Ryanair News

[signed]

I suppose also if they didn't want to use the gate scanning kit they could just get their own. easyJet used to do that, they may still do.

What would be the benefit to roll their own gate scan?

 

[Bletchleyite]

What would be the benefit to roll their own gate scan?

In easyJet's case it was because they then didn't have to pay for the airport equipment, though this was back when accessing security didn't involve scanning on an automated gate.

 

[signed]

In easyJet's case it was because they then didn't have to pay for the airport equipment, though this was back when accessing security didn't involve scanning on an automated gate.

Surely with the myriad of ground handler contractors, the amount of airports now served and the general volatility of the Ryanair service, that would cost a lot more than just using what's in place

 

[Bletchleyite]

Surely with the myriad of ground handler contractors, the amount of airports now served and the general volatility of the Ryanair service, that would cost a lot more than just using what's in place

In the early days of easyJet they mostly did their own handling, again to save money. Mostly not the case now I believe. Not sure what Ryanair do with regard to handling particularly at Stansted where their own operation might be economically sensible?

 

[bspahh]

Not seen that for a very long time. That said, I do wonder if Ryanair are going to be moving to "eyeball Mk1" verifiable passes on the app, e.g. with an animation, so they can stop paying for the use of the airport's scanning kit? Otherwise I'm really struggling to understand how they benefit from their plans aside from catching people out and charging them (which it could be!)

If everyone uses their app to check in, then they can use the app to sell upgrades, lottery tickets and advertising.

 

[signed]

In the early days of easyJet they mostly did their own handling, again to save money. Mostly not the case now I believe. Not sure what Ryanair do with regard to handling particularly at Stansted where their own operation might be economically sensible?

Stansted is delegated to OmniServ under the Blue Handling brand.

It looks like Dublin (in own name), and Spain (Azul Handling) are their major self-handling operations. Most of the other seem to be ran by Skytanking.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Stansted is delegated to OmniServ under the Blue Handling brand.

That slightly sounds like they may have owned it originally and sold it.

If everyone uses their app to check in, then they can use the app to sell upgrades, lottery tickets and advertising.

Presumably, though, they can do that on the website too? I guess push advertising is the thing they want.

 

[poffle]

That slightly sounds like they may have owned it originally and sold it.



Presumably, though, they can do that on the website too? I guess push advertising is the thing they want.

I think part of pushing the app is that they can sell food/drinks/duty free using the app on board. It uses Bluetooth and they bring the stuff straight to your (assigned) seat rather than waiting for the trolley to go through the cabin.

They sort of sell it as an ability to order in advance but I don't think the function is enabled until the doors are closed.

I know for boarding as soon as you've checked in on the app there is an option on android to add the boarding pass to your Google wallet. Tends to screw up the wallet as then when you go to pay for something you've got a Ryanair boarding pass.

 

[Bletchleyite]

How's that going to work in payment terms, unless they are offering free wifi? I don't think there's much hope of that.

If it's an extra step in ordering and you still have to pay as normal that's not a time saver, that's a pointless additional step (see also ordering food on your phone in cinemas when you could just ask the person at the till to do it in a fraction of the time).

 

[signed]

that's a pointless additional step

Not really for them.

They probably envision that they can upsell better on the app than with the trolley. Just like the McDonalds machines that are engineered (and very successfully so) to subtly upsell you, which a cashier will never achieve to do.

 

[poffle]

How's that going to work in payment terms, unless they are offering free wifi? I don't think there's much hope of that.

If it's an extra step in ordering and you still have to pay as normal that's not a time saver, that's a pointless additional step (see also ordering food on your phone in cinemas when you could just ask the person at the till to do it in a fraction of the time).

It's done over Bluetooth not WiFi.

You have to pay with card to the person bringing the items. Ryanair haven't taken cash payments on board for years.

I think there are advantages. For hot food they can heat the food and bring it straight to you, rather than a flight attendant having to go to the galley after you order, heat the food and then bring it back.

Moving the trolleys up and down the cabin is quite a rigmarole. With letting people step into seats to get to toilet and then moving trolley forwards and back to let them in and out of empty seats.

 

[Mike395]

I suppose also if they didn't want to use the gate scanning kit they could just get their own. easyJet used to do that, they may still do.

It's also a requirement in some jurisdictions I believe for countries where there aren't formal immigration departure checks (including here in the UK) that a record is made as someone boards a plane as it acts as the electronic immigration record for their departure. Switching to Mk1 eyeballs for boarding pass verification would need additional time to carry out this process manually which wouldn't work, particularly for a LCC.

 

[Snow1964]

It's done over Bluetooth not WiFi.

On most phones, can turn Bluetooth off, and RFD payment off too

Or has Ryanair been really sneaky and fixed their App so it only works if everything is turned on

 

[poffle]

On most phones, can turn Bluetooth off, and RFD payment off too

Or has Ryanair been really sneaky and fixed their App so it only works if everything is turned on

You have to Bluetooth turned on if you want use the app to place orders in flight.

In flight payments aren't done through the app.

 

[route101]

Yes I am no fan of their policy of deliberately splitting people which they used to lie about. I always pay extra for a specific seat and it’s annoying when you‘ve paid extra and find yourself getting asked to swap or made to a feel like you are stopping someone sitting next to their travelling partners. I am not aware of any of the other budget airlines that do this, maybe Wizz although I haven’t flown them since 2018?

Yes, you often get that as a single traveller. I had it on the Eurostar, I picked my forward facing window seat for a reason but a mother and toddler were in the seat next to me and the seat in front of that. You feel obliged to move to give them the two seats together.

 

[signed]

Ryanair has launched yet another subscription service akin to MegaVolotea or Wizz Privilege, Ryanair Prime for €79.99/year

Membership

Book direct at the official Ryanair.com website to guarantee that you get the best prices on Ryanair's cheap flights.

www.ryanair.com

Exclusive Sales​

Get exclusive discounts on flights through monthly sales, available only to Ryanair Prime members delivered directly to your email.*

Reserve a seat​

Choose where you sit for no extra cost in selected rows. Whether it’s the window, aisle or even middle you can reserve your seat for free.
*(Up to a maximum of 12 seats.)

Travel Insurance​

Annual coverage on flights, so you can fly with peace of mind on all of your flights with Ryanair.*

It is by far the worst of the LCC membership. The others have 10% to 20% fixed discount, free priority boarding...

The 12 seat per year free reservation, aside from being a sneaky restriction, is probably the only thing worth the money.

From my experience, it would make itself worth after 6 emergency exit seats. Or even fewer front row seating.

Though, the ToS are sneaky AF

https://help.ryanair.com/hc/en-ie/sections/33635642865809

• Seat reservation: A Member may reserve up to 12 free seats for the Member and 12 free seats for their Ryanair Prime Companion in designated rows on specific flights at no additional cost, subject to availability. See rules for reserved seating. There is no guarantee that a Member and their Ryanair Prime Companion will be able to select seats together. Where designated seats are available for Members and/or Ryanair Prime Companions, they must select seats from those designated seats and random seat allocation will not be available.

Where no Ryanair Prime designated seats are available, Members and Ryanair Prime Companions will be subject to random allocation.

Last time I booked them, I was offered the annual travel insurance for €23.

 

[Snow1964]

Ryanair has launched yet another subscription service akin to MegaVolotea or Wizz Privilege, Ryanair Prime for €79.99/year


The 12 seat per year free reservation, aside from being a sneaky restriction, is probably the only thing worth the money.

Actually looks like it is restricted to designated rows on selected flights.

So presumably if the rows already booked by other members, or the flight is not on their selected list, then don't even get that.

 

[Southsider]

Ryanair has launched yet another subscription service akin to MegaVolotea or Wizz Privilege, Ryanair Prime for €79.99/year

Membership

Book direct at the official Ryanair.com website to guarantee that you get the best prices on Ryanair's cheap flights.

www.ryanair.com

It is by far the worst of the LCC membership. The others have 10% to 20% fixed discount, free priority boarding...

The 12 seat per year free reservation, aside from being a sneaky restriction, is probably the only thing worth the money.

From my experience, it would make itself worth after 6 emergency exit seats. Or even fewer front row seating.

Though, the ToS are sneaky AF

https://help.ryanair.com/hc/en-ie/sections/33635642865809

Last time I booked them, I was offered the annual travel insurance for €23.

I received the email about this a couple of days ago. I can’t see any benefits to me apart from the seating and that comes with so many conditions I doubt I’d get to use it much.

 

[cactustwirly]

Yes, to be honest I do think Ryanair are unreasonable in not allowing a bag to be pushed into a sizer providing it fits, because that restricts people to hard-sided bags - all soft sided bags will bulge to some extent, even if not packed full*. Of course hard sided bags are heavier so Ryanair lose on fuel costs with that slightly overzealous policy

But even so, you know Ryanair are strict - get your tape measure out

* I have a soft sided rucksack precisely 56x45x25cm in size, designed to be the maximum size that will fit on airlines that accept IATA sized hand luggage such as easyJet and Wizz. But it is impossible for it not to bulge very slightly, though those two airlines are fine with that provided it goes in easily which it does. Even if Ryanair allowed that big (theirs is 55x40x20 taking into account Boeing's smaller overhead bins) I don't think I'd risk it with them.



That's going to get worse soon - they are now going app-only - it won't even be permitted to print your own out if I read it correctly, so non-smartphone-owners will no longer be able to use Ryanair at all. I don't know what the policy will be with regard to people who can't use a smartphone due to a coordination-related disability (for example) as if they don't let them print at the airport there will be a discrimination case in waiting.

My bag is sometimes 56 or 57cm tall if you cram it full
I have never been asked to check