Ryanair is an ultra low cost carrier, and the company’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, is unapologetic about that. Along those lines, O’Leary just gave an interesting interview about the carrier’s carry-on bag crackdown, and I can’t decide if he’s being logical, gaslighting customers, or both.
Continue reading: Ryanair Boss May Bump Commission For Staff Who Collect Bag Fees
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Pretty much everything in double quotes sounded like it came straight from the mouth of His Excellency AAB. Some things still haven’t changed at QR… like the refusal to fit more Qsuites.
Atleast the guy is honest instead of sugar coating his words by using words like choice, etc.
When you fly Ryanair this is what you get. People want Ryanair/Frontier fares with Pan Am service.
I'm surprised gate staff at somewhere like Dublin Airport can be bothered charging people for €1.50.
The cost of living there is high, so I would assume wages are decent, and having to argue with a passenger about sizing, potentially delay the flight, and potentially be late to their lunch break, or smoke break, or to board their next flight, just to get such a measly commission doesn't seem worth it.
Hope Ryan Air practice what they preach. Rules are rules and they must be followed. So land your plane on time or go find another airport … they don’t want your business as other airlines land on time
George, it's possible to deliver a no frills cheap product without showing complete and unvarnished contempt for your passengers and all government and airport authorities.
He's occasionally honest, just like RyanAir! They'll lie their faces off when they want to. Even more so than most nasty little corporate overlords.
Fully agree! And I am proud to never having flown FR - not even when it meant a 2h detour on connecting flights vs. a non-stop with FR. I really do not like companies which treat their customers like kettle and have sub-standard pay and social benefits for their staff. Yes, he has built a great business but I would be glad if would shut up.
"the actual reason for enforcement is to generate more ancillary revenue, and not to prevent delays" - That's not quite true. Ryanair is extremely focused on shortening their turnaround times - that's why they don't have seat pockets etc. And unlike most airlines, Ryanair will NOT sell more carry-ons than can fit on board. Once that number is reached, the only option they offer is a checked bag.
On the plane, not on board. The proposal just requires and equivalent of hand baggage allowance to be included in the fare. This may be provided either as a carry-on or as a checked bag.
ryanairs social media guy is just a prick that tries to pass off how bad they are as tho its funny.
what sort of trash tier airline purposely splits ppl up around the plane? a totally anti-consumer airline
“please fly somebody else, we don’t want your business.”
Done, I won't fly them.
To be honest, they were already on my skip list (EasyJet is a LOT more professional, hardly any more expensive). Similarly I won't fly American ULCC like Frontier or Spirit, because who needs that mix of low-quality, infrequent travelers, and corporate abuse?
But in EU there's more choice (plus trains and ferries) so even less reason to fly the worst of the worst.
I don't see anything wrong with them incentivizing employees to look out unpaid or oversized bags so long as they are equally strict about making sure employees don't charge customers who aren't violating the rules.
The way he framed it is obviously gaslighting. Had he said that passengers trying to get away without paying not only delay flights but deprive the airline of revenue that allows Ryanair to turn a profit while keeping prices low for those who do follow the rules that would have been credible.
But he's a billionaire, I'm not and he runs the airline so I think we call him right on the facts and wrong on the reasoning which is better than pretty much all of the airlines we have here in the US.
I know I am an odd one here, but for intra-EU short hops I will take and even prefer Ryanair over a European legacy J. What I like about them (and care the most) - is kind of their crowd, a young energetic European, as opposed to carehome environment in business class of, say, Air France.
And for me - environment, people and energy is what matters the most.
Well at least he doesn't hate customers for no reason like Carsten. He just wants more money within their clear rules. I am pretty sure 99% of the customers actually violated the rule because there is literally no check unless the bag is a roller.
Yes, Ken, he despises customers because he's already made his fortune and reached the absolute pinnacle of corporate mediocrity. So now, having exhausted all conventional forms of executive fulfillment, his only remaining pleasure is psychologically torturing the hapless passengers who find themselves trapped - by cruel economic necessity - aboard his airborne metal coffins.
He's basically become the malevolent AI from that Harlan Ellison story, except instead of keeping humanity in eternal torment, he's just making sure your knees touch your chin for four hours while charging you seventeen pounds for a sad little sandwich.
I'd sooner let myself get shot out of a massive cannon with an RAF surplus parachute on my back than fly RyanAir.
I’ve already put Ryan Air last on my list of acceptable airlines. They tagged my suitcase on my last trip yet I saw other bags bigger than mine not being tagged. The lady said mine won’t fit in the overhead yet it did coming and has in every plane except smaller planes. I know my decision to stop using Ryan Air won’t make much of a difference but I don’t need the added stress of having to pay more before boarding. As a digital nomad on the move for a year or more, I need to carry more than most.
You are not the odd one out and I fully agree with you and likewise prefer Ryanair for short European flights. Ryanair happens to be a very punctual airline and I book many tickets with them usually months ahead and usually pay under £20 a ticket. I don't buy anything on board and don't pay any extras besides the odd time that I will have luggage with me. Could not be better.
If you increase the comission then they will be more strict. He is looking at the bottom line rather than for the customer. People know the situation they are getting into when choosing the airline. It is possible that checking a bag could be cheaper.
I am one of the miscreants Mr. O'Leary would like off his airline. One thing to note, even if your roller bag fits in the sizer, Ryan Air can/will still assess the fee/fine if any portion of the bag protrudes, including the handle. Other members of my traveling party with identical bags evaded detection and easily fit their bags in the overhead bin. I hope the agent who snagged me didn't spend her 1.50 Euro bounty all in one place.