Your choice of airline

elstimpo

gallygirl wrote: »

Why reject something you've never tried?

I have plenty of friends who's opinions i value who have used Ryan Air and have told me it's an airline who treats their customers like muck.

I also despise O'Leary.

My experiences with Monarch, who i use about 4-5 times a year and have done for around 12 years, is that it's a great, low cost airline. Certainly nowhere near the picture you paint of it.

Badger_Lady

elstimpo wrote: »

I have plenty of friends who's opinions i value who have used Ryan Air and have told me it's an airline who treats their customers like muck.

But on the other hand, it's the only airline that'll take me from my local airport to my parents' local airport for 2p return (and yes I really have paid just 2p with nothing on top) On other occasions it's been £10 but I can grin and bear that expense...

malkie76

manrow wrote: »

I totally agree, the emerging airlines notably from the Middle East leave BA absolutely standing.

Out of interest on what grounds are you measuring them by?
While you have a point, a fantastic airline from the middle east doesn't really help get me from London to Philadelphia.

richardw

Badger_Lady wrote: »

2p return (and yes I really have paid just 2p with nothing on top)

When was that then?

Doshwaster

manrow wrote: »

I totally agree, the emerging airlines notably from the Middle East leave BA absolutely standing.

It's slightly an unfair comparison as the likes of Emirates don't need to make a profit and exist as a marketing arm of their government - just like some Premier League football clubs.

BA has it's faults but they would always be my first choice for flying, especially to the US. I travel with them regularly on business and have a Silver card which gives me a lot of preferential treatment. You'd struggle to get me on to a US carrier.

When flying "east of Suez", especially on leisure travel then the choice is closer as carriers like Cathay Pacific, Emirates and Singapore are all excellent.

An interesting article on the Emirates business model: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_business_model

elstimpo

Badger_Lady wrote: »

But on the other hand, it's the only airline that'll take me from my local airport to my parents' local airport for 2p return (and yes I really have paid just 2p with nothing on top) On other occasions it's been £10 but I can grin and bear that expense...

If you have no choice but to use a specific Airline then there isn't much you can do about it.

The 2p thing is all marketing. How often have you paid 2p or £10 on a Ryan Air flight?

elstimpo

Nobjocki wrote: »

The success of Ryanair is testament to the fact that many,many millions of passengers are quite happy with they way they are treated by them.

I suspect the naysayers are the ones who are too dopey/lazy to follow the clear instructions on their website.

Quite bizarre,though, that you despise someone you have never met or even travelled on his airline.

I completely disagree that many millions are 'happy' with the way they are treated by Ryan Air. I think there are many millions of people who find no alternative but to fly Ryanair.

You suspicions are not only wrong, but ignorant and rude.

I've seen enough of him in interviews and the way he acts to know what kind of man he is.

elstimpo

Doshwaster wrote: »

It's slightly an unfair comparison as the likes of Emirates don't need to make a profit and exist as a marketing arm of their government - just like some Premier League football clubs.

BA has it's faults but they would always be my first choice for flying, especially to the US. I travel with them regularly on business and have a Silver card which gives me a lot of preferential treatment. You'd struggle to get me on to a US carrier.

When flying "east of Suez", especially on leisure travel then the choice is closer as carriers like Cathay Pacific, Emirates and Singapore are all excellent.

An interesting article on the Emirates business model: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_business_model

I find that Singapore Airlines service standards have dropped in recent years in premium cabins, but their economy on the A380 is very good. Emirates i'm not a fan of at all, but Cathay are not bad, if you are travelling alone. None of them are as good as BA.

The best Business Class products are BA, Qatar and Kingfisher. All excellent. Singapore and Etihad would be just behind these three.

richardw

elstimpo wrote: »

You suspicions are .... rude.

Nobjocki appears to be forgetting again about the forum rule 'Please be nice to Moneysavers'.

jjblondie

Had BA not lost my suitcase permanently, then they would be my favourite due to a combination of cheap fares and pleasant flying conditions. I used to really love BMI but their fares have been creeping upwards and their luggage allowance is now more restrictive. The website booking is also not great. Airberlin is also alright, but prices vary massively.

I don't like Ryanair because when I used it it was a scrum with loud music and lottery ticket selling, and my flight cost me over £200 - it was the only airline to fly from anywhere in Britain to my destination.