Ryanair to cancel flights booked through intermediaries [MERGED]

tomstickland

So, use the screenscraper to find the best deal and then book on the airline's website.

Crabman

Hi folks, I've merged these duplicate topics together

(PM me if I've missed any)

lady_stardust

Ryanair really have no clue on customer service do they.

Rather than upsetting 1000's of customers who have booked flights, why not honour the bookings but forbid the publication of their fares on screenscraper sites with immediate effect.

This quote just sums up the contempt they have for their customers:
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said that about 1000 bookings are made with the budget airline via these websites each day. He said: 'We are free to cancel a booking. We want to cause as much chaos for the screen scrapers as possible.' Asked what will happen to people who have booked on these sites, he said: 'They won't be flying.'

"We want to cause as much chaos for the screen scrapers as possible." - you might as well say "We want to cause as much chaos for our customers as possible"

lawrenson

Hi,

don't know if this will affect anyone: (direct from the BBC)


Ryanair is to cancel thousands of its own customers' bookings after they were made through internet travel agents whose activities it says are illegal.
The airline is targeting price comparison websites on which you can buy Ryanair flights without having to go directly to the Irish firm's site.
Ryanair says this is against its terms and conditions, and the technology used slows down its site for other users.
But travel agents said the move was "foolish" and "unreasonable".
Consumer groups said they were "stunned" by the move.
'Unnecessary charges'
So-called "screenscraping" websites account for about 0.5% of Ryanair's bookings, equivalent to about a thousand a day.
These websites use a technology that allows their booking tools to marry up to those of Ryanair and other low cost airlines, and execute a sale.
The customer, however, never leaves the original price comparison site.
We hope that by getting rid of screen scrapers we will speed up passenger processing times on Ryanair.com


Ryanair spokesman


But Ryanair insists these sites' activities are illegal and passengers using them are being forced to pay more for fares and other services.
Ryanair has taken legal action against Italian company BravoFly to force it to stop screen scraping the airline's website, having earlier taken similar steps against German firm V-tours.
Ryanair defended its decision to cancel bookings made this way for trips from Monday onwards, saying it was "a quicker and more effective way of discouraging this unlawful activity".
"We hope that by getting rid of screen scrapers we will speed up passenger processing times on Ryanair.com as well as ensuring that Ryanair passengers are not paying unnecessary handling charges or higher fares," spokesman Howard Millar said.
'Foolish'
Passengers whose bookings have been cancelled will be compensated.
However, if the price comparison websites fail to tell passengers that their flights have been cancelled, there is little to prevent those affected turning up at airports all over Europe without a seat on a plane.
Airlines should be finding ways to make it easier for families to book and travel in the way that is convenient for them, not making it even harder


Rochelle Turner, Which?


This is because Ryanair often does not have the contact details for passengers who book their tickets using these sites and as a result is unable to let them know directly of any cancellation or changes to their flights.
This is another reason why Ryanair said it dislikes these types of bookings.
The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said Ryanair was being "foolish" and "unreasonable" while consumer group Which? also criticised the airline's policy. "At a time when many people are struggling to afford holidays overseas, airlines should be finding ways to make it easier for families to book and travel in the way that is convenient for them, not making it even harder," said Rochelle Turner, from Which? Holiday.

Inactive

Oh well, yours is about the 6th post on this same subject today.

dmg24

dzug1 wrote: »

Denied boarding compensation under EU regs??

Not unless the flights are cancelled within fourteen days. Also, I wonder if there is a clause in their t&c's to cover them?

Has anybody been affected yet?

Belnahua

Told you never to use Ryanair, but I got slated for slagging them off in a previous thread.

They are a nasty evil company, I would pay full BA charges rather than use this scum bucket company.

jayok

Reading this (merged) thread is like Ground Hog Day. Search facility is very useful... when it is used!

brightonman123

i thought all airlines were trying to attract customers, and i think they will.. away from ryanair if they keep alienating people like this.

surely any add-on is between the agent/customer, as fare contracts already agreed (with ability to sell on?) between ryanair/agents..?

markccfc

cifpower wrote: »

'We are free to cancel a booking,' Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said a press conference in London at which he announced a massive seat sale.

'We want to cause as much chaos for the screen scrapers as possible'

http://www.rte.ie/business/2008/0807/ryanair.html

So be warned - check prices with intermediaries but DO NOT book through them.

There's no two ways about, this guy is a complete k n o b.

It'll be the passengers who'll suffer most.