Comments on: Shock News: Ryanair irritates potential customer

By: Tom Arah

Tom Arah — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:42:30 +0000

Amazingly customer support did get back to me… to reassure me that I hadn’t been charged for the experience – a thought that had never crossed my mind. I’m now worried that I’ve given Ryanair another money-saving idea – randomly pick customers and charge them but don’t give them tickets. As this would allow Ryanair to pass some of the savings on to the majority of its customers I’m sure it would be “popular” and is only a matter of time.

By: Tom Arah

Tom Arah — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:07:14 +0000

Regarding the contempt for customers issue, ryanair’s current plans for a “fat tax” http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=09&month=apr&story=gen-en-220409 is particularly distasteful.
Especially the pathetic and unpleasant attempt to portray it as a response to customer demand.

By: Mack

Mack — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:06:46 +0000

“What! You mean you don’t think the customer service department is going to get back to me? ”
If you were a member of the general public I’d bet you £100 that you’d not hear from them…as you are a published journalist…I’d only risk £50!
Michael O’Leary is a disgrace as is the company he oversees, as an Irish person I will fly ANY alternative I can find to avoid that shower – generally I find Aer Lingus, BMI or BA work out only a little more expensive, treat you well and drop you at an airport in hte correct country!

By: Clive

Clive — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:10:00 +0000

It’s an interesting one isn’t it. As John Gray has already asserted, Michael O’Leary’s open contempt for paying customers is widely perceived. I’d go further and say that this contempt finds expression as official corporate policy. The question, as customers, that we need to ask ourselves is at what point does being treated like dirt override our desire for a cheaper deal?

I believe that it is this contempt for customers that is leading to other punitive actions on the part of those in a position to exploit us. Witness being charged for clear plastic bags at security checks, being charged for trolleys, being offered the chance (for a fee) to jump the queue (caused entirely by inefficiencies in airport passenger handling systems in the first place), drivers being charged to drop-off passengers…

In light of this growing contempt is it hardly any wonder that people are becoming increasingly stroppy and aggresive toward each other. Contempt, like loyalty, is a two way street.

By: John Gray

John Gray — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:32:30 +0000

I suppose it’s really a matter of whether you can balance Michael O’Leary’s total and utter contempt for his customers against the quite-good prices often available for RyanAir flights.

But irritating a potential customer is not shock news, but par for the course – compulsory, even…

DO let us know if you ever get a reply!

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:07:09 +0000

I agree Ryanair’s policies can be baffling and annoying at times. I find that when booking, its best to assume that you won’t receive any customer service whatsoever, that way you won’t be dissapointed!! BUT I find that once the booking is made, the service is generally pretty good, the planes are modern, the in flight facilities are sufficient and they are generally on time.

For expats like me, life would be so much more difficult without Ryanair. I live in central France. Previously to get back to the UK from my local airport, I would have had to fly to Paris and then fly to the UK using national carriers who would have happily charged 400 euros or more for the two return flights. Ryanair charge around a fifth of that or less, even after taking account of all the surcharges and taxes.

By: Tom Arah

Tom Arah — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:57:53 +0000

What! You mean you don’t think the customer service department is going to get back to me?

By: Roger

Roger — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:44:10 +0000

Everbody knows all about these cowboys by now, so why do apparantly intelligent people keep using them? You should in fact be thanking them that you didn’t get further into their customer service experience, and have probably been saved a lot of trouble!

By: fun

fun — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:17:28 +0000

Shock News: Ryanair irritates potential customer…

Bookmarked your post over at Blog Bookmarker.com!…