BrianH
At the Start
Ryanair is now charging £5.00 (or €7.50) for each item of baggage checked in on any of its flights!
Ryanair Rip-off
- Thread starter BrianH
- Start date
betsmate
At the Start
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- Dec 7, 2004
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The idea being that they encourage people to take hand luggage which reduces the amount of "handling" thus keeping costs low. It also allows people who want to carry extra luggage to not have to pay as much in excess baggage charges.
I don't think £5 is a rip-off Brian.
I don't think £5 is a rip-off Brian.
A
Ardross
Guest
Put like that ....
It is definitely a rip off
It is definitely a rip off
A
Ardross
Guest
If you pay at least 4 hours in advance you only have to pay £2.50
Doesn't Ryanair carry large amounts of commercial flyers, though? In which case, I imagine most of those passengers will have their costs met by company expenses. It probably helps to offset the costs of eternally-rising fuel, do you think? And the heavier a plane is with extra baggage, the more fuel is burned.
Bar the Bull
At the Start
I don't think it is a rip-off either.
£2.50 (when booked in advance) for a bag is good value. Ryanair have made great strides with making travel in Eurpoe affordable. They may be absolute fuckers when it comes to customer service, but I think their business model is A1.
£2.50 (when booked in advance) for a bag is good value. Ryanair have made great strides with making travel in Eurpoe affordable. They may be absolute fuckers when it comes to customer service, but I think their business model is A1.
BrianH
At the Start
Let me explain the formula that applies in this instance:
Rip-off = charge made by an organisation or individual when other organisations or individuals make no equivalent charge
(Cf some banks' ATM machines, some travel firms adding a levy when payment is made by credit card etc)
As for "Well, you get cheap flights" - they are no cheaper for the flights I make with them than some other airlines and consequently they will be far from my first port of call in future.
How can £2.50 a bag booked in advance be "good value" when it's nothing with other carriers?
Blind acceptance of "add-ons" such as this allows the O'Learys of this world to tuck up the consumer.
Rip-off = charge made by an organisation or individual when other organisations or individuals make no equivalent charge
(Cf some banks' ATM machines, some travel firms adding a levy when payment is made by credit card etc)
As for "Well, you get cheap flights" - they are no cheaper for the flights I make with them than some other airlines and consequently they will be far from my first port of call in future.
How can £2.50 a bag booked in advance be "good value" when it's nothing with other carriers?
Blind acceptance of "add-ons" such as this allows the O'Learys of this world to tuck up the consumer.
BrianH
At the Start
Wrong, I'm afraid. You pay the £5.00 (or £2.50 if booking early) for your 20 kg "allowed" baggage but you still pay the usual excess baggage rates for anything above 20 kg.
Bar the Bull
At the Start
I regularly fly to Dublin from London, and it is rare that I get a better deal than Ryanair. A number of years ago I was of the opinion that airlines should charge for handling baggage. Given that baggage handling is paid for by the airlines, it is a service for which I always had to pay (indirectly of course, via slightly higher air fares) and which I seldom used.
Similarly, I applauded Ryanair not feeding or watering their punters on flights, in order to keep fares down.
People moaned a lot about having to pay £1.50 for a cup of tea on a flight, which they felt that they had a free call upon. People are now moaning about having to pay £2.50 to check in a bag, which costs the airline a lot more than the provision of a cup of tea and a sticky bun.
Similarly, I applauded Ryanair not feeding or watering their punters on flights, in order to keep fares down.
People moaned a lot about having to pay £1.50 for a cup of tea on a flight, which they felt that they had a free call upon. People are now moaning about having to pay £2.50 to check in a bag, which costs the airline a lot more than the provision of a cup of tea and a sticky bun.
I would disagree with your definition of "Rip off". I would classify a rip off as a devious profiteering manouevre which bullies you into paying more than you thought you were going to, or thought you should have to, with no viable alternative. The excess baggage charge being a more worthy contender. Who weighs their bag before they go to an airport and who actually reads the small print to find out what it will cost them if they are over.
With Ryanair you see the price on the screen, poke the button if you are satisfied with the price, or try elsewhere if you are not.
With Ryanair you see the price on the screen, poke the button if you are satisfied with the price, or try elsewhere if you are not.
Desert Orchid
Senior Jockey
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- Aug 2, 2005
- Messages
- 25,462
Ryanair claimed they'd be offsetting the extra charge by introducing lower fares. It will be interesting to see if that actually happens but how are we expected to be able to tell when their prices fluctuate dramatically?
Ryanair is effectively asking passengers to pay their employees' wages almost directly, which is pretty low of them, in my opinion.
If you're looking for cheap flights always check out Skyscanner. If Ryanair is still the cheapest then you're probably best sticking with them but, as Brian says, they don't need to be your first port of call. They wouldn't be mine.
Ryanair is effectively asking passengers to pay their employees' wages almost directly, which is pretty low of them, in my opinion.
If you're looking for cheap flights always check out Skyscanner. If Ryanair is still the cheapest then you're probably best sticking with them but, as Brian says, they don't need to be your first port of call. They wouldn't be mine.
BrianH
At the Start
It's clear that many of you have read the Ryanair press release announcing the innovation. but how many, I wonder, have read the reports of the Air Travel User's Council?
Britain's leading air passenger watchdog claims that Ryanair is misleading the public over its pricing, after analysing the airline’s decision to introduce charges for checked-in luggage.
The new charges join Government taxes, Passenger Service Charges (PSC), insurance, a wheelchair levy, and handling fees for credit and debit cards that Ryanair adds to its lead-in published fares.
The airline says that the charges will mean lower published fares for passengers, with only those who check in luggage facing the additional costs.
But the Air Transport Users’ Council says that the practice of separating
“overheads” such as taxes, airport charges (PSCs) and the wheelchair levy makes it difficult for passengers to know the real cost of fares. “Ryanair say they are decreasing fares overall, but what proof have we got? There are plenty of taxes and other add-ons already — and now we’ve got baggage charges. All these charges are effectively overheads. They should be included in published prices.”
He said British Airways and Virgin advertise prices with all taxes and charges included, but low-cost airlines have been reluctant to follow suit.
The Times Travel supplement had a look at the cost of a flight from Stansted to Szczecin in Poland which showed that the return fare cost 5 pence each way for a flight on February 20 returning February 25. However, added to this was a £5 government outbound tax, a £6.70 passenger service charge, a £3.13 outbound insurance fee, a 35p outbound wheelchair levy, a £5.15 inbound government tax, a £3.13 inbound insurance fee, and a 35p inbound wheelchair levy. This is £23.91. With a £1.75 each-way credit card handling fee, it comes to £27.41. With the on-line checked-in luggage fees, it amounts to £32.41. This is 324 times the advertised fare.
Peter Sherrard, spokesman for Ryanair, said: “There’s no way that we can prove we’re reducing prices (because of Ryanair’s ‘fluid pricing’ policy). But it is in our interest to improve our competitiveness.”
But never mind the ATUC, how about what the passengers havre to say. Thses are just a couple of samples from a uisers' forum to be found on: http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/ryan.htm
Ryanair - by Darren McCormac
7 April 2006
Something I've noticed about Ryanair's new "fair deal on baggage" is that contrary to their predictions, fares do not appear to have fallen, and they have actually increased their "passenger service charges" (whatever they are) from STN to £15.20! I recently tried to book a so- called free fare (one penny each way) and because of the requirement to pay for bags and the increased fees, the flight was more expensive than a flight I took last year to the same destination. What a complete rip- off.
Ryanair - by Carla Campbell
8 April 2006
"Fair deal on bagage"!? I've been flying Ryanair numerous times and never have had any complaints, however this new policy is simple enough - a rip-off. The fares have not gone down in price instead my flight cost me 56 euro more - plus it's nearly impossible to tell ( with 2 children ) how many bags you're going to take with you. For all I know I've paid for more bags than I'm actually going to use as I already had to tell them with my online booking. Think next time I'll see if there's an alternative company.
There's plenty more where they came from too!
Britain's leading air passenger watchdog claims that Ryanair is misleading the public over its pricing, after analysing the airline’s decision to introduce charges for checked-in luggage.
The new charges join Government taxes, Passenger Service Charges (PSC), insurance, a wheelchair levy, and handling fees for credit and debit cards that Ryanair adds to its lead-in published fares.
The airline says that the charges will mean lower published fares for passengers, with only those who check in luggage facing the additional costs.
But the Air Transport Users’ Council says that the practice of separating
“overheads” such as taxes, airport charges (PSCs) and the wheelchair levy makes it difficult for passengers to know the real cost of fares. “Ryanair say they are decreasing fares overall, but what proof have we got? There are plenty of taxes and other add-ons already — and now we’ve got baggage charges. All these charges are effectively overheads. They should be included in published prices.”
He said British Airways and Virgin advertise prices with all taxes and charges included, but low-cost airlines have been reluctant to follow suit.
The Times Travel supplement had a look at the cost of a flight from Stansted to Szczecin in Poland which showed that the return fare cost 5 pence each way for a flight on February 20 returning February 25. However, added to this was a £5 government outbound tax, a £6.70 passenger service charge, a £3.13 outbound insurance fee, a 35p outbound wheelchair levy, a £5.15 inbound government tax, a £3.13 inbound insurance fee, and a 35p inbound wheelchair levy. This is £23.91. With a £1.75 each-way credit card handling fee, it comes to £27.41. With the on-line checked-in luggage fees, it amounts to £32.41. This is 324 times the advertised fare.
Peter Sherrard, spokesman for Ryanair, said: “There’s no way that we can prove we’re reducing prices (because of Ryanair’s ‘fluid pricing’ policy). But it is in our interest to improve our competitiveness.”
But never mind the ATUC, how about what the passengers havre to say. Thses are just a couple of samples from a uisers' forum to be found on: http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/ryan.htm
Ryanair - by Darren McCormac
7 April 2006
Something I've noticed about Ryanair's new "fair deal on baggage" is that contrary to their predictions, fares do not appear to have fallen, and they have actually increased their "passenger service charges" (whatever they are) from STN to £15.20! I recently tried to book a so- called free fare (one penny each way) and because of the requirement to pay for bags and the increased fees, the flight was more expensive than a flight I took last year to the same destination. What a complete rip- off.
Ryanair - by Carla Campbell
8 April 2006
"Fair deal on bagage"!? I've been flying Ryanair numerous times and never have had any complaints, however this new policy is simple enough - a rip-off. The fares have not gone down in price instead my flight cost me 56 euro more - plus it's nearly impossible to tell ( with 2 children ) how many bags you're going to take with you. For all I know I've paid for more bags than I'm actually going to use as I already had to tell them with my online booking. Think next time I'll see if there's an alternative company.
There's plenty more where they came from too!
To be honest, none of this concerns me as Jenkins drives me everywhere in the Lincoln Continental, but the last passenger appears to be a bit daft. She says she's flown on numerous occasions - but still has no idea how many bags she needs? It's irrelevant whether you're taking two kids or four grandparents - if you reckon on one bag per head, or one case for two, that's it. You don't arrive at your car, do you, no knowing whether it'll take the ten bags you've packed because you have 'no idea' how many you'll actually want? That's the sort of non-argument that actually reinforces the airline's charging policy: if the bags are carried free, you'll overpack to your heart's content; when we charge you for them, your mind is suddenly concentrated as to whether you need the damn things at all!
The Ryanair pricing policy is the most blatant piece of false advertising I have ever come across. I can't believe it is legal. I still would argue that you don't turn up at the airport expecting to pay 2p for your 1p each way flights and are confounded when you have to fork out more. You are given your final price in a very low trouble, low pressure situation and alternatives are found with a few mouseclicks. Nobody is being conned.
BrianH
At the Start
Those who have travelled with families of small children may think differently - what isn't mentioned there, though it is relevant to this lady's problem, is that in addition to the baggage charge Ryanair has discontinued the policy used by all airlines of "sharing allowances". That means that if you were allowed, say 15 kg per person a family of four were allowed to have two 30 kg bags. It is this as much as anything that means she is unable to base her packing needs ion previous experience.
Unless you are all Ryanair shareholders - which I doubt - I just can't understand the general support for O'Leary's profit increasing plans.
Brian,
You can't argue that Ryanair are uncompetitive. Sure, I'd like them to be cheaper, but if they are going to add another sneaky few quid onto the fares, I'll live with it.
A return flight from Dublin to Gatwick costs about €60 with all the add-ons. A return ticket on the gatwick express to get into London costs nearly €40 - which is better value? From my personal viewpoint it is very much in my interest that Ryanair remains comfortably profitable.
You can't argue that Ryanair are uncompetitive. Sure, I'd like them to be cheaper, but if they are going to add another sneaky few quid onto the fares, I'll live with it.
A return flight from Dublin to Gatwick costs about €60 with all the add-ons. A return ticket on the gatwick express to get into London costs nearly €40 - which is better value? From my personal viewpoint it is very much in my interest that Ryanair remains comfortably profitable.
BrianH
At the Start
Unfortunately never at the times I want to travel, which do tend to be occasions of high demand
BrianH
At the Start
We've virtually exhausted the debate apart from the argument that Michael O'Leary is avenging 800 years of abuse, so I'll make my final contribution.
There is a European law that if one is a retailer (ie selling to the end user who is not a business) prices must be shown fully inclusive of VAT. This is not the case if you are operating a company that sells to other companies.
I suggest that it would be to the advantage of all customers if airlines (and other travel services) were required to quote the total net price of any fare rather than to have up to half a dozen extras to be added on later.
There is a European law that if one is a retailer (ie selling to the end user who is not a business) prices must be shown fully inclusive of VAT. This is not the case if you are operating a company that sells to other companies.
I suggest that it would be to the advantage of all customers if airlines (and other travel services) were required to quote the total net price of any fare rather than to have up to half a dozen extras to be added on later.
Brian, you started this off by saying that passengers are being charged a fiver a bag - you didn't state anything about the weight allowance of that bag. If Ryanair have abolished sharing allowances, what is the amount per bag allowed, or have they abandoned weight allowances completely? If the latter, then this mother would simply pack one 500kg bag, if weight's really unrestricted. Perhaps Phil Waters' theory really is true?
Why are you surprised when people don't rush to defend your point of view on this? Most people who are well-heeled enough to be going on holidays requiring airflight find a fiver nothing - not even the cost of two large lattes while they're waiting in an overpriced airport lounge, is it? If you've splurged on a break costing, say, £2,000, another fiver (or even £25) is hardly a make or break cost. It's just about a minimum tip to your taxi-driver. I just don't see anything to get excited about, per se, although of course you should know from the outset the total cost of your journey.
Why are you surprised when people don't rush to defend your point of view on this? Most people who are well-heeled enough to be going on holidays requiring airflight find a fiver nothing - not even the cost of two large lattes while they're waiting in an overpriced airport lounge, is it? If you've splurged on a break costing, say, £2,000, another fiver (or even £25) is hardly a make or break cost. It's just about a minimum tip to your taxi-driver. I just don't see anything to get excited about, per se, although of course you should know from the outset the total cost of your journey.