MSE News: Ryanair loosens hand luggage rules - but most charges stay sky high

ger_ryan22

Moto2 wrote: »

Hiding the opt out for their travel insurance at the bottom of a drop down list of countries is akin to Tesco slipping a packet of chewing gum into the carrier bags and charging you for it, leaving you to figure out how the hell it got there and how to get a refund.

It's things like this. Before you pay you get a full review of your flight and all charges. If you had been stupid enough to leave travel insurance ticked then they give you the chance to remove it before you pay so really, you're argument is flawed.

It's a ridiculously cheap airline and if you have your head screwed on you will never get nasty surprises at the airport.

NFH

ger_ryan22 wrote: »

If you can read and follow clear instructions on the T&C's section then Ryanair is miles ahead of any other airline.

Why should every customer have to read all the T&Cs? Usually for a straightforward flight booking I read the T&Cs only if there's something specific I need to know.

ger_ryan22 wrote: »

It's things like this. Before you pay you get a full review of your flight and all charges. If you had been stupid enough to leave travel insurance ticked then they give you the chance to remove it before you pay so really, you are argument is flawed.

Why should anyone have to untick the travel insurance? Why isn't it excluded by default? Including it by default is not in most consumers' interests and serves only to charge unsuspecting consumers when they did not intend to be charged. This is considered such an unfair commercial practice that it will soon be outlawed across the EEA by Article 22 of Directive 2011/83/EU on Consumer Rights.

jpsartre

NFH wrote: »

Why should every customer have to read all the T&Cs?

You may not have to read the T&C but passengers should always familiarize themselves with things like check-in deadlines and baggage allowances, no matter who they are flying with. Ryanair is no different in this respect and are pretty good at alerting people to these by email. You get email reminders both about the reqauirement to print boarding passes and about baggage allowances. They also warn about the latter on the boarding pass. There's certainly no need to read the entire carrier's regulation unless highly unusual circumstamces apply.

NFH wrote: »

Including it by default is not in most consumers' interests and serves only to charge unsuspecting consumers when they did not intend to be charged.

Good thing it's not included as default then.

lambourne

I agree with Mike 2012 - Ryanair makes its money from people who do not read what they have signed up to/paid for, you can still fly incredibly cheaply if you spend a tiny bit of time making sure you do not take out their insurance, check in a bag, print your own boarding pass and by nothing on board - it is a matter of choice although the on-board announcements are very annoying and we have no choice about them so pleased they will stop!

I think the reason they have decided to let people take 2 bags is sensible - I used to take hand baggage only for short breaks before they started charging for checked baggage and usually took a small rucksack plus a handbag - the rucksack fitted under the seat in front, once they changed to only allowing one piece of luggage I had to take a larger bag so I could put my handbag inside it for the boarding - this luggage would not fit under the seat so had to go in the overhead locker. What has happened is that Ryanair flights have packed out overhead lockers and very little luggage under seats, they even have some rows of seats for putting luggage on so with the new rules they can make use of the under seat space and use the rows of seats for paying passengers - maybe they are not being savvy about customer service so much as savvy about packing their flights more!

SaveTheEuro

I'm delighted recaptcha has disappeared making it simple to flick through the pages to see prices for a week at a time. The simplified booking path, reducing the process from 17 to 5 clicks, will also be welcome when it is introduced at the end of the month.

marsman802

In travel terms there is something called "conversion". Or sometimes known as pleasing the modern consumer.

A poor booking process just puts people off - to give you an idea the travel industry hates the 3D secure features on websites as anything that delays a process is deemed to upset the consumer.

Banks like 3D secure as it reduces the fraud possibilities that they become liable for and puts the onus on the travel operator.

Ryanair's process would theoretically draw more consumers in when they simplify the purchase process.

ibats

Ryan Air, is not making the changes from the good of their heart, they were Sued in Ireland, and the Judgement has made them change the rule of one cabin bag, he said 'women were entitled to carry their hand bag as well as the cabin bag allowed.'
So It pays not to let the Buxxers get away with their rip offs.:T

NFH

ibats wrote: »

Ryan Air, is not making the changes from the good of their heart, they were Sued in Ireland, and the Judgement has made them change the rule of one cabin bag, he said 'women were entitled to carry their hand bag as well as the cabin bag allowed.'

That is very interesting. It sounds like something to do with sex discrimination in that it is customary for women to carry in handbags the items that men carry in their pockets and it would be discriminatory to prevent women from carrying those items but not prevent men. Do you have a link to the judgement or to a news story about this? I've searched but can't find anything.

jpsartre

ibats wrote: »

they were Sued in Ireland, and the Judgement has made them change the rule of one cabin bag, he said 'women were entitled to carry their hand bag as well as the cabin bag allowed.'

I pray for the sake of humanity that nobody neither said something so stupid, nor that that anyone would actually waste the legal system's time with such a lawsuit.

heather_p03

I think Ryan Air is 3rd class travel and would avoid using them.