Is he serious?

[sonnetpete]

I fly with Ryanair as it's the most convenient and cost effective way of visiting my mother. Their website is probably one of the most devious I've ever come across and if you aren't familiar with it, your airfare soon becomes anything but budget!

However, I think his latest scheme is pushing things just too far. Publicity stunt or a serious idea? What do you think?

_http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1291103/Ryanair-sell-standing-room-tickets-4--funded-charging-passengers-use-toilet.html?ITO=1490

 

[Lazarus]

Those ideas have been around for ages, Pete!

He featured on an ITV Programme at 19.30 -20.00 last night where Manic Martin Lewis was extolling how to beat the cheap Airlines at their own game. Very interesting it was too.

Edit: Upon reading your linked article fully, I see the TV Prog is referred to - but O'Leary did not say the £1 loo charge would definitely be introduced, but merely confirmed he was "serious".

Typical third hand reporting. Much of the rest of the article is an extremely liberal interpretation of what was actually said.

 

[Channel Hopper]

If you need to, go in the seat.

 

[sonnetpete]

I didn't see the programme, though the 'standing seats' featured in a discussion on an expat forum a while back. I wouldn't mind 'slouching' (don't think you can call it sitting or standing) as my flight is just a little over an hour. What does worry me is the safety aspect. Other than using full harness seat belts (like F1) I don't see how you can secure someone properly. Without such a harness, on a really turbulent flight you could 'submarine' out of position and probably injure yourself and/or other passengers.

It seems more like a crazy O'Leary publicity stunt to me. I don't think he's got any chance of getting it past the CAA or getting Boeing to refit the planes.

 

[Lazarus]

It seems more like a crazy O'Leary publicity stunt to me. I don't think he's got any chance of getting it past the CAA or getting Boeing to refit the planes.

Yes - hence the word "serious" enclosed in quoticles in my last

Personally, I like the game and judging by the passenger numbers, so do a great many others.

I have a 90% + strike rate at getting an extra-legroom over-wing exit seat over the past few years ....... Even the Priority Boarding mugs seem not to go for them, so I always nip to the rear door and head amidships at full speed.

 

[2cvbloke]

I think it's silly people read the Daily Mail, multiple pages of moaning about things nobody really cares about...

Cheap flights are just that, cheap, they are always too good to be true, they often neglect to disclose vital info, and are just downright devious...

 

[Lazarus]

............. unless like many hundreds of thousands of us you play the game properly and it really is very inexpensive.

Plus the actual flights themselves are generally prompt and well run.

Total fare for SWMBO and I travelling into Rome and out of Brindisi this year was under £150 including the one checked bag.

 

[sonnetpete]

Yes - hence the word "serious" enclosed in quoticles in my last

Don't think you can really apply the word "serious" to Mr.O'Leary anyway.

Thanks for the tip re the extra leg room Tivù. I always use the front steps so will give that a go this summer. (If I can get someone to look after this place for a week that is)

It seems most of the people who post actively on the aforementioned expat forum must read the Daily Mail, as they tend to be opinionated moaners with little knowledge.

 

[Lazarus]

Thanks for the tip re the extra leg room Tivù. I always use the front steps so will give that a go this summer. (If I can get someone to look after this place for a week that is)

Bon chance, mon brave

Usually there is a member of Cabin Crew standing there and that seems to put some punters off .. but I suspect all they are doing is ensuring no children or infirm persons try to use those seats.

There are two rows on each side as well, so 12 seats in total. Should get something out of that.

On the way back last Sunday, some arrogant chap and his wife were occupying the window and aisle seats, leaving the middle one to support his coat.

A very polite but assertive "Is anyone sitting there?" got him to slide next to his wife. Similar on the other side, except they actually offered to shuffle to free up the other aisle seat.

But that was a packed flight - normally you can easily get two or three adjacent seats if you really want or need to. And it really does make a difference to a six-footer like me (No, I'm not a Spider .........) as the legroom is enormous!

 

[Huevos]

Ryanair seem to play this game all the time (floating ideas). It's a case of any publicity is good. Even if the base story seems negative it means everyone is talking about Ryanair (even us). The ideas are from the sublime to the ridiculous, but they just idle talk concocted to suck in idle journalists, to keep them busy writing stories that perpetually maintain the company name focused in the public eye for the smallest financial input. But, the concept that any of these ideas, such as standing or paying to go to the toilet, could come to fruition, or are even legal, is absurd to say the least.

 

[hexah]

Leg room is a serious issue these days, and not just on planes.

_http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1291396/Her-Royal-Thighness-Zara-Phillips-flashes-toned-tanned-legs-short-tassled-dress.html

(If I can get someone to look after this place for a week that is)

No doubt some small goat fanciers will creep out of the woodwork... :-rock

I think it's silly people read the Daily Mail, multiple pages of moaning about things nobody really cares about...

The website is worth reading for the large number of nutty comments.:-slurp

 

[sonnetpete]

I suspect all they are doing is ensuring no children or infirm persons try to use those seats.

And it really does make a difference to a six-footer like me (No, I'm not a Spider .........) as the legroom is enormous!

Infirm? No trips to the bar at Dinard then! Though speaking as a just about five foot four bloke, perhaps I should leave the exit aisle to those others blessed with long legs!! If you are prepared to fly with the minimum of hand luggage and do without the secret add on extras (priority boarding is a joke) budget airlines are excellent.

On the subject of Ryanair, a friend in the UK plays bass in a tribute band. The band (The Ronnies) were booked to play at a festival in Croatia and booked flights with Ryanair. They didn't want to check their instruments into the hold, but take them as hand luggage. They weren't allowed to put three guitars on one seat, the airline insisted they had to buy an extra ticket for each guitar. Flexible isn't in Ryanair's vocabulary.

 

[sonnetpete]

No doubt some small goat fanciers will creep out of the woodwork.

I didn't realise I was harbouring a house elf in my oak beamed loft......oh, you meant small goats, not small fanciers!!