MSE News: Ryanair passenger arrested after chicken sandwich dispute

inequitable

Another possible approach (which I think is applicable to all catering transactions in the UK) would be to proffer an amount that you think that the food is worth. This, I think, turns the transaction from a (possibly) criminal to a civil dispute.

The real lesson is to avoid expensive and (often) poor quality airline food.

jtk_2

As if I didn't need another reason to not fly with Ryanair. I dread to think what would have happened if this chap had paid and then disputed it afterwards...letters or faxes to a faceless Customer Services Department in Dublin. I can't imagine they'd be making any goodwill refunds.
Some things in life are worth paying extra for.

teshumai

Hmm ... we had a lousy experience with their food. We were flying out of a small ariport whihc had NO food on the other side of security and the kids needed something to eat. The food was expensive and inedible. My son suffers with a condition which makes him ill if he does not eat regularly so we ended our holiday with me forcefeeding him with something quite inedible - there was virtualy nothing left to buy as they had already sold it all and some of teh passengers got nothing. Absolutely appalling. Yet if you complain they call in the cops! How do we take them on ...
We had another problem with their priority boarding ... where you have to pay extra to be sure of having a seat with your kids ... I paid to make life pleasanter but because of the way they boarded us people who had not paid got on the flight ahead of us!
Not exactly a fine experience ...

steve1500

We usually fly out of either Manchester, Liverpool or Leeds & have never been questioned about our sarnies

deegee999

jtk wrote: »

As if I didn't need another reason to not fly with Ryanair. I dread to think what would have happened if this chap had paid and then disputed it afterwards...letters or faxes to a faceless Customer Services Department in Dublin. I can't imagine they'd be making any goodwill refunds.
Some things in life are worth paying extra for.

I agree, I just don't think european flights are one of them. Its a bus with wings, if you did a 3 hour coach trip would you expect to be fed? most of the time you'd be lucky to get a loo on the bus. I think some people expect too much out of short haul air travel, I would rather the prices be as low as possible and spend my money when i get there

jamespir

surely theres more important things to worry about like that shifty looking guy behind whokeeps ;pouring some kind of fluid on his leg

joemac5367

oxenryd wrote: »

At the risk of being unpopular, am I the only one to think that he should have paid?

Ryanair or not Ryanair, If you have/buy something, then you pay for it.

It's like me going to fruit and veg shop, tasting stuff, saying it tastes cr+p, and not paying or have I missed something?

No you're wrong. I can assure you as a police officer myself that there is a civil dispute here over the value of the sandwich. There was no dishonesty in his refusal to pay so nothing for the police to get involved in. I've had to tell several restaurateurs this, when they've called 999 because someone isn't paying up the full price of a poor meal.

It's just the same as getting poor food at a restaurant (or even having crap service to go with it), or getting a naff haircut, or being taken round the houses by a taxi driver who charges you an arm and a leg. If you don't like the goods or the service you're entitled to dispute the value of the deal. If he doesn't like it he can sue you in court. Or if you did pay him, you can sue him in court. NOT a police matter.

joemac5367

inequitable wrote: »

Another possible approach (which I think is applicable to all catering transactions in the UK) would be to proffer an amount that you think that the food is worth. This, I think, turns the transaction from a (possibly) criminal to a civil dispute.

The real lesson is to avoid expensive and (often) poor quality airline food.

If you think it's worth zero then zero it is. They have to take you to court for a judgment. I mean, If they had an item marked..."Horrible tasting sandwich" what price would you expect to pay for it?