Ryanair paying passengers to fly?

[sn26567]

Bob,

Thank you for your insider view on Ryanair. This is an aspect of the airline that had never been discussed here before.

It somehow conforts the opinion of Comet: "rubbish"

[Comet]

Thanks for you info on Ryanair Bob, and thanks for indirectly proving me right about an airline I've never flown with, only read about.

(By the way, those horrid seats you describe and the dirty interior is not unique to cheap Ryanair, I have also experienced something very similar on a full service carrier - see my next Airline Experiences submission for that little story!!)

[Lien]

But I still do not understand why people get nervous when talking low cost?

For any other service or product sold in the world there is a low cost and a luxury item doing allmost the same basic essntial service.
You'll find cheap handphones and you will find very, very expensive ones.
But when you talk on the phone, it is what you say that counts.

I agree with you Fons, I mentionned this reasoning already a
while ago in another topic(I think also about Ryanair).

Most people do not understand that if you want cheap, you get cheap
which means no service. BTW this is the whole idea behind Ryanair.
Don't think I support Ryanair, I don't, but you have to be objective.

Another similar example are hotels, you want a suite you have to
pay for it(not cheap).
If you are not wealthy and want a simple ordinary single room
you will pay a lot less. Logical reasoning to me.

But people very often want 'quality cheap', which simply doesn't exist.


Keep up the good work and see you

[JetB]

What is the risk staying in a cheap hotel, rent a cheap car, buy a cheap meal ? There is no risk, its a choice. But thats not the point.....

The point is : What is the risk flying Ryanair ? is it SAFE ?

[Comet]

I see your point Bob. Ryanair makes out to be so cheap, yet it makes such profits. Where do the profits come from when aircraft should be kept well maintained (which isn't cheap), fueled up (fuel is not cheap) and there are staff to pay?

For an airline which charges such cheap fares to make a profit, something is being sacrificed somewhere. OK, Ryanair use weird, out of the way airports which are cheaper than the mainstream ones which EasyJet and Virgin Express use, but this alone, and the lack of onboard service would not have led to such good profits.

[Lien]

What is the risk staying in a cheap hotel, rent a cheap car, buy a cheap meal ? There is no risk, its a choice. But thats not the point.....

Some while ago in Germany(Mainz), some people got killed by
renting a cheap car, which was badly maintained and did not
pass the TÜV.

Michael O'Leary explained recently on BBC where 80% of the
money is comming from.

I have to look up in which topic we talked about it recently.

[SN30952]

I see your point Bob. Ryanair makes out to be so cheap, yet it makes such profits. Where do the profits come from ...., and the lack of onboard service would not have led to such good profits.

What is wrong with making profit? That's an old socialist way of thinking...
Maybe Ryanair has it right: the most important in airline-business is not flying aircraft but strategy, marketing. Might it not simply be that these guys have an ear for what people exactly want!
40.000.000 pax from STN, I read on this forum... that's not nothing. And it seems not over yet. There is more to come. Finally an airline for the people, that is not run by socialist governments. (think twice )
Less ruling, less fuzz, less red tape, thats what people want. (And air transport is not a public service).

My point of view is: if you want a nice glass of wine, go to the place that serves it best: a tavern, restaurant, a (grand) cafe, or a restaurant. You want entertainment, go to the movies or to an entertainment park. But by experience I know the atmosphere, the surroundings, and the quality of the service and products delivered in these establishments (if any) in a socialist regime are far away...

Luxury, personal comfort (not cosiness) always has a power relation in it, between the 'servant*' and the benificiary. That's why I basically oppose to it, it seems so decadent to me.... The person receiving these service without having to pay for each benefit (because it is due to her/him, (s)he is entitled to that, its included in the price** and (s)he is the only judge about that, if not (s)he will complain to management - notice I do not use right in this context), so, that benifiary puts her-himself in a superior position... And THAT'S what some people regret is not granted longer on some services, in our case airlines.

I can also understand that British people in their health care system are not pampered like people on the continent. They feel inhibited, and that shows in two extreme ways: there is hooliganism*** and there is the dream of escape in a luxury world. I say get over it!

*I can tell you stories about people who came as visitors to Africa. In my family and in my house we had servants. Now people who were not used to that, treated these people not in the right way. People who are used to the situation, treat the people with respect. And the servants have pride in doing it as good as possible. My aunt in Africa had a housemaid for >50years: only when one of us dies we will be seperated, she said. Both were over 80. And in the end it was my aunt bringing the broth to the servant's bed.
**it's included in the fare: so some peolpe think the are allowed everything, read the forums about airrage, sexual assault of attendants, etc etc...
***Air rage seems to be an anglo-saxon deficiency, why I wonder.

[Comet]

There is nothing wrong with making a profit (and I am not a Socialist commie!!) but all I am saying is - knowing that Ryanair are cheapskates as far as pricing goes, where does all their profit come from? A major cost for any airline should be maintenance and fuel, which, as I say, are not cheap. I would have thought that, seeing as Ryanair's prices are so cheap, most of the money they make should be taken up with maintenance and fuel, and not as massive profits.

The whole point of this little discussion is - what are Ryanair skimping on? Service - obviously. But also fuel and maintenance in order to make their massive profits??

[SN30952]

where does all their profit come from? what are Ryanair skimping on? Service - obviously. But also fuel and maintenance in order to make their massive profits??

Hi Comet,
Meagre service is one.
Meagre fuel is not possible, but economy drive is possible. The airports they use have easy and quick procedures, that saves a lot.
Meagre maintenace?
What are their safety records? Only facts can proof the opposite.

If you saw my answer above, you read: 40.000.000 pax from STN, I read on this forum... that's not nothing. And it seems not over yet. There is more to come.
40.000.000?

To make profit, I know of only a few recipes: high margins or high volume...
But low costs is a very good recipe: the money you spend is gone, keeping your costs low, is keeping your money.

But I feel stupid, knowing some recipes, I never made (massive) profits. But I'm happy...

[Comet]

I can also understand that British people in their health care system are not pampered like people on the continent. They feel inhibited, and that shows in two extreme ways: there is hooliganism*** and there is the dream of escape in a luxury world. I say get over it!

***Air rage seems to be an anglo-saxon deficiency, why I wonder.[/size]

Well Fons - it may be off the topic, but I will answer your comments. The British are not all hooligans (look at the Dutch, the Germans, the Turks, the Poles all countries have hooliganism in sport and things) and to say that it is a purely British problem is ill-informed.

Yes, there are some sub-sections of British society that should never be allowed out of a cage, let alone on an aircraft, but they are in the minority. I class myself as a model passenger - I don't carry out air rage, I am not a hooligan, but I am British!!!

[sn26567]

where does all their profit come from?

Louise,

You have never booked a flight on Ryanair. Otherwise you would know.

My experience:

1) Ryanair was giving away flights free of charge (at that time they did not pay passengers yet!). I decided to fly to Shannon. I looked on Internet, booked the flight, paid the airport taxes by credit card and was charged 5 € as a fee for the use of a credit card.

2) I needed a rental car upon arrival at SNN. Ryanair offers Hertz at reasonable prices on their website. I booked and paid by credit card. No fee this time, but Ryanair gets a commission from Hertz.

3) I also needed a hotel. Same scenario, but with an Irish hotel chain.

4) When you fly, no free food or drinks. You have to buy them at outrageous prices.

5) On the plane you can also buy souvenirs.

6) Ryanair runs a low-cost telephone company!

As you can see, lots of money flow to the vaults of Ryanair.

[JetB]

Socialism???? As I know it.. Is only for Medical and housing amoung government funding. I like most things socilized such as pensions and health.

As for Rynair they are not transparent enough.... I think you need to be transparent when it comes to saftey and money handling. wouldnt we all like the White to be transparent in all there transactions??? It all comes down to big business and how much is earned and what are the share prices..... It is good to make profit but to stab people and companies in the back to get it, is not a good thing.

Ryanair does not want to be transparent due to all the kickbacks it recieves from governments and yet they claim to be profitable. Take all their government funding contracts away and how much do they really earn? Who knows...

Also the local governements transfer so called Publicity money to a buisness that is owend by Ryanair.
Ryanair can spend this money without any ristrictions ? Like they do with there "we pay the tax" deal and more........

But when people working for other airlines start losing there jobs over a company like Ryanair...... because they receive illegal subsidizeing ,that is a sad thing. It is unfair and this has nothing to do with buisness anymore.

The only socialist airline in Europe today is Ryanair, look at there cost structure !!!!!!

People you can be nuetral talking about this company but dont be naive, like some of you are.

[SN30952]

Well Fons ... I will answer your comments. The British are not all hooligans (look at the Dutch, the Germans, the Turks, the Poles all countries have hooliganism in sport and things) and to say that it is a purely British problem is ill-informed.
Yes, there are some sub-sections of British society that should never be allowed out of a cage, let alone on an aircraft, but they are in the minority. I class myself as a model passenger - I don't carry out air rage, I am not a hooligan, but I am British!!!

The British are not all hooligans (look at the Dutch, the Germans, the Turks, the Poles ...)
Why, Comet why? 1/2 of Germany was DDR, as Poland, a commie wunderland. Wim Kok* was long time premier in Dutchland... And the Turks are crazy, not all of them, but quite a lot, read the news...
Frustations....fertile soil for rage, rampage or hooliganism.
An other frustated nation (soon) the USA, since WW II they keep loosing wars...
So, "The British are not all hooligans" I agree, its a under-sub-sub-section of British society.
And I rest 100% assured you're a model passenger, Comet.
You say: but I am British!!! Maybe that's the reason why you dislike RYR?

Andre wrote: As you can see, lots of money flow to the vaults of Ryanair.
Well, my first boss @ Sabena said once: Il ne faut pas boucher les trous par ou rentre l'argent.
Meaning: Never plug the holes where the money comes in. I guess RYR does that well.
*PvdA = Labour.

[Comet]

Thank you for your explanation about Ryanair Andre. I had never heard about their phone company or hotel connections. I knew about them charging on board for drinks and things like that, but that is what EasyJet do also.

I don't have the same thing with EasyJet and Virgin Express, but Ryanair I cannot take to (though I did like their livery when I was video-ing their aircraft in Dublin!) probably the Irish airports like Dublin nd Shannon are probably the only proper airports they use (Stansted has lost it). Though at one time they were just an ordinary carrier who used to fly into Glasgow Airport itself as opposed to Prestwick.

[meerkat]

Stansted is a BAA (British Airports Authority) airport, as are Heathrow and Gatwick, so I would class it as a "proper" airport. Ryanair also fly into Manchester and Birmingham, both of which I would classify as real airports.

Meerkat

[Avro]

I just hope for Ryanair that their planes are well maintaned. If it's not the case, they can forget all their business. Nobody would fly with them anymore.

Chris
8)

[JetB]

Maintaned good/bad, give away free tickets and people dont seem to care anymore.

[Comet]

Stansted is a BAA (British Airports Authority) airport, as are Heathrow and Gatwick, so I would class it as a "proper" airport. Ryanair also fly into Manchester and Birmingham, both of which I would classify as real airports.

Meerkat

Stansted has a serious image problem, as many full service carriers left the airport when its image became associated with the cheap sector. I don't really take alot of interest in the comings and goings of Ryanair, but you have to agree that the airports they use on the continent are hardly well known major ones (Beauvais for Paris, Charleroi for Brussels, Ostend for Brugge and so on and so on!)

[SN30952]

Stansted has a serious image problem,..., but you have to agree that the airports they use on the continent are hardly well known major ones (Beauvais for Paris, Charleroi for Brussels, Ostend for Brugge and so on and so on!)

Nobody needs to know the airport, an airport is there to use.
Do you wonder how the battery in your tourch works? No: you use it.
We count on a controlling authority that the battery is safe, and we buy it because the price is convenient.
Some people do go to the supermarket in the weekends. Not me: because I loose to much time. Tuesdays are more convenient for me.
What is convenient for me, is maybe not for you. That is the way it is in the free world, the world of free enterprise.
RYR is convenient for many people, at one given time, place or price. So be it. In a way, is accepting this, a matter of tolerance?

[luchtzak]

Hi all,

after reading this wonderfull thread I would like to add another thing how Ryanair makes profit.

I once checked on a Belgian website how much it costs to place a banner on www.bigbrother.be for one week it is 1.500 € and we are not talking about a .com-website and not about www.ryanair.com ! About every day they send a press-release, people think of Ryanair and visit their website, I really want to know the serverstatistics of that website. It must be really really popular!

Like André explained there is commission if you rent a car or if you book a hotel. If 100.000 people book a 40 € -room and Ryanair gets 5% commission then it's 200.000 € profit. And so on for cars, parkings, credit-cards etc....

A website is a very powerfull tool to make business.

Note: luchtzak.be is not a ryanair-website

greetings,

Bart
:rock: