RYANAIR
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*General Information in a nutshell*
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Founded in 1985
Named after the co-founder Christy Ryan
Fleet size 200 - 115 Locations
Headquarters Dublin Ireland
Finance - 252 Million Euros
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First time I've been in a big bird and loved it!!!
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There comes a time when even the most skeptical hard-line writer actually feels sadness for the airlines that have to take this 2p increase of fuel duty on the chin; without sending a poisoned pen letter to the inept Government administration. Like the police they're tied to doing a job and that is getting people into the air and to a destination that is quite frankly impossible to ride a bike to; unless you're Ben Fugle, but he'll have a TV crew with him though and a large contract signed off with a cheque. - In the world of airlines it is another kick in the concord nose. It is looking like that day of great flying deals have now flown off with-out leaving a 'wish you were here' postcard. It is no surprise why staff of airlines is getting jittery, thanks to the demise of Zoom, Silverjet and XL all within six months of each other and further-more the Airline Business Magazine predicting utter doom a year ago, stating incorrectly that over 30 airlines could fold. - I think we in the UK have got use to the doom and gloom of our media's overactive forecasting; that has already thrown many airline giants into the mouths of hungry lions, being the creditors.

We've all got the picture, and like you I've got my favorite airline being Mike O'Leary's metal bird business Ryanair. The label says its bargain flights for cheap floss pots and by heck they emerge with a golden hand shake from yours truly, just for that fateful, dreadful night in Barcelona in November 2003. I'm not going to say it was a horrible night as it is so clichéd. It was worse than that I had no money either; after (7) days flirting with Spanish waitresses eating too many piella's and drinking Corona as if it was blessed by Fabregas. This was the last thing I needed.

Getting down and personal
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The fog was unbearably bad, several official looking Italians darting all over the place speaking urgently and at pace, throwing their hands in despair. I could see I was in trouble, I was left not knowing anything at the airport, in a place where no hot totty was available to ease the boredom; waiting for news of my flight back to sunny Heathrow, which in comparison was sunny, and you could see 2 inches in front of your nose. I was resigned to being lodged in with the travel-bags and push-chairs, hungry and tired and randy. I kept double checking my tickets, yes, I'm in the right place, the loos are on the left and I'm looking at a notice saying something important. - The only sign that all was semi okay was the Ryanair logo. I got to know that logo. Then something flashed up 'Delay' - great an English word, was I going to get another word to ease my inquiring mind; no.

- A blank screen and the fog was descending further and getting worse. - the airport shops were closing down, except for a Kiosk, maybe information has been transporting directly to the Kiosk and it was with-holding vital flight details just to test my Spanish, I got the senoritas to understand me the other night, though this was different I had to speak.

- So I ventured off from my warm spot between two bags to seek advice. I gallantly moved towards the Kiosk and saw a chap behind the counter and shrugged without words and pointed to the shining beacon the Ryanair logo. He shrugged back and I thanked him. I don't know why but it seemed to help. I communicated and it was useless but at least I moved from my position and stretched myself. By now some other sorry folk had drifted in from the rain and fog, yes it had now started to spit, freezing droplets were forming on the windows; the temperature was dropping; this wasn't looking good. Then another light appeared it said 'EasyJet'. - - - People started slowly mincing towards the Easyjet sign and yet more movement appeared on the notice board. I'd been looking for news and after 1hr 15 minutes I was going to get some at last.

It was all appearing above the EasyJet sign though. I was later than late and quite honestly my patience was dwindling. The notice flashed on and off, but far too quickly for me to read. It caused a bit of commotion as eventually the electronic generator kicked and I could read the notice 'All Ryanair passengers wait at entrance to be picked up by bus to take to plane, EasyJet passengers your plane has been cancelled'. This was met by a moan by the Easyjet passengers; they were succumbed to the drafty airport hall ways till further notice. I was a Ryanair passenger, one of only four apparently, who was driven in a luxury coach with Sky TV and was going home. I made my private thanks to Mr O'Leary as he was looking after me and my well-being. Because as a valid customer I was treated with respect and given comfort in my hour of need. - I truly saw the companies caring nature. Or maybe Mr. O'Leary could see into the future and predicted a wonderfully written review would be published that will make loads of customers embrace the joys and the stardom that I did that rainy, foggy night in Spain. I left that airport to EasyJet passenger's tears, tiaras and tantrums.

Six years on, I still think about the moans of disgruntled EasyJet passengers frozen on the airport floor cuddling their children weeping and wishing they got the bargain offer instead of paying that little bit more airline tax just to be cast aside like an used condom.

Internal wars and what it means to bargain flying
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Now Ryanair has internal problems that have involved their own staff walking out and striking over pay, regarding baggage handling. It is so bad customers are paying more and having to carry their own luggage to the plane. Ryanair have in fact enforced a 'DIY' luggage scheme that enables customers to load whatever they like on the metal bird. It overall will save much time in checking in and Mr. O'Leary plans to ditch these permanently. One good thing is, at least you know your luggage has been boarded, plus it saves time and for about twenty minutes the lovely young ladies would have to be nice to men, as they will be asking the favours instead of kicking the hapless guys in the proverbial. This isn't all bad news as it naturally quickens loading procedures and rewards the good time-keepers amongst us; yet somehow slams more hassle to the last minute check-in hot shoppers who scan for vital deals in the malls. Potentially, the system is in-place to stop any mismanagement to rear its ugly head, for the heavy law-suit which is just a whisker away from the lips of heavy duty pen worshippers on their Blackberry. The system works very effectively on short-hop flights that the States have introduced domestically.

- What is paramount has to be security; so therefore more machine rendered body-checks look highly likely as we get into the Christmas Season. Their will be fabulous holiday packages that does not involve all-in-one holiday packages that get amidst lost in translation far too many times while lumbered in a Foyer not sure where you will be sleeping that night, due to mix-ups, and mass over-booking.

Time-management seems to be the future whereby all business trips which more than often deem to become a time nightmare will become a thing of the past with Ryanair; cutting approximately 45% out of airport lounge time; that is return will save the customer money in over-priced coffee points through-out the terminal. Instead Ryanair will gain from this piece of inventory due to the fact more product would be bought on the actual flight to bridge those gaps of retail therapy. This won't exactly impress the airport unions, but for the light traveler it will be a blessing as the new rules are intending to shake up potential cuts and re-enforce their own bargain price flying levy which is the business ethic. - With the regulators powerless to act on such measures it looks like bad news for thousands of families which depend on airport malls and require heaps of luggage for the necessities of having a young family, Ryanair have forfeited the 1.5 holiday a year group and opted for more the business end of the market; and people who travel lightly, without any fuss.

Bold changes taxiing on the tarmac
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Airports will escalate higher fees to Ryanair due to lost trade, compared to other airlines. The potential of loss of jobs would also be imminent at the airports luggage handler employees. Transport union 'Unite' have quoted that this is another air-brained idea that 'it won't lift off the ground' due to all the protocols required to exercise such a revolutionary piece of airport policy. Procedures will re-valuate other airline check-in patterns and other companies may follow suit, to save costs during the economic downturn. - It is understood the website for Ryanair - www.ryanair.com will be encrypting online booking schedules so customers can directly update their own 'travel plans' accordingly, to their time-scale status.

The changes Ryanair has made of recent also transpires extra costs to luggage weight fees, which is extortionate compared to BMI or EasyJet. During a time of hard-line fuel tactics by the government; it is no surprising Mr O'Leary the CEO has been coming up with means of shaving costs across the board; the airline is to save 26 Million by implementing these actions. It was only last year that Mr. O'Leary had on national TV backed his notoriously shady credit card fiasco online whereby customers thought they were paying for a great bargain deal, but paid the full amount due to the type of credit card they activated within the online booking system. Hasten to add that all Visa card holders got stung as they obviously didn't read the small print. Legally, Ryanair did nothing wrong but ethically it was below the belt, Krankie style.

What is noticeable is that Mr. O'Leary and his team know their standard client requirements. They understand the importance of producing a flight service at bargain prices. My experience has been a very good one. It makes for a change when overall the UK public has fallen victims to poor customer support due to deregulation for private firms. Ryanair has continued to grow while other airline firms have made losses, Ryanair's transport policies maybe on a sticky wicket, but like all radical pioneers for change Mr. O'Leary thrives on innovative concepts which eventually take fold, and become part of our normal lives.

© 1st2thebar - 09 - 2009