Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[JaffaCake]

What's not to like about ryanair?
The whole consumer experience, from being fished in by prices that actually are impossible to obtain once they stick tax and baggage etc on top, to the horrendous flying experience, the constantly being badgered to spend money on stuff u don't want for the whole flight while not being able to buy what u do want - I flew with Moorman to the Irish Open two years ago and he was so hungover and trying to buy a bottle of water before he passed out, abs no chance til you've seen the hot food menu, the lottery tickets and everything else - the being treated like an inconvenience and an opportunity for the staff to earn more money by spotting your bag may be too big, the countless people all undoing cases and putting on an extra hoodie at check-in to make sure the bags don't weigh too much, all scrabbling round on the airport floor, what's to like about being a ryanair customer?

You can argue they have a fantastic business model, but maybe your question should be what's not to like about investing in ryanair shares?

The Tesco consumer experience couldn't be any different, they make u feel completely valued as a customer, whole heartedly believe the customer is always right and treat u accordingly. I've never heard anyone say I'm not shopping at Tesco any more because they did this that or the other to me last time. I've never heard anyone say that more about a company than ryanair.

Claypole's rant about michael ryan running the company did make me smile tho, some kind of link between being treated like a mug by a company to a homicidal maniac?

[tikay]

What's not to like about ryanair?
The whole consumer experience, from being fished in by prices that actually are impossible to obtain once they stick tax and baggage etc on top, to the horrendous flying experience, the constantly being badgered to spend money on stuff u don't want for the whole flight while not being able to buy what u do want - I flew with Moorman to the Irish Open two years ago and he was so hungover and trying to buy a bottle of water before he passed out, abs no chance til you've seen the hot food menu, the lottery tickets and everything else - the being treated like an inconvenience and an opportunity for the staff to earn more money by spotting your bag may be too big, the countless people all undoing cases and putting on an extra hoodie at check-in to make sure the bags don't weigh too much, all scrabbling round on the airport floor, what's to like about being a ryanair customer?

You can argue they have a fantastic business model, but maybe your question should be what's not to like about investing in ryanair shares?

The Tesco consumer experience couldn't be any different, they make u feel completely valued as a customer, whole heartedly believe the customer is always right and treat u accordingly. I've never heard anyone say I'm not shopping at Tesco any more because they did this that or the other to me last time. I've never heard anyone say that more about a company than ryanair.

Claypole's rant about michael ryan running the company did make me smile tho, some kind of link between being treated like a mug by a company to a homicidal maniac?

So do you like them, or not, Mr K?

In truth, handsome is, as handsome does. No airline in the world earns a better ROI, or, in relative terms, maybe even absolute terms, has such a big cash pile, & that'll do for me. They also have, I would imagine, the youngest average fleet age of any major airline. Newer = safer = more fuel efficient = greener.

I bet you still use them, too.

Long time no see or speak, hope you had a wonderful Xmas & New Year. Hope 2012 is a great year for you.

[AlrightJack]

I only use Ryanair because I have to as they are the only operator on many of the routes I need to travel on.  Their success is clearly not based on customer satisfaction. On one of the journeys I made last year there was melted ice cream all over the seat I was about to sit in. Only just noticed it. If making a business succcesful is achieved by ignoring things like cleaning; and generally treating customer badly, they are doing a great job. They definitely should not be applauded for running the business the way they do. They have set a terrible precedent for things like charging for luggage, check-in, etc and many airlines have copied that. Lets just hope other operators don't follow their lead on ignoring the internal hygiene of their vehicles.

[tikay]

I only use Ryanair because I have to as they are the only operator on many of the routes I need to travel on.  Their success is clearly not based on customer satisfaction. On one of the journeys I made last year there was melted ice cream all over the seat I was about to sit in. Only just noticed it. If making a business succcesful is achieved by ignoring things like cleaning; and generally treating customer badly, they are doing a great job. They definitely should not be applauded for running the business the way they do. They have set a terrible precedent for things like charging for luggage, check-in, etc and many airlines have copied that. Lets just hope other operators don't follow their lead on ignoring the internal hygiene of their vehicles.

Shsareholder value is all that matters when judging a business - the business is owned by the Shareholders, not customers, be they satisfied or not.

Why is charging for luggage a bad precadent? It seems entirely logical to me - especially from a shareholder perspective. Just because nobody thought of it before does not make it - necessarily - a bad idea. And soon, every airline on earth (& those up in the sky) will charge for baggage. Will that suddenly make every airline in the world, bad?

It is quite extraordinary, however, the amount of "passion" that any discussion about Ryanair evokes.

Think I'll spite buy some Ryanair shares, I feel particularly difficult & obdurate today, & then I'll no longer be imparshal. (Copyright Lil Dave).

Hope you & yours are well, Mr Raab. You coming to Luton at the end of the month? You'd be very welcome, as my personal guest, just say the word.

[tikay]

I only use Ryanair because I have to as they are the only operator on many of the routes I need to travel on.  Their success is clearly not based on customer satisfaction. On one of the journeys I made last year there was melted ice cream all over the seat I was about to sit in. Only just noticed it. If making a business succcesful is achieved by ignoring things like cleaning; and generally treating customer badly, they are doing a great job. They definitely should not be applauded for running the business the way they do. They have set a terrible precedent for things like charging for luggage, check-in, etc and many airlines have copied that. Lets just hope other operators don't follow their lead on ignoring the internal hygiene of their vehicles.

= an excellent business model then......

[AndrewT]

Ryanair are successful because, even though people bleat about customer service, they only look at the price when buying tickets. Unless it's a Ryanair-only route, there's nothing stopping people from paying a bit extra to travel with a normal airline.

Except they don't - they'll buy a plane ticket which costs less than the cab to the airport and then wonder why they get treated like freight.

[Laxie]

I'd to fly with them last Thursday.  They were announcing 'last boarding call' when our plane hadn't even arrived yet.  lol  No problem.  While the rest rushed the line to be first on the plane (that wasn't there), I sat and chilled.  Finally the plane arrived and staff rushed to process the half a dozen eejits who'd paid extra for priority boarding. 

They were escorted outside but stopped from going across the runway and onto the plane.  Why?  Because the people on the arriving flight hadn't even been left off yet.  For five minutes those people (who had paid extra) stood out there in freezing cold gale force winds before the staff decided to do something about it.  They added more bodies to the line by attempting to process the rest of us.  Myself and a few more stayed in our seats until we were sure it was really time to get on the plane.  15 minutes later. 

Customer service is definitely non-existent by them.  The majority are against them due to the way we're treated.  Not born of jealousy over Ryanair's success.  Their fares are rarely 'cheap' and I will always chose another airline over them if both fly to the same place - even it if means paying a bit more.  They're only going strong because they go to places other airlines don't and they've a great marketing team who convince Joe public they're getting a great deal.  Either accept it and carry on or stay home is often the case.   

[tikay]

I'd to fly with them last Thursday.  They were announcing 'last boarding call' when our plane hadn't even arrived yet.  lol  No problem.  While the rest rushed the line to be first on the plane (that wasn't there), I sat and chilled.  Finally the plane arrived and staff rushed to process the half a dozen eejits who'd paid extra for priority boarding. 

They were escorted outside but stopped from going across the runway and onto the plane.  Why?  Because the people on the arriving flight hadn't even been left off yet.  For five minutes those people (who had paid extra) stood out there in freezing cold gale force winds before the staff decided to do something about it.   They added more bodies to the line by attempting to process the rest of us.  Myself and a few more stayed in our seats until we were sure it was really time to get on the plane.  15 minutes later. 

Customer service is definitely non-existent by them.  The majority are against them due to the way we're treated.  Not born of jealousy over Ryanair's success.  Their fares are rarely 'cheap' and I will always chose another airline over them if both fly to the same place - even it if means paying a bit more.  They're only going strong because they go to places other airlines don't and they've a great marketing team who convince Joe public they're getting a great deal.  Either accept it and carry on or stay home is often the case.   

So who were the dumb ones - the punters, or the Airline?

Did you know that more & more public-facing businesses are disbanding their Customer-Care functions, & why? Quite a fascinating story, really. All perfectly logical, too.

Many folks have no understanding of how an efficient business works. That, I suggest, is the problem. Ignorance of the facts, & all that.

I'll get me coat. I have two now, you know, or is it "to", or "too"? I'll ask Chompy.

[tikay]

[Laxie]

I'd to fly with them last Thursday.  They were announcing 'last boarding call' when our plane hadn't even arrived yet.  lol  No problem.  While the rest rushed the line to be first on the plane (that wasn't there), I sat and chilled.  Finally the plane arrived and staff rushed to process the half a dozen eejits who'd paid extra for priority boarding. 

They were escorted outside but stopped from going across the runway and onto the plane.  Why?  Because the people on the arriving flight hadn't even been left off yet.  For five minutes those people (who had paid extra) stood out there in freezing cold gale force winds before the staff decided to do something about it.   They added more bodies to the line by attempting to process the rest of us.  Myself and a few more stayed in our seats until we were sure it was really time to get on the plane.  15 minutes later. 

Customer service is definitely non-existent by them.  The majority are against them due to the way we're treated.  Not born of jealousy over Ryanair's success.  Their fares are rarely 'cheap' and I will always chose another airline over them if both fly to the same place - even it if means paying a bit more.  They're only going strong because they go to places other airlines don't and they've a great marketing team who convince Joe public they're getting a great deal.  Either accept it and carry on or stay home is often the case.   

So who were the dumb ones - the punters, or the Airline?

Did you know that more & more public-facing businesses are disbanding their Customer-Care functions, & why? Quite a fascinating story, really. All perfectly logical, too.

Many folks have no understanding of how an efficient business works. That, I suggest, is the problem. Ignorance of the facts, & all that.

I'll get me coat. I have two now, you know, or is it "to", or "too"? I'll ask Chompy.

I agree.  The punters were eejits for not saying, "Hold on a minute..."  They just did what they're told, regardless of how silly the request.  Bigger fools them.  

Imagine if more stayed relaxed in their seats when called?  Next thing we'd be refused seats on the flight for not following instructions.  For now, I'll sit quietly unnoticed...the rebel who won't stand in line when told.  And I won't complain - because I'm not outdoors freezing.

Have you designated the new coats yet?  One for good and one for every day.  Or are you going kamikaze and wearing them both all the time, but not at the same time obv?

[tikay]

[AlrightJack]

Kind of similar to the way Ryanair treat their customers

[redarmi]

Shareholder value is all that matters when judging a business - the business is owned by the Shareholders, not customers, be they satisfied or not.

.

I'll bite.  Do companies not have larger responsibilities within the communities they operate?  Do they not have a responsibility to their staff to treat them well.  If shareholders and profits are the only priorities then is it acceptable if Ryanair bribe governments in small countries for slots?  The problem when profit is put above everything else is that people begin behaving horribly and doing immoral things that end up being detrimental to the larger community....it would be too much of a cliche to mention bankers at this point right?

[Boba Fett]

Im waiting for the day we have to pay to use the toilet on flights.

[Simon Galloway]

Im waiting for the day we have to pay to use the toilet on flights.

Not that I've travelled on RyainAir for a while, but I thought they already did?

In theory, if someone takes a £100 flight, and strips it down to £20 as long as I don't want luggage, don't want an onboard meal, don't want a pee on board, etc ~ then that's great.  I can either have a cheap flight or if I want all those things, I can add them back in for £100 (or fly with someone else)

I think the suspicion is that the price might creep back up to £100 stripped down on the QT.