 Poster: A snowHead
|
Ryanair has increased fees for checked baggage from £5 to £6 a bag and for airport check-in from £2 to £3 per person with immediate effect.
The airline said the fees would continue to increase until it met its target of 50% of passengers travelling with hand baggage only.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Anti skiers, then.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
bladeskier, They'll have the 100% they really want before long, when those with hold luggage use another airline 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
... and half of those will be in the hold. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Surely it's the bottom line that counts? Does it matter how the price is subdivided if they are still the cheapest option? If they aren't the cheapest option use someone else.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
rob@rar, well yes, except that it means that at best half the plane can be skiers, if they achieve their target is realised. So at peak times, skiers will be forced to travel other airlines, maybe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
achilles, with the exception of professional hijackers does it matter what your fellow passengers do? I don't think Ryanair is proposing to stop passengers booking luggage once 50% of the passengers on each flight have using the hold allocation. They are simply using a market mechanism to encourage more people to travel with hand luggage only (presumably so they can sell the spare hold capacity for commercial freight?).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
achilles, eh? Surely the whole plane is 'available' to whoever wants to hand over enough euros to get them and their luggage (if any) up the steps?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
rob@rar, The reason they don't want luggage is the plane is heavier (more fuel), takes longer to turn flight around and also Mr O'Leary despises baggage handlers and what he has to pay to use them. If you don't like them then don't fly wiht them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
It's no wonder Ryanair have such a poor reputation really!
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
| roga wrote: |
| It's no wonder Ryanair have such a poor reputation really! |
Sorry, yawn and so few use them................They are an incredible business success
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| red 27 wrote: |
| achilles, eh? Surely the whole plane is 'available' to whoever wants to hand over enough euros to get them and their luggage (if any) up the steps? |
Yes. Except that, according to the opening post, Ryanair will keep raising the prices for hold luggage until the 50% target is achieved. I'm just following their own policy to its logical conclusion - though I wonder if the airline really means it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
It's a free market, with plenty of competition, so if you liek Ryanair use 'em and if not don't. I don't 'like' Thomson because of their shoddy customer service, but I'll fly with Thomsonfly if they get me where I want to go at the best combination of price and convenience. It's great to have so much choice and competition these days.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
achilles, I think you misunderstand me (or possibly Ryanair). There is no barrier to every seat being sold to a person with luggage provided they pay. Can't see a problem with that. If they're the cheapest, including all charges for luggage, checkin, etc, then fly with them. If they're not the cheapest fly with with someone else. The LCC market is very price sensitive.
Is Ryanair's target of 50% of passengers on a flight by flight basis, or an overall target? What's going to happen in the summer when a large number of people travel with only a swimming costume and a packet of condoms? Will Ryanair encourage people to travel with more luggage by offering discounted seats?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
thefatcontroller,
[[[ rob@rar, The reason they don't want luggage is the plane is heavier (more fuel), takes longer to turn flight around and also Mr O'Leary despises baggage handlers and what he has to pay to use them. ]]
One of these feeble excuses for forcing people to take hand-luggage only, is that it's greener. It isn't true - I agree with rob@rar - they want to use the space for commercial freight, so they can make more profit.
My Ryanair flights, were 1p each way. Which worked out at £65 including taxes, charges and bags. 
In the end people will vote with their feet. Weighing up the pros and cons, the flight times with the Ryanair flights were very good, so I went with them. I know I'll get treated like "self-loading freight", and if anything goes wrong I'll be shafted, but it's a risk I've chosen to take.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
I must admit I hanker after the days when the cost quoted was to get me and my reasonable luggage to the place I wanted to go.
Arrrh but you say.. Now the cost is FROM 1p...
Actually its not...It's is FROM 1p the flight I need to get is more plus tax, plus luggage plus awkward baggage charge plus money for water on the plane with the aggravation of not having a seat allocated..With the assumption me and my family are crazed bombers...progress.
Some people are never satisfied..maybe I should walk.
One thing I won't do though is fly Ryanair..I've done it before its not nice.. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
I agree with rob@rar, it is the overall price that counts, regardless of the separate components. I do wonder if it will start to backfire though. We assume that they make a profit out of the extra charges so if people vote with their feet (or backsides) they will lose seat occupancy, which is a very fine calculation. e.g. (not real numbers) 86% seats sold makes a loss, 87% seats sold makes a profit, plus the profit on the extra components will be lost. I rarely use them these days as I can find flights that suit me better from other airlines most of the time, but I would use them if they flew to where I want to go (I would still be cheesed off with O'Leary's arrogance, but that doesn't worry him so why should it worry me).
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Oh I agree with the principle of if the bottom line is fine, fly with them. My interpretation of Ryanair' poilicy is that they will ensure that the bottom line is not fine for 50% of their passengers. OTOH I could be wrong - shan't loose sleep over it. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| thefatcontroller wrote: |
Sorry, yawn and so few use them................They are an incredible business success |
At the moment, but lets see in a few years time, with the constant changes that they put in place, it will back fire on them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
achilles, yes, see what you mean... they can't really mean that they'll put up luggage charges so they get it 50/50 even if that means they don't fill the plane - can they?
Personally I like their 'sod-u' attitude... there's just something about being firmly put in ones place by those latvian ...er... lovlies that I knda like.... I'm not weird though right?
I'm suddenly picturing the scene....
Act 1, Scene 1. Zone J, Desk 141, Stansted Airport, Essex
red 27 - at check in, looking sheepish, laden with luggage
er, yes, er, hello Aganeiska, I'm afraid I may be slightly over the 400g baggage allowance as I've got 4 suitcases, 3 of them filled with uridium.... 4.63 Metric tonnes in all. Have I been a very, very naughty boy?
Aganeiska, sternly
Bend over Red 27....
Contd P94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
rob@rar, quote from their website;
Does Ryanair carry cargo?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No, Ryanair does not carry cargo of any kind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
bladeskier, Thought so.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
| red 27 wrote: |
| achilles, yes, see what you mean... they can't really mean that they'll put up luggage charges so they get it 50/50 even if that means they don't fill the plane - can they?.. |
Nope. I do have a problem of an over-literal mind - Mrs a has be trying to reform me for 40 years. I guess what they are trying to do is to create a culture where hold-baggage charges become a niggle, so that on average carry-on is the thing for Ryanair for 50% of their passengers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
I agree with everyone I think! 
I.e. I don't like Ryanair philosophy and practices, all is about profit and not customer service, but other airlines are available. In that sense I agree with rob@rar, holidayloverxx and thefatcontroller.
Some say that is the bottom line that counts. That is very true and that is why I wonder if Ryanair will ever achieve ther 50% hand luggage target unless they target heavily business travellers.
In essence they are trying to put people off checking in hold bagages by charging a lot, and they will increase the charge until they reach their target.
In a way it's very clever: either the passenger pays the increased fare (more money for Ryanair) or he/she doesn't check in bagages, Ryanair saves fuel and handling costs, more money for Ryanair.
On the other hand, people will keep travelling with them and checking in bagages as long as the now famous bottom line is still the cheapest compared to other airlines..so no target achieved this way me thinks unless 50% of their passengers (or nearly) are business travellers... In that sense I agree with achilles.
If their bagages charges become such that the bottom lines is too close or the same than other airlines, then bye bye Ryanair with its reduced weight allowance, fight for your seat boarding and overpriced admin fees...
So I am not sure that they will ever achieve that target without a business travellers bias...but then I am not a CEO...
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
thefatcontroller, I think that is a fair summing up. I have no hate for Ryanair. I did wonder how the aim of 50% passengers married up with flying to ski airheads - since a skier with no hold baggage is almost an oxymoron. But I am sure the bottom line will dictate what happens. Peace - and happy flying. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kruisler & achilles, it's difficult for skiers to travel with hand luggage only, but not so for other types of leisure traveller. Long-weekenders, summer sun holidays, visiting friends, those with holiday homes, etc, will all find it easy to squeeze into hand luggage if there is a financial incentive to do so. So a winter time flight to Turin might not have many people with hand luggage only, but a summer time flight to a hot destination might have 80%, providing the financial incentive is great enough. Although at £6 per bag I don't think it is a large enough incentive for people to inconvenience themselves significantly, so maybe that figure will increase over time. Ultimately it comes down to the bottom line, for customer and business alike, a point which Mr Ryanair seems to understand well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
rob@rar, fair enough. I must admit on the very few flights I have left a plane with hand luggage only, I have felt very liberated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
We fly them sometimes and really its the bottom line cost of the whole package that we look at. My wish would be that that would make this clearer up front, but even so, its a trade off - cost against hassle. Vote with your feet. The 50% passengers with baggage might be a red herring, a bit like the green thing is used sometimes to justify extra charges by airlines etc. Ryan operate a fairly complex business model in that they aim to make small amounts of income from lots of sources, so flights may be cheap, but they're getting good take from car hire, hotels, in-flight drinks etc. I wonder if these charges that are now coming in are extra revenue streams to keep the model on course as costs are rising. Add in the factors already mentioned, baggage handlers, turn round time etc, perhaps he can get deals on airport charges in some places if theres less baggage. They cant be getting too much wrong really cos each year their t/o and profit goes up. You dont have to like them though
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
An aspect of this that seems to be overlooked is that on those occasions (weekend or business trip) when you can manage with just hand luggage, isn't it great to have the choice of paying less and quite possibly suffering less delays (while other folks luggage is loaded/lost/found/unloaded etc). As has been mentioned above since families generally need to check in a couple of bags fewer kids will probably fly Ryanair too. If Ryanair are successful in their aims they may become the airline of choice for the 'light' single traveller, which by taking a bunch of passengers off the other airlines, leaving 'only' those with check in luggage, could cause them to cut prices - Its market forces at work - Wins all round
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
The only time I've flown with Ryanair was a long weekend to Dublin, and I flew with just hand luggage. But even if I needed to add £6 to the cost of the ticket to check something into the hold they would have still been significantly cheaper than the other flight options I had. It's just about the bottom line 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
AxsMan,
True, they could end up being a lo-cost business/lght traveller airline.
Not a bad thing at all, and there is a place for that business model probably but I think that such "specialisation" would limit the scope for growth for Ryanairand I don't think that O'Leary would like that.
So they must be a looking for a middle ground somewhere and for me the debate is whether Ryanair is risking overstepping the mark and losing some of it's appeal to significant chunk of its customers..
Future will tell...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
rob@rar, Kruisler, Indeed!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| Kruisler wrote: |
| So they must be a looking for a middle ground somewhere |
The fact that they have set themselves a target (which is ambitious IMO) of 50% hand luggage-only passengers seems to indicate they are aiming for that middle ground?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yeah the Ryanair booking experience has become rather distasteful but it's true that as long as the overall cost is competitive, we'll carry on flying with them at least sometimes!
I think what causes the negative reactions is being drawn in with offers of £30 flights (and the crazy 1p ones etc but that's extreme) which turn out to be £75 flights once you've completed the booking process. It gives us the impression there's a very good deal to be had, and it makes it harder to compare and choose your flights initially because you have to go almost to the end of the booking process to work out the real cost. Finding deals is time consuming enough as it is! On the other hand, at least we have the choice.
Once you've recovered from the shock of booking with their latest pricing structure changes, you know what to expect. But they do keep changing it - every time I start a Ryanair online booking I have a feeling of anxiety as to what lies ahead...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It's also near impossible to fly hand luggage only anyway, where do I put my whisky, wine, beer etc not to mention girly things like deodourant, shampoo, conditioner toothpaste.
I used to fly hand luggage on business, but now it's a pain as youy have to buy new toiletries wherever you go.
Ryanair is regulalrly more expensive than lufthansa anyway.
eg: Edinburgh Frankfurt out 3 April back 8 April
Both Airlines are £109 assuming one checked baga nd a set of skis, but Lufthansa will give you a meal and a numbered seat, and if your flight is cancelled will get you on another airline if it can.
Likewise KLM. I well remember turniung up at Edinburgh for a KLM flight to Turin via Schipol. Both the KLM and Easyjet flights were cancelled but while Easyjet did the corporate equivalent of a gallic shrug, we were rushed on to an Air France flight to CDG and reached Turin earlier than originally planned.
Bottom line is, use Ryanair only once you checked out every other possibiliy. BTW the example I gave was for Ryan air legs priced at £14.99 out and 1p back.
Bob the Ghost Dog
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
Everyone seems to have focussed on the £6 baggage charge. IMO they are using the 50% as a smoke screen and will keep upping their charges as an excuse. If they reach 50% they'll then say they need 75% and up the charges again.
What I found most outrageous was the £3 just to check-in, when you have already purchased a ticket !
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ryanair now seemed to have increased checked bag fees to €13 each way per bag! I'm think of buying a super big ski bag with wheels that I can put everything into as this is getting ridiculous! Anyone have any big ski bags recommendations, they need to be able to fit my 185 twin tips.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
. So even less than half a plane will (again on average) not be available to skiers. I wonder if the airline will pursue its 50% policy during the peak skiing season, though.
) to see the reason. He has nightmares about 'cost'. His whole ethos is to strip cost out of the business even down to the most minute level. As I said above the reasons he does not want luggage is the plane is heavier (more fuel, nothing green here, just simple fuel costs), it takes longer to turn flight around and also Mr O'Leary despises baggage handlers and what he has to pay to use them. Don't forget we are talking about the guy that doens't buy any pens for the office and encourages staff to take them from hotels 