Ryan Air offers 30% off its non-stop flights to, from and within Greece
Jul 11th, 2015, 03:58 AM
#22
I have been a long-term fan of Easyjet [now not so much due to two recent experiences] and not so fond of Ryanair. however they seem to be moving closer together recently. Ryanair has dropped the "only one carry-on bag" rule, so you can bring a case AND your handbag [what a stupid rule that is, you just take it out again once you're on board] but Easyjet maintains the rule AND is using some of the cheapest facilities it can find - at Bordeaux departure we were herded into a large shack with no toilets, a weird bag-drop and no seating at the gate, and Berlin wasn't a lot better.
but good for Ryanair for knocking money off some of its flights to Greece.
but good for Ryanair for knocking money off some of its flights to Greece.
Jul 11th, 2015, 04:58 AM
#23
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From today's Irish Independent:
Ryanair offers flights to Greece for €5
Bargain hunters interested in flying to Greece will be able to snap up the cheap flights within the next two weeks.
Travel must be from July 13 until July 26, Ryanair has said.
Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, David O’Brien, said: “We will continue to “Keep Greece Flying” by cutting Greek domestic fares to just €4.99 for two weeks (travel from Mon 13th July until Sun, 26th July).
“We are also cutting 30pc off our fares on international routes to/from Greece, for travel from Monday 13th July until the end of October. These sale fares are available for booking for one week on the Ryanair.com website (ending on Friday, 17th July)."
Ryanair offers flights to Greece for €5
Bargain hunters interested in flying to Greece will be able to snap up the cheap flights within the next two weeks.
Travel must be from July 13 until July 26, Ryanair has said.
Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, David O’Brien, said: “We will continue to “Keep Greece Flying” by cutting Greek domestic fares to just €4.99 for two weeks (travel from Mon 13th July until Sun, 26th July).
“We are also cutting 30pc off our fares on international routes to/from Greece, for travel from Monday 13th July until the end of October. These sale fares are available for booking for one week on the Ryanair.com website (ending on Friday, 17th July)."
Jul 11th, 2015, 06:47 AM
#24
EasyJet took much pleasure in herding us into a crowded embarkation room at Copenhagen to wait for the late flight in. Man marching up and down telling customers what to do, which, of course, made sure that no one obeyed him.
We finally board to discover we will be delayed by a good 50 further minutes while a child and his mother had to be turfed off for being covered with spots.
Amazingly, after being inspected on two occasions by the noisy ground staff no one seems to have noticed that the photo of the child in its passport did not match that of the child as it was covered in bright red spots.
It was only after the wide awake flight crew checked the kid out that the chicken pox was spotted.
Not impressed
We finally board to discover we will be delayed by a good 50 further minutes while a child and his mother had to be turfed off for being covered with spots.
Amazingly, after being inspected on two occasions by the noisy ground staff no one seems to have noticed that the photo of the child in its passport did not match that of the child as it was covered in bright red spots.
It was only after the wide awake flight crew checked the kid out that the chicken pox was spotted.
Not impressed
Jul 11th, 2015, 08:33 AM
#25
bilbo - I completed a customer survey for Easyjet after the "cattle truck" experience at Bordeaux and again when we were called to the gate at Bristol [no seats] even before the flight had arrived, but so far, no acknowledgement.
They will be losing customers [yours and mine] if they carry on like this.
They will be losing customers [yours and mine] if they carry on like this.
Jul 11th, 2015, 10:55 AM
#27
I don't think they care about losing a customer or 2 either. What they care about is a trend and apparently, if the "charm offensive" is any indication, and what else can it be, Ryanair knows perfectly well that there's a large group of past or potential customers that have chosen to never visit their website and fly with them.
No company tries to alienate paying customers and I have to believe that the obnoxious CEO of Ryanair thought he was being clever, not offensive, when he regularly spouted off. He was wrong, unless it was similarly offensive people he was courting. I don't have money to burn but am willing to pay more to not feel I'm lining the pockets of a pig.
No company tries to alienate paying customers and I have to believe that the obnoxious CEO of Ryanair thought he was being clever, not offensive, when he regularly spouted off. He was wrong, unless it was similarly offensive people he was courting. I don't have money to burn but am willing to pay more to not feel I'm lining the pockets of a pig.
Jul 11th, 2015, 11:14 AM
#28
I don't think a carrier, legacy or budget, cares if they lose a customer or two. >>
agreed, but if they've p..ed both me and Bilbo off, the chances are that we are not the only ones. And where we have a choice, we may just exercise it.
Mme P - when i was talking about losing custom, I meant Easyjet, who seem to be doing their best to out Ryanair Ryanair if Bilbo and my recent experiences with them are any thing to go by.
Meanwhile, Ryanair is becoming more like Easyjet used to be.
BTW I'm not convinced that any big business is necessarily worse or better than any other - some are just more vocal about it.
agreed, but if they've p..ed both me and Bilbo off, the chances are that we are not the only ones. And where we have a choice, we may just exercise it.
Mme P - when i was talking about losing custom, I meant Easyjet, who seem to be doing their best to out Ryanair Ryanair if Bilbo and my recent experiences with them are any thing to go by.
Meanwhile, Ryanair is becoming more like Easyjet used to be.
BTW I'm not convinced that any big business is necessarily worse or better than any other - some are just more vocal about it.
Jul 11th, 2015, 12:41 PM
#29
Yes, annhig, I know. I should have started with a quote, that of sparkchaser, just above mine.
I am sorry to hear about EasyJet though. Ryanair lost me long ago but my fallback low-fare carrier was EasyJet. I may just have to take trains, which I prefer in any case and am almost never in a hurry.
Sometimes it is hard to know the exact philosophy underlying business practices. But I know how I feel when I deal with a business entity, whether the employees on the front lines treat us with respect or not and whether we feel we're paying a price beyond the one that goes onto our credit cards. That's the price I resent the most and when I feel I'm paying that extra price in resentment, I simply stop. That's the bottom line for me and no going back.
I am sorry to hear about EasyJet though. Ryanair lost me long ago but my fallback low-fare carrier was EasyJet. I may just have to take trains, which I prefer in any case and am almost never in a hurry.
Sometimes it is hard to know the exact philosophy underlying business practices. But I know how I feel when I deal with a business entity, whether the employees on the front lines treat us with respect or not and whether we feel we're paying a price beyond the one that goes onto our credit cards. That's the price I resent the most and when I feel I'm paying that extra price in resentment, I simply stop. That's the bottom line for me and no going back.
Jul 11th, 2015, 12:57 PM
#30
"You pay peanuts you get monkeys"
I normally use Jet2.com (a Yorkshire based cheepo airline) which benefits from all the cultural stereotypes you'd expect (humour, common sense, speed, customer friendly, low cost) rather than the horrors of Dublin and Luton that is RA and EJ.
One laughable part of the EJ experience was the "check in" which is now called "bag drop". At EJ there is a queue of people, with Jet2 you just drop off your bags (no queue no time waste etc).
I normally use Jet2.com (a Yorkshire based cheepo airline) which benefits from all the cultural stereotypes you'd expect (humour, common sense, speed, customer friendly, low cost) rather than the horrors of Dublin and Luton that is RA and EJ.
One laughable part of the EJ experience was the "check in" which is now called "bag drop". At EJ there is a queue of people, with Jet2 you just drop off your bags (no queue no time waste etc).
Jul 12th, 2015, 09:47 AM
#31
Today's Ryanair news, the airline moves rather than negotiate with employees' union in Denmark. Also mention of underpaying French employees:
http://www.thelocal.dk/20150710/ryan...e-to-lithuania
http://www.thelocal.dk/20150710/ryan...e-to-lithuania
Jul 12th, 2015, 11:06 AM
#32
One laughable part of the EJ experience was the "check in" which is now called "bag drop". >>
I don't mind that so much, though it's funny how they feel the need to check your passport etc - why isn't that necessary for passengers with only hand luggage?
it's the "let's treat them like cattle" philosophy - the use of a specially grim, hot, and unpleasant part of the airport [worst at Bordeaux] when there's a perfectly pleasant air-conditioned airport building next door, early calls to the gate before the plane actually landed, [Bristol], no seats at the gate [Bristol again], no explanation, etc. etc.
Mme P - I agree about trains and if we lived in a convenient part of the country, I'd be using them more. But with its taking 5-6 hours to get to London on the train, I'm still willing to undergo the torture, though I'm looking for other options - Flybe who fly out of Newquay and Exeter aren't bad, though they can be must more expensive. and in the end it's a matter of where we want to go - if they will take us there for a reasonable price, we'll probably go.
I don't mind that so much, though it's funny how they feel the need to check your passport etc - why isn't that necessary for passengers with only hand luggage?
it's the "let's treat them like cattle" philosophy - the use of a specially grim, hot, and unpleasant part of the airport [worst at Bordeaux] when there's a perfectly pleasant air-conditioned airport building next door, early calls to the gate before the plane actually landed, [Bristol], no seats at the gate [Bristol again], no explanation, etc. etc.
Mme P - I agree about trains and if we lived in a convenient part of the country, I'd be using them more. But with its taking 5-6 hours to get to London on the train, I'm still willing to undergo the torture, though I'm looking for other options - Flybe who fly out of Newquay and Exeter aren't bad, though they can be must more expensive. and in the end it's a matter of where we want to go - if they will take us there for a reasonable price, we'll probably go.
Jul 12th, 2015, 11:40 AM
#33
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<<One laughable part of the EJ experience was the "check in" which is now called "bag drop". >> Bag drop is not a replacement for the check in desk. U2 removed check in desks couple years back. You check in online and only go to bag drop if you have hold luggage.
<<why isn't that necessary for passengers with only hand luggage?>> Your passport is checked at the gate before you board, together with your boarding pass.
<<why isn't that necessary for passengers with only hand luggage?>> Your passport is checked at the gate before you board, together with your boarding pass.
Jul 13th, 2015, 08:09 AM
#34
<<why isn't that necessary for passengers with only hand luggage?>> Your passport is checked at the gate before you board, together with your boarding pass.>>
my point, Odin, is that if you use the Easyjet "bag drop" your passport is checked at the bag drop too, plus you are asked if you have packed any of the long list of forbidden items; it is not a true bag drop.
my point, Odin, is that if you use the Easyjet "bag drop" your passport is checked at the bag drop too, plus you are asked if you have packed any of the long list of forbidden items; it is not a true bag drop.
Jul 13th, 2015, 01:20 PM
#35
Odin, you miss the point, EJ bag drop is actaully as slow as check in, while Jet2 bag drop is liek a normal bag drop.
Passport checking, is only required to check you are who you claim to be. Checking in on line does not excuse the carrier from that responsability, so they still have to do it at the gate. The drop-off check is to confirm the bag belongs to the person taking the flight.
Passport checking, is only required to check you are who you claim to be. Checking in on line does not excuse the carrier from that responsability, so they still have to do it at the gate. The drop-off check is to confirm the bag belongs to the person taking the flight.
Jul 14th, 2015, 12:04 AM
#37
They could be free and I still wouldn't fly with them>>
I have been very happy with their service until recently. They have enabled us to visit many places in Europe that otherwise would have been much more difficult to get to and probably we wouldn't have gone.
I have been very happy with their service until recently. They have enabled us to visit many places in Europe that otherwise would have been much more difficult to get to and probably we wouldn't have gone.
Jul 14th, 2015, 12:38 AM
#38
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I used to fly easyJet to Athens when those flights left from Luton Airport, and was very happy with the service. Gatwick Airport isn't convenient for me, so now I use Aegean Airlines from Heathrow. It may cost a little more, but they are one of the best airlines for flights to Greece.
Jul 14th, 2015, 02:40 AM
#39
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I am certainly happier with EasyJet now that seats are allocated before boarding. Our problems with them at Copenhagen last week were largely the vast distance between check in/bag drop and the gate, literally from one end of the terminal building to the other. The lack of seating and other facilities at the gate is also annoying.
A recent experience with Norwegian at both Gatwick and Oslo showed that not all airlines have quite worked out what customer service means. The aggressive insistence that we use the confusing self check terminals, despite the existence of staffed desks a few feet away, annoyed many in our group.
Whatever the problems, we still prefer to use the local airport rather than travel to one of the London airports, with all the concerns about traffic hold-ups on the way. It is good to be home 30 minutes after landing. Our 80-year old neighbour even cycles to the airport for his trips.
A recent experience with Norwegian at both Gatwick and Oslo showed that not all airlines have quite worked out what customer service means. The aggressive insistence that we use the confusing self check terminals, despite the existence of staffed desks a few feet away, annoyed many in our group.
Whatever the problems, we still prefer to use the local airport rather than travel to one of the London airports, with all the concerns about traffic hold-ups on the way. It is good to be home 30 minutes after landing. Our 80-year old neighbour even cycles to the airport for his trips.
