensation and assistance in line with such Regulation.”

Sorry you had a bad experience with them but this experience could be repeated with airlines like American.

But I do agree, check the airport transport! SO many airlines (not just ryan air) fly into secondary airports and transportation from them is sometimes expensive. I took Transavia to Bordeaux’s secondary airport in Bergerac and it cost me 30 euros to get into Bordeaux center!!

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