Legality of Ryanair's advertising

Smick100

The bottom line is that the cosy banks in ROI have opted not to use Visa Electron. The card is theoretically available in ROI if the banks didn't get together to earn even more money by setting up Laser and ignoring the PCI schemes.

The banks want you to use a credit card, borrow money and pay interest so they develop the most useless debit card product known to man. Doesn't work outside of Ireland. Doesn't work online. Costs 20c per use.

So if you were to complain to the ASAI, Ryanair would reply that if an Irish bank were to issue Electron, to which there is no barrier, there would be no charge on that product.

I have an AIB Maestro card which is practically useless in the UK, even though many UK retailers have Maestro stickers up. Can I take Stansted Express to the ASA for making me have to go back up to the airport terminal, withdraw cash and then come back down and pay for a ticket with cash?

If you live in an area of the UK where no Electron issuing bank has a branch for over 30 miles, are you entitled to go to the ASA over that?

MrSmartprice

Smick100 wrote: »

The bottom line is that the cosy banks in ROI have opted not to use Visa Electron. The card is theoretically available in ROI if the banks didn't get together to earn even more money by setting up Laser and ignoring the PCI schemes.

If you live in an area of the UK where no Electron issuing bank has a branch for over 30 miles, are you entitled to go to the ASA over that?

But this is still all nonsense. Ryanair's pricing policy is generally transparent, although I agree that non-optional taxes should always be shown. The simple fact is that you can get flights at the headline price, and we have repeatedly done so.

Several banks issue Electron cards. Just because you live in Ireland doesn't mean you can't have an account with one here. There is no question of it being a credit card or getting overdrawn. Electron cards only work if the money is there to pay with. Mine is with Abbey. As for the branch location, what difference does that make? I never have need to go in an Abbey branch.

The conclusion with Ryanair remains the same. O'Leary sets the rules. And he provides very cheap flights if you follow his rules. Those that don't will subsidise those that do. Why do people have a problem with that?

jammin_2

MrSmartprice - you just can't grasp it, can you? Marty J and Smick100 have made some interesting points, thanks for that.

MrSmartprice wrote: »

The simple fact is that you can get flights at the headline price, and we have repeatedly done so.

Because you live in the UK, a country whose banks, post offices, travel agents and more, issue Visa Electron cards.

MrSmartprice wrote: »

Several banks issue Electron cards.

In the UK, yes.

MrSmartprice wrote: »

Just because you live in Ireland doesn't mean you can't have an account with one here.

Well, yes it does actually. Most if not all UK banks require you to be a UK resident in order to open an account.

MrSmartprice wrote: »

There is no question of it being a credit card or getting overdrawn. Electron cards only work if the money is there to pay with.

How is that related to the topic being discussed?

MrSmartprice wrote: »

Mine is with Abbey. As for the branch location, what difference does that make? I never have need to go in an Abbey branch.

Again, what's your point?

MrSmartprice wrote: »

The conclusion with Ryanair remains the same. O'Leary sets the rules. And he provides very cheap flights if you follow his rules. Those that don't will subsidise those that do. Why do people have a problem with that?

Again, you're not really getting the point that for residents of Ireland, using a Visa Electron card is not an option, since no Irish banks (nor post offices, nor travel agents) issue such cards. The bottom line is that Ryanair are advertising to Irish customers that flights can be purchased for £5 (or €5), with "No other taxes, fees or charges", when this is simply not possible.

Since this issue is not really a concern of the British public, I realise I made a mistake by bringing it up here. That said, it amazes me that at least one poster just hasn't been able to grasp the point.

ynot2005

The conclusion with Ryanair remains the same. O'Leary sets the rules. And he provides very cheap flights if you follow his rules. Those that don't will subsidise those that do. Why do people have a problem with that?[/quote]

absolutely mrsmartprice, and when everyone palys by the rules and gets smart , prices will rise, the dirt cheap fares are had on the back of the kitchen sink brigade, o leary knows most of his customers are on short breaks and handluggage is easily adequate, along with a simple electron account purchase

if ryanair customers refuse to think about what they are taking for a long weekend away, and how they are going to pay for it, he will take as much money as he can get out of them

yes jammin, i agree you have a valid point

MrSmartprice

jammin wrote: »

MrSmartprice - you just can't grasp it, can you?

I'm afraid it's you that fails to grasp the point. And that is that O'Leary and Ryanair are doing nothing wrong. If you can't get the required card to comply, it's not his fault. (The points you said were irrelevant were replies to another poster. The world doesn't revolve around you!:rolleyes: )

So continue your personal vendetta against Ryanair if you wish, and go fly with another airline. O'Leary won't be bothered, and neither am I!;)

benjus

Despite the fact that I usually count myself amongst the Ryanair defenders, I think the point about Ireland (and possibly other countries - I don't know) is valid. As a comparison, would it be considered fair for the Ryanair UK site to only sell flights at the headline price to holders of a Japan Credit Bureau card, which is fairly widely accepted in the UK, although not issued here?

Ryanair would probably argue that customers in Ireland can get an MBNA gift card (https://www.mbnagift.ie/) and use that to pay for flights. It's not exactly an ideal solution as it costs €4 and can't be topped up. So I'd say that they might get away with it technically but they are sailing pretty close to the wind (which is of course Ryanair's usual policy).

MrSmartprice

If they 'sail pretty close to the wind', is that why their flights usually arrive on time?;)

benjus

MrSmartprice wrote: »

If they 'sail pretty close to the wind', is that why their flights usually arrive on time?;)

It's also how they avoid fuel surcharges...

jammin_2

MrSmartprice wrote: »

I'm afraid it's you that fails to grasp the point. And that is that O'Leary and Ryanair are doing nothing wrong. If you can't get the required card to comply, it's not his fault. (The points you said were irrelevant were replies to another poster. The world doesn't revolve around you!:rolleyes: )

MrSmartprice, your stupidity and downright immaturity is astounding. If you don't understand something, don't bother replying. I'm not explaining my point to you again. Banging my head against a brick wall is not something I enjoy doing.

MrSmartprice wrote: »

So continue your personal vendetta against Ryanair if you wish, and go fly with another airline. O'Leary won't be bothered, and neither am I!;)

:rolleyes: To echo my comments above; I have no personal vendetta, never said I did. I will fly with Ryanair for a number of reasons. What I'm concerned with is Ryanair's advertising. I'm glad though, that you're not bothered. Perhaps you could do this thread a favour and not be bothered about reply again either. Your posts are off-topic and badly written.

jammin_2

benjus wrote: »

Despite the fact that I usually count myself amongst the Ryanair defenders, I think the point about Ireland (and possibly other countries - I don't know) is valid. As a comparison, would it be considered fair for the Ryanair UK site to only sell flights at the headline price to holders of a Japan Credit Bureau card, which is fairly widely accepted in the UK, although not issued here?

Ryanair would probably argue that customers in Ireland can get an MBNA gift card (https://www.mbnagift.ie/) and use that to pay for flights. It's not exactly an ideal solution as it costs €4 and can't be topped up. So I'd say that they might get away with it technically but they are sailing pretty close to the wind (which is of course Ryanair's usual policy).

You're right, benjus. The (now €5) MBNA gift card is likely to be Ryanair's one and only scape goat. As you have pointed out though, it's not a practical alternative due it's expiry and impossibility of top-up.

For the UK market, not charging a fee for using a Visa Electron card is perfectly viable. It is a card that can be obtained very easily, by pretty much any UK resident.

However, for the Irish market, not charging a fee for using a Visa Electron card is pointless, for the reasons discussed at length. A suitable solution, would be for Ryanair to start accepting the Laser card (Irish equivalent of the UK Switch/Maestro card), and charging no fee for that. With bank costs at between €0.0 to €0.28 per transaction, the Laser card is equivalent to the Visa Electron card in any case.

It's astonishing, that an Irish company provides for UK residents to use a "no-fee" payment method, but not for Irish residents.