Ryanair advertise free flights but none available?

valiant

In reaction to last night's 'hatchet job' Panorama programme, Ryanair have started advertising 'free flights' to a number of destinations. These started from midnight last night. While I agree with Michael O'Leary that BBC's Panorama is a dumbed-down, biased embarrassment to the license payer, I have to wonder why Ryanair don't fall foul of Trading Standards and/or Advertising Standards on this latest 'offer'.

Try it yourself. I can hardly find any 'free' flights to/from any destinations . There are some destinations advertised as having free flights but despite searching ALL of the available dates I can't find any. Specifically, as at the time of writing, there are no 'free' flights going to (or coming back from) Palermo from Stansted. But Ryanair are advertising on their home page that such flights exist.

Surely this is contrary to even the most liberal reading of advertising and trading standards? If you advertise a fare then it must be available for AT LEAST one flight on one date?

The main problem with Ryanair is not their dubious business practices, it's the fault of our toothless Advertising Standards and Trading Standards quangos. If these organizations were doing their job then Ryanair would be subject to an AUTOMATIC and hefty fine for tonight's disingenuous advertising.

hollydays

Eh- there are other airports there 1p.Just seen them.

You want a pony,and you want a pink pony.

deegee999

What time were you on the site. I was on at 05.50 plenty of free flights then but the travel period was wrong for me. If you want a particular flight set your alarm & be on at midnight. Remember its not FREE flights you want as these attract taxes & check in fees, its the penny or pound ones as these have free checkin & no taxes.

valiant

That's not the point I'm trying to make. I'm not interested in flying! The point I'm trying to make is that if they advertise a flight at a specific time at a specific price then that flight should be available at THAT time and at THAT price. Otherwise they are surely falling foul of trading standards and advertising standards legislation. And as such they should be fined.

dmg24

valiant wrote: »

That's not the point I'm trying to make. I'm not interested in flying! The point I'm trying to make is that if they advertise a flight at a specific time at a specific price then that flight should be available at THAT time and at THAT price. Otherwise they are surely falling foul of trading standards and advertising standards legislation. And as such they should be fined.

If you bothered to read the information on the Ryanair website, you would see that the route you mention above is not even offering free flights. Perhaps you need to check your facts before making statements such as the above!

valiant

It was included last night at about 3am. Now it's been withdrawn. It was advertised as 'free' but there were no free flights available. Perhaps it was a genuine mistake.

dmg24

valiant wrote: »

It was included last night at about 3am. Now it's been withdrawn. It was advertised as 'free' but there were no free flights available. Perhaps it was a genuine mistake.

TBH I am doubting this. Ryanair are not fast at updating their website when things go wrong! Perhaps you could get a cached view of the site to prove what you are saying?

mystic_trev

There does seem to be a problem. All the flights I've looked at have £10 each way charges, however when you go to 'comfirm' they disappear and you do get the FREE flights!

Inactive

I have to agree with Valiant on this one, I checked EMA to Valencia just after midnight, which was listed as free, but there simply wasn't any flights available in the dates showing.

*Chattie*

mystic_trev wrote: »

There does seem to be a problem. All the flights I've looked at have £10 each way charges, however when you go to 'comfirm' they disappear and you do get the FREE flights!

Which presumably is the cached info as the last offer was £10 flights.

Bob_the_Saver

If there's no free flights, it's because I've got them all ! Loads of them, and I'm still harvesting them at the moment, I've spent nearly 30p so far!!!!!