Ryanair - only if you're desperate.
Written: Apr 15 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Cheap.
Cons: No customer service. Flight cancellations. Staff attitude.
The Bottom Line: A cheap ticket is only a cheap ticket if it gets you there.
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| polevs's Full Review: Ryanair |
A group booking was made with a Travel Agent for a school party of 28 children, their teachers and guardians travelling to Pisa, Italy. The purpose of the visit was a series of concerts in the Tuscany area. On arrival at check in at Stansted we were informed that there was an unspecified delay to our flight.
Three hours after the due time for departure we were informed that the flight was cancelled - no reason was given. Ryanair offered us the option of a full refund or to rebook on the next available flight - in five days time. This obviously being unacceptable, we complained to the check-in staff. They told us that there was nothing they could do, the flight could not take off because of bad weather. Ryanair were the only ones to cancel their flights that day.
Some passengers who should also have been on our flight were told that the flights had all been cancelled because so many of them were delayed. The tight scheduling and turnaround times of Rayanair meant that they could not make up any lost time.
We contacted our travel agent who, with a great deal of difficulty, managed to get us on a Buzz flight to Milan. The only problem was it was not due to leave until the following day - some 18 hours to wait. By now most of the children were in tears, along with some of the teachers. It was decided that we could not disappoint the children, and we would take the Milan flight.
Ryanair was asked to provide accomodation for the night at Stansted, but we were informed that it was not their responsibility. They had fulfilled their obligations by offering a refund. When the Duty manager was asked for, and eventually appeared, he told us the same. He did however offer us some thin blankets to enable the children to sleep on the floor, and some sweets.
Some 24 hours after our scheduled departure time, we left Stansted. With the delay caused by Ryanair, and the additional cost of the train tickets from Milan to Pisa, not only were we out of pocket, but were a day and a half late. This meant us having to cancel some of our concerts and reschedule others.
Ryanair were utterly inadequate in their customer service. Their employees all had the attitude that it was not their problem and that they could not care less. They may be cheap, but it does not cost anything to be friendly and helpful.
Incidentally, our flights with Buzz were superb, with professional, well trained and friendly staff. Not only that but we were exactly on time for both our outward and return flights. Ryanair eat you heart out!.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
polevs
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Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 2 members
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