Not free flights ? So that means you have to accept that O'Leary is a liar then ? It's a sad state of affairs when you have to be prepared to accept that the owner of an airline is a liar
Yep, I can accept that he is a liar if it gets me to my destination cheaply. Like I said, if you have a problem with Ryanair, don't use them, simple really.
I still don't understand how anyone in there right mind can ever expect to get a flight for nothing - it's just not a realistic proposition. The guy on Panorama who was getting return flights for 2p must be one of the very few of O'Learys 67m passengers who get this, but to all intents and purposes it is free.
The other 66.999m have to foot the bill of the man who flies for free.
But, it gets peoples attention and gets them to the website - again no law says you then have to book!
Also out of 67m passengers, theres bound to be a few disgruntled ones - but many millions of happy ones.
And to say BA offers a much higher standard of service for a similar price, well this maybe true - but for how much longer???
When I say "happy", I suppose "satisfied", would be a better word to use - not sure anyone can be "happy" to fly Ryanair - unless it's for 2p 
I once flew with BA- an earlier cancelled flight took our scheduled plane. Net result I had to pay £70 for a solo transfer to Morzine. I'd still fly with BA rather than Ryanair. Saying that I'd chose easyjet/A.N.other over BA first.
coffeeking- wonder if he has the same policy with his maintance staff
Legal minimum requirements on maintenance, can't go too far wrong unless you book some unheard of middle-eastern backwater flights-r-us.
Though there is something self-contradictory about their website...
There either ARE taxes and charges, or there are not. Make up your mind.
Love the footer. Fares dont inc option fees/charges....even though the header screams NO TAXES OR CHARGES LOL.
My other half worked for them for a bit, the staff refused to work on the plane because they hadn't done the required safety checks. The plane was running late and they have a short turn around time. The staff were told to work anyway or they'd be fired! Not sure quite how true her stories are, though theres a similar story on The Times website
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article1343517.ece
Thanks for that link. It just reinforces what I think of the confidence-trickster.
A work colleague of mine uses Ryan air all the time, he gets round the "extra charges" by using an Electron card - so he reguarly jets off here, there everywhere for between 1 and 99p returns - apparenty the electron card is the only one which doesn't incurr any extras.
bigdonx - Member
I still don't understand how anyone in there right mind can ever expect to get a flight for nothing - it's just not a realistic proposition.
It works on the basis that your advertising has to both be true and not misleading. Simple really, if someone tells you something is free, then it has to be free. Otherwise its a con and therefore illegal. O'Leary has been taken to task numerous times by the OFT, and usually getas away with it because his company headquarters are in a different jurasdiction to where the offences are taking place. I beleive recently that they were told that the caveats and extras should be presented in at least the same size and prominence as the actual offers. One glance at the "free" advert posted on Page 1 shows how much notice he's taken of that.
so as that advert says you only pay for optional charges on all flights in november and december on selected routes. The route newcastle to dublin is one of the free routes and if I want to travel between 18th and 20th Dec I HAVE to pay 48 quid taxes and Fees and 11 quid insurance. That is not optional, thats compulsory. so therefore he is lying, plain and simple, these flights are not free. so why say they are? personally I'm speaking to the advertising watchdog this evening to ask them their opinion on it.
i booked yesterday weekend break in dublin, paid a total of 2p for the flights, paid with visa electron, and will not be checking in any hold luggage.
there are no taxes/charges on most sales flights, i do this regularlt it is a great way to see europe
There either ARE taxes and charges, or there are not. Make up your mind.
There's a key word in the advert - optional. There can be no taxes or charges, but if you choose to take a bag etc. then you'll be charged but this is optional - simples
Just did the same exercise with a standard fare. It was bumped up by 42.5% by unavoidable extras. Incidentally, the taxes are Taxes, Fees, Insurance, Whhelchair levy and Aviation Insurance..... this all on top of the optional travel insurance that is offered prior to getting that far. Also two online web check in fees (one for out and one for inbound), despite the fact that the purpose of online checkin is to reduce costs for Ryan air, and that the process only occurs once on the outbound leg.
I also use Ryanair a lot to fly home. I personally have no horror stories but a friend of mine here was left stranded in Morocco by Ryanair after the plane failed to show up. All the passengers were give the refund for their return flight (probably a few quid each) but then had to find their own way home which cost my friend over a grand. He will never use them again. But the point of the OP is not if Ryanair offer good or bad service it is simply if the advertising claims they are making are fraudulent which they patently are.
2p for a 2 night break in Oslo in December. No taxes or charges. Very tempting.
and there's another thing, how come some 'free' flights have no taxes, while others that are also advertised as free do have taxes?
Roter Stern -
That happened to me, too.
Left in Marrakech by Ryanair with the promise they'd fly us home on the next flight with available seats. Which happened to be in 4 weeks time!
We had to fight for our refunds, but no compensation for spending £800 to get home.
C N U T S.
Yep, I can accept that he is a liar if it gets me to my destination cheaply. Like I said, if you have a problem with Ryanair, don't use them, simple really.
Simple really ? No, not really that simply, because there is an accepted protocol which states that any company that provides a product or service to the public shouldn't lie. And "the law" has often something to say on the matter.
Although I'm not sure why less cheap companies shouldn't be allowed to lie, would you extend that attitude to any company which provides products or services to the public ? How about cheap supermarkets such as Asda or Lidl, should they get away with lying about their prices whilst Waitrose or Sainsbury are expected to tell the truth - or is only O'Leary allowed to lie ?
The purpose of this gimmick was to counter the bad publicity which Ryanair received from a Panorama programme. Instead of taking the BBC to court, Ryanair hoped people would feel that the claims should be ignored - because Ryanair are cheap. It would appear that at least one person on here has been won over by that argument. Of course in the process of this gimmick, Ryanair have reinforced the fact that they are liars.
Why do people get so worked up by the guy/airline? He comes accross as a bit of a chancer admittedly, but in my experience he delivers. I've flown extensively with them, and the vast majority of flights are on time, and cheap.
Vote with your feet.
[quote]and there's another thing, how come some 'free' flights have no taxes, while others that are also advertised as free do have taxes?
T&Cs
No Taxes on flights on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday in November & Dec
I'm with brycey. I used to fly round Europe a lot, and originally it was Ryanair. 30 odd flights, not one problem. Ever. But it got more and more like a cattle truck, whilst easyjet (and others) provide better service, and get you more or less to our destination - Ryanair to Venice- Treviso, and don't get me started on that shed that's supposed to be in or even near Paris.
Anyway, I seem to be one of the very few people in the world capable of not using Ryanair, and so not giving a flying **** what they do or say.
Also, my TV has an OFF button which works remarkably well when required.
No Taxes on flights on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday in November & Dec
Seeing this I tried to book a flight, newcastle - dublin leaving on saturday, coming back on monday. not only are the flights now a tenner each but they still have 60 quid taxes and other charges on them. so I ask again, Ryan Air where are these 'free' flights
Out of interest I tried booking a flight from Edinburgh to Krakow in January
Ryanair - advertised price - £2.99 out, £12.99 back. Actual price £76.something
Easyjet - advertised £27.99 out, £18.99 back. Actual price = advertised price.
so I ask again, Ryan Air where are these 'free' flights
If you really need to find free flights - use moneysavingexpert's flight checker - and yes there are free flights available, if you look
BigButSlimmerBloke - thing is, hes like an annoying gnat that entraps new victims. I bet the ASA have had soooo many complaints but they can only 'rule' and ask that an ad is pulled. I just wish RyanAir would be more honest
If you really need to find free flights
BigButSlimmerBloke - thing is, hes like an annoying gnat that entraps new victims.
..and how does he "entrap" his "victims"?
A website offers something that may or may not be available. Before you click on the button that commits you to purchase the final price is detailed right there, right in front of you - see my last post.
Are you a "victim" because checking the price is too much like work for you, or finding out that your £75 return flight doesn't mean business class? Is it really a secret known only to a few hardcore travellers that the price on Ryanair's front page is rarely the price you will pay?
How difficult is it to understand that you are free not to fly with Ryanair? In exactly the same way that you don't HAVE to give those nice Nigerian former ministers of state your bank details. But you can if you want to.
Couldn't have put it better myself BBSB.......
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