A Note to those who bagged Ryanair free flights...

evesham1988la

As you are probably aware, Ryanair make the majority of their profit, not on the actual flight itself but on all the extras - baggage, food, priority-boarding etc. but also from commision by people booking hotels, car hire, additional travel through their website. By offering free flights (with Ryanair paying the taxes), they were hoping to make a profit on all these extras.

Therefore can I suggest that if you are going to buy through Hertz Car Hire, a Terravision Coach Transfer, Stansted Express, HostelWorld or BCP airport parking that you buy via the Ryanair website. It should be the same price (or cheaper) and if they make money by comission, it will increase the likelihood of them doing a similar promotion in the future.

Heva2015

Ryanair do not make the majority of profit on extras. Airlines do make a minimal amount on extras but most of their money comes from freight charges, hence the charge for suitcases, some people it puts off taking a case, the others that don't they've still had some money off so everybody wins.

jamesh

The reason why they offer 2p flights is its a very cheap and effective advertising campaign.

Why pay for a TV advert when you can just give your product away, if all goes well the customer will be really happy and likely to buy full price in the future.

They would not offer it if they could not afford it, so don't feel sorry for them.

Doublespresso

Ryanair is a profitable business with a very shrewed businessperson at the top, so I'm pretty sure that everything was taken into account when the promotions was dreamt of.

I really wouldn't lose too much sleep over this.

ynot2005

spot on evesham, i agree if you are going to buy one those services why not let ryanair get a slice of the cake, as long as you dont pay more for the privellage

i for one are grateful for ryanair and those incredible prices they charge, i dont feel sorry for them, and nor did evesham say that

i would ratherr give my money to help the ryanair cause, than work against them by buying an extra service at no more cost with someone else

makes sense to me

EmmaJ_3

Or you could book them through a cashback site like quidco and keep the referral commission yourself.

Sam_Bee

Um, why? I research all my additionals beforehand, and have never found them cheaper on Ryanair onboard, who rely on a snap decision from the consumer.

Personally, I undertake a challenge never to give Ryanair a penny extra when, as they make it so damn hard to actually not give them a penny extra. I certainly don't feel like they should be some charity case, they are the hardest-skinned business in Europe probably, with an offensive (but successful, and gutsy) boss.

If they actually undertook to improve customer services, I might look at them in a different way.

alared

Sam_Bee wrote: »

If they actually undertook to improve customer services, I might look at them in a different way.

But you`ll still continue to fly with them at bargain fares?

Sam_Bee

alared wrote: »

But you`ll still continue to fly with them at bargain fares?

Oh, i've flown with them several times, and am completely forewarned of what to expect, and therefore forearmed. I've yet to experience a cancellation to really appreciate how shoddy they can get, and have absolutely no problems with flying them at all.

I've a canny knack (or experience) of getting BA or BMI's lowest fares, so will always fly them given the preference. I don't necessarily think 'I''ll save £30 flying Ryanair' but look at the true cost. Particularly of using secondary airports, and the back-up & support I will get should I encounter a problem. I consider £60-£100 a fair, even, good price for flying to Europe. I consider £0.02p an exceptional deal, and encourage everyone to jump on the Ryanair bandwagon. But knowing about their corporate and social responsibilities, I wouldn't encourage anyone to book car hire, purchase expensive drinks or scratchcards through them.

budgetflyer

A lot of people do click through from the ryanair site to book extras like hotels, cars etc so often ryanair can get quite a bit from the extras.
Easyjethotels for eg is the biggest non own brand (ie travelodge Holiday inn etc) hotel booking website in the UK and the 5th biggest overall in the UK.
90% of their bookings are clickthrus from easyjet airline site, so it proves theres money in it just to get people onto the airline site initially.
Personally I dont grudge Ryanair any profit from these extras, however I wouldnt use them just as a thank you but only if the extra was the same as or better than I could get elsewhere
Ryanair are fine if you use them as an A to B method of transport- a bus with wings, and expect the bare minimum-brilliant.If you want more-pay more +go elsewhere or as Sam Bee says, forewarned and forarmed

ynot2005

its all very easy for posters to have principles and all that anti ryanair stuff that gets posted all the time, but a straight choice between 2 airlines going to the same place at the same time, the airline who is 50% cheaper will get the buisness first

when it comes to the "click to book flights" moment all the morals, priniciples, go out of the window, the best deal is what matters

i see BA customes on ryanair flights often, there the ones who order tomato juice for a drink, and stand there glaring at the push and shove thats part of the ryanair experience, but still they paid next to nothing for the trip, and will book again if the price is right

admitting they got a good service from ryanair is another matter

i personally dont belive most of the anti ryanair brigade, its all hyped up nonsense, regular travellers like myself know different, i have had a bad experience once, that didnt stop me getting a near perfect service the rest of the times

for gods sake what do people want for those prices