- Image by Drewski2112 via Flickr
We wanted to link in this video, but unfortunately, we couldn’t figure out how to, so here is a link.
BBC Panorama was doing a documentary on Ryanair. There was nothing new or exciting about the documentary, from what we hear. But they did corner Michael O’Leary, who despite his insistence he would not give an edited video, proceeded to talk to them for nearly ten minutes. He is amusing to watch.
We dislike Ryanair for lowering the bar so much. The airline is monolithic, rigid, unbending, and causes no end of problems because of this. And O’Leary is right. If you lower your expectations, memorize the rules, and don’t get caught up in an extenuating circumstances(which the airline does not want to hear about), you’ll be fine. And Ryanair has lowered the bar, allowing more people to travel than could afford to before. By eliminating costs, which allow them to keep fares low, they eliminate what we think to be essential services, or service in general.
The airline is not in the business of being loved. Alienate a customer, and two are willing to take their place at the prices they charge. But, a fee for online booking, a fee for using a credit card, a fee if you can’t check in online, a fee for luggage…a confusing set of procedures designed to slow you down, no one to call if you have a problem…Ryanair has built a maze, and if you deviate off the narrow path set for you, you may find yourself in a heap of trouble.
