Tango29 From Ireland, joined May 2006, 312 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 7 months 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 6450 times:
Hey guys
Just wanted to have a quick rant about a Ryanair scam i witnessed, last week i was flying MAD-DUB and
i use Ryanair quiet a bit so i always buy priority boarding, but last wednesday they done the usual boarding
calls for the priority pax to board first so i was second in line to board so i could get my usual exit seat, so
much to my dismay instead of going down the air bridge we were put on a bus with all the other pax and
driven to the aircraft, i thought it was a bit stupid selling priorty boarding when there was'nt any but hey thats
Ryanair!
Bongodog1964 From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2006, 3016 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (5 years 7 months 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 6367 times:
This is a common problem; having been entitled to "front of line" privileges due to travelling with a small child, I have narrowly avoided the same.
If you are being bussed to the aircraft, enter the bus, and stand opposite the doors, don't make the mistake of sitting down at the back.
IMO FR & U2 selling priority boarding to the detriment of the disabled and those travelling with small children is totally despicable. We now live in a society where it is not only considered ok to grab the best seats at the expense of those less fortunate, its now considered fair game to ask people to pay to do it.
I realise that preboarding for the infirm and the young has been grossly abused in the past, I've personally seen extended families of 20 or more preboarding due to one 8 year old; but this is no reason to demote them in the pecking order. Better supervision of the process would be the best answer.
AirNZ From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (5 years 7 months 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 6367 times:
Quoting Tango29 (Thread starter): i thought it was a bit stupid selling priorty boarding when there was'nt any but hey thats
Ryanair!
This is a normal procedure that doesn't necessarily apply to only Ryanair, and it is a little bit OTP to describe it as a 'scam'. In this instance FR have no idea where ATC will place the a/c and if pax have to be bussed then priority boarding naturally goes haywire, and in this case it was most unfortunate. Now of course, you certainly should be entitled to the PR boarding refund, and that would certainly be a scam if it was denied!
BrianDromey From Ireland, joined Dec 2006, 3806 posts, RR: 10 Reply 3, posted (5 years 7 months 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 6300 times:
All FR have to do is instruct their contractor at the airport to ENSURE that the first bus only has priority boarding PAX on it.
These people (bigger fools in my opinion) have paid to baord the aircraft first. It might cost FR a few extra euro, but at the end of they day they will loose revenue if people realise that the priority boarding is not being adheared to.
Brian.
Next flights: MAN-ORK-LHR(EI)-MAN(BD); MAN-LHR(BD)-ORK (EI); DUB-ZRH-LAX (LX) LAX-YYZ (AC) YYZ-YHZ-LHR(AC)-DUB(BD)
BHXFAOTIPYYC From Portugal, joined Jun 2005, 1644 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (5 years 7 months 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 6219 times:
Yep been there twice on the MAD FAO route. First time all smiles, all at the front, get on the bus first, ... then over to the a/c and ooops, now I'm 40th on to the plane. Then I realised that Priority Boarding only guaranteed you a nice seat on the bus! 2nd time around, my fellow pax became my mortal enemy, and throwing women, children, and the elderly behind me, the holy grail of Priority Boarding was indeed mine!
Quoting BrianDromey (Reply 3): These people (bigger fools in my opinion) have paid to baord the aircraft first.
I had no choice. Zero bags = Priority Boarding + 3 Euros. No way to remove it.
Breakfast in BHX, lunch in FAO, dinner in TIP, baggage in YYC.
Bcngro From Andorra, joined Oct 2004, 584 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (5 years 7 months 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 6171 times:
Last week I flew FR 4 times. I never bought priority boarding and got an exit row seat on all 4 flights! It makes no sense to me that most people that buy priority boarding take a normal seat.
At the bus station, buses stop. At the train station, trains stop. At my desk, I have a work station.
Pe@rson From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 18826 posts, RR: 54 Reply 7, posted (5 years 7 months 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 6149 times:
Quote:
This is a normal procedure that doesn't necessarily apply to only Ryanair
Certainly.
EZY clearly states: "Speedy Boarders will be called to board before our other boarding groups, giving you the best choice of seats – provided you’re at the gate when we start boarding. You may be bussed to the aircraft for this flight, and we can’t guarantee that you’re off the bus first." And EZY can charge a lot for priority boarding - up to £15 for a return (so £7.50 per one-way flight) in some cases.
It's changed now... With FR if you have no checked bags and are eligible for online check-in you automatically get inclusive priority boarding (it appears as "0 bags - Online Checkin/Priority Boarding). If, however, you have to check-in at the airport (i.e. you have checked baggage or aren't eligible for online check-in), you don't get inclusive priority boarding, but you can still get it for £2 per one-way flight.
"Everyone writing for the Telegraph knows that the way to grab eyeballs is with Ryanair and/or sex."
777STL From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 3033 posts, RR: 3 Reply 8, posted (5 years 7 months 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 6085 times:
Quoting Pe@rson (Reply 7): EZY clearly states: "Speedy Boarders will be called to board before our other boarding groups, giving you the best choice of seats – provided you’re at the gate when we start boarding. You may be bussed to the aircraft for this flight, and we can’t guarantee that you’re off the bus first." And EZY can charge a lot for priority boarding - up to £15 for a return (so £7.50 per one-way flight) in some cases.
Who'd pay that... well, 'nuff said.
Indeed. And there aren't enough people that use Priority Boarding anyway, so you won't really be gaining an advantage over being at the front of the regular boarding line, provided that you're in the first boarding group.
Last time I flew EZY, I saw a grand total of two people use priority boarding, on two flights. And they were a couple. The second flight, I was the first one on the plane, without priority boarding.
Bongodog1964 From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2006, 3016 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (5 years 7 months 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 6052 times:
Quoting AirNZ (Reply 2): This is a normal procedure that doesn't necessarily apply to only Ryanair, and it is a little bit OTP to describe it as a 'scam'. In this instance FR have no idea where ATC will place the a/c and if pax have to be bussed then priority boarding naturally goes haywire, and in this case it was most unfortunate. Now of course, you certainly should be entitled to the PR boarding refund, and that would certainly be a scam if it was denied!
This is scam, as FR know full well that many of the airports they use, bus the majority of their passengers; Indeed as FR refuse to use airbridges, its a bit of waste to park their planes next to the terminal building. As regards to a refund' you would have to be either very lucky, or strong willed to get one.
Quoting BrianDromey (Reply 3): All FR have to do is instruct their contractor at the airport to ENSURE that the first bus only has priority boarding PAX on it.
And FR pay for three buses instead of the customary two ? The idea of selling priority boarding is to make 100% profit, not to incur any additional costs.
BrianDromey From Ireland, joined Dec 2006, 3806 posts, RR: 10 Reply 11, posted (5 years 7 months 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 5914 times:
Quoting Pe@rson (Reply 10): I disagree: I have flown FR 80+ times and have been bussed twice.
The only place I know of that FR use busses to at LBA, and even here its only FROM the aircraft, where teh drop-off point for ROI arrivals is at the opposite end of the rampm and there is not continous walkway.
I have to agree with you here Pearson, I certainly would not pay for priority boarding. Ive often been among the last to board an FR aircraft and have no trouble getting an exit row seat, if I want one (the secret is to use the rear steps!, people will still be quueing to get on the front steps while I am stowing my carry on!).
Quoting Bongodog1964 (Reply 9): And FR pay for three buses instead of the customary two ? The idea of selling priority boarding is to make 100% profit, not to incur any additional costs.
I see what you are saying, but at the end of the day, it is a service that people are paying for,and it is called "priority boarding" not "priority ramp bus boarding", but its a mute point as FR use busses in so few airports.
Brian.
Next flights: MAN-ORK-LHR(EI)-MAN(BD); MAN-LHR(BD)-ORK (EI); DUB-ZRH-LAX (LX) LAX-YYZ (AC) YYZ-YHZ-LHR(AC)-DUB(BD)
Embajador3 From Spain, joined Aug 2006, 318 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (5 years 7 months 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 5845 times:
Quoting Bongodog1964 (Reply 9): This is scam, as FR know full well that many of the airports they use, bus the majority of their passengers; Indeed as FR refuse to use airbridges, its a bit of waste to park their planes next to the terminal building. As regards to a refund' you would have to be either very lucky, or strong willed to get one.
FR uses airbridges at MMX,MAD,VLC and many other spanish airports. I even got airbridge a few times at OPO and once at FAO. So, i guess it is up to ATC and not up to FR.
Tango29 From Ireland, joined May 2006, 312 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (5 years 7 months 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 5784 times:
Quoting Pe@rson (Reply 10): I have flown FR 80+ times and have been bussed twice
I've flown with them a similar amount of times and this was the first time being bussed
Quoting Embajador3 (Reply 12): i guess it is up to ATC and not up to FR.
Very true.
Quoting BrianDromey (Reply 11): I have to agree with you here Pearson, I certainly would not pay for priority boarding.
I usually travel light so i did'nt bother me 2 much cos i did'nt pay the 3 euro, but there was a lot of head scratching
and WTF's from the priority pax that did pay.
I used it once in MAN but that was 4 years ago.
It's ALWAYS used in AGP and MMX. I beleive it's the same in a few other Spanish airports.
Quoting Tango29 (Reply 13): Quoting Pe@rson (Reply 10):
I have flown FR 80 times and have been bussed twice
I've flown with them a similar amount of times and this was the first time being bussed
So I wouldn't call it a scam if because of a different handling procedure that day, you lost your priority rights.
As you admit yourself, pax usually walk to the aircraft, in which cases priority pax are first onboard.
Gilesdavies From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 2880 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (5 years 7 months 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 5481 times:
This is not a scam! It was probably beyond FR's control where the aircraft was parked on the apron...
Ryanair aircraft only have a 25min turnaround, so people checking-in for the flight or being sold priority boarding at the airport are purchasing these a few hours before the aircraft lands. It could be anything from the stand FR was going to use was taken out of service at the last minute and had to be parked elsewhere.
I do however think Ryanair should put some warning on their website... Reputable airlines like easyJet , do warn people when booking Sleazy Boarding:
"Be among the first to be called to board your flight for just £5.00 per person. Speedy Boarders will be called to board before our other boarding groups, giving you the best choice of seats – provided you’re at the gate when we start boarding. You may be bussed to the aircraft for this flight, and we can’t guarantee that you’re off the bus first."
CrossChecked From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2004, 251 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (5 years 7 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 4214 times:
Quoting Bongodog1964 (Reply 1): IMO FR & U2 selling priority boarding to the detriment of the disabled and those travelling with small children is totally despicable.
Why do these passengers have to be boarded FIRST? These passengers who need a little more time with boarding are more than welcome to wait til the end so they're not caught up in the rush. Will they, though? No chance.
Why is it that parents with young children will make a big fuss about getting on the plane first but when it comes to getting off at the other end, they seem capable to leaving at the same tie as everyone else?!
Unless a passenger needs to be wheeled to their seat on the aircraft, I see little reason why anyone should expect free pre-boarding because of their circumstances. I said it above, but if someone needs more time with boarding, they shouldn't automatically expect to get on first - and if they don't, they are welcome to wait til the end.
Just wanted to have a quick rant about a Ryanair scam i witnessed, last week i was flying MAD-DUB and
i use Ryanair quiet a bit so i always buy priority boarding, but last wednesday they done the usual boarding
calls for the priority pax to board first so i was second in line to board so i could get my usual exit seat, so
much to my dismay instead of going down the air bridge we were put on a bus with all the other pax and
driven to the aircraft, i thought it was a bit stupid selling priorty boarding when there was'nt any but hey thats
Ryanair!
I am a regular Ryanair customer and satisfied to fly with almost new planes at low low prices. I think you get more than what you pay for normally with Ryanair. I think in view of the price you pay and that you normally get transported efficiently you could be a bit understanding.
If services would be on perhaps Aer Lingus standards you would never ever get those fantastic prices and chances are you would never afford to travel on new jets at all
Tango29 From Ireland, joined May 2006, 312 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (5 years 7 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 2992 times:
Quoting CrossChecked (Reply 17): Unless a passenger needs to be wheeled to their seat on the aircraft, I see little reason why anyone should expect free pre-boarding because of their circumstances. I said it above, but if someone needs more time with boarding, they shouldn't automatically expect to get on first - and if they don't, they are welcome to wait til the end.
Quoting Navigator (Reply 18): I am a regular Ryanair customer and satisfied to fly with almost new planes at low low prices. I think you get more than what you pay for normally with Ryanair. I think in view of the price you pay and that you normally get transported efficiently you could be a bit understanding.
I agree with you 100% i have no problem with using Ryanair and what i saw in MAD will not put me off using them.
But my point is that just found that it did'nt make sense as there was about 30 pax that had paid for priority boarding
and then when we reached the aircraft there was the usual rugby scrum to get on the plane.
Bongodog1964 From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2006, 3016 posts, RR: 2 Reply 20, posted (5 years 7 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 2834 times:
Quoting Bongodog1964 (Reply 9): as FR know full well that many of the airports they use, bus the majority of their passengers
oops got that one wrong didn't I
Quoting CrossChecked (Reply 17): Why do these passengers have to be boarded FIRST? These passengers who need a little more time with boarding are more than welcome to wait til the end so they're not caught up in the rush. Will they, though? No chance.
Why is it that parents with young children will make a big fuss about getting on the plane first but when it comes to getting off at the other end, they seem capable to leaving at the same tie as everyone else?!
Unless a passenger needs to be wheeled to their seat on the aircraft, I see little reason why anyone should expect free pre-boarding because of their circumstances. I said it above, but if someone needs more time with boarding, they shouldn't automatically expect to get on first - and if they don't, they are welcome to wait til the end.
If you had ever travelled with children, or a disabled person, you would not need to ask these questions
If there was any courtesy any more, It wouldn't be so necessary; but having been jostled and pushed in the rush to board, whilst trying to get my daughter onto planes I know why it is so. In addition it is usually a requirement that small children have a responsible parent/carer sitting next to them; if you board the plane nearly last, having been overtaken in the dash across the apron, and then have to wait whilst the cabin crew move a passenger in order to accomodate this; the plane is them delayed.
Back in days of old, as a ship sank the cry was "women and children first", the modern day equivalant when boarding a LCC is "every man for himself"
Only yesterday the UK media reported on the case of a 97 year old man, now blinded in one eye; the result of being assaulted by a fellow pasenger who couldn't wait for him to move over so he could get off the tram. One of the worst aspects of this is, that the 97 year old was standing, because not one person offered to give up their seat for him.
I was brought up to respect and assist those less fortunate or able than myself; this includes letting the infirm and young board planes before I do.
Pe@rson From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 18826 posts, RR: 54 Reply 21, posted (5 years 7 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 2834 times:
EZY charge a varying fee for priority boarding, up to £7.50 (!) per person per one-way flight.
You can now get priority boarding for free with FR if you qualify for online check in; if you have to check in at the airport, priority boarding will cost a fixed £2 per person per one-way flight.
I do like EZY's warning next to where you can select priority boarding, although it doesn't always work: a woman on Watchdog last week complained that she has purchased priority boarding and that she was bussed to an EZY flight and so didn't board first - despite the clear warning on EZY's website that that might happen. She wanted a refund, but EZY, like FR, have a clear non-refundable stance (did she receive her money back once Watchdog became involved?).
FR should have a clear warning, rather than just answering "What is Priority Boarding?" in its travel questions section - which doesn't actually state the potential "risk" of it.
"Everyone writing for the Telegraph knows that the way to grab eyeballs is with Ryanair and/or sex."
Pe@rson From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 18826 posts, RR: 54 Reply 22, posted (5 years 7 months 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 2809 times:
Quoting Bongodog1964 (Reply 20): I was brought up to respect and assist those less fortunate or able than myself; this includes letting the infirm and young board planes before I do.
I was also brought up like that. So as the airlines won't alter their stance, why not purchase a few extra priority boardings and give them to those that need them? They'd get what they need, you'd get what you need, and the airlines would get what they need.
"Everyone writing for the Telegraph knows that the way to grab eyeballs is with Ryanair and/or sex."
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (5 years 7 months 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 2781 times:
Quoting Pe@rson (Reply 10): The vast majority of FR flights (at least in my experience) involve walking from the terminal, across the ramp, and to the steps
Easily done when you're the only airline using the airport, which is a portakabin in a field miles from anywhere
It is not up to ATC whether or not an aircraft uses a jetway or not, it is up to the airline whether they want to pay to use a jetbridge or not. If they choose not to (e.g. U2, FR), then it's buses. Priority boarding is a complete ripoff unless it's guaranteed jetway boarding, which it never is.
Pe@rson From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 18826 posts, RR: 54 Reply 24, posted (5 years 7 months 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 2733 times:
Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 23): It is not up to ATC whether or not an aircraft uses a jetway or not, it is up to the airline whether they want to pay to use a jetbridge or not. If they choose not to (e.g. U2, FR), then it's buses.
Correct about it not being up to ATC.
Incorrect about FR primarily using busses: FR overwhelmingly requires people to walk to the aircraft.
Quote: Easily done when you're the only airline using the airport
I've always walked to FR aircraft at several very busy airports, e.g. LGW, STN, and DUB.
Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 23): Priority boarding is a complete ripoff unless it's guaranteed jetway boarding, which it never is.
Indeed. And rather unnecessary - and potentially very expensive (up to £7.50 per person per one-way flight with EZY).
[Edited 2007-10-23 04:50:25]
"Everyone writing for the Telegraph knows that the way to grab eyeballs is with Ryanair and/or sex."
25 JGPH1A: Only where safety rules allow it. When they start flying to NCE, it will most likely be buses - there is no "walking out to the aircraft" at NCE (exc
26 Pe@rson: Well, durrr! "Dear passengers, please check-in at Terminal 3 for your BA flight from Terminal 4. You'll have to request runway crossing from ATC (you
27 ACEregular: I am a big fan of allocated seating, BMIbaby, FlyGlobespan and Jet2 are all low-cost airlines with this feature. I dont see why Ryanair and easyJet d
28 Cornish: Very simple. If you don't like the idea of having to pay for priority boarding then don't pay it. If you still don't like the approach the likes of Ry
29 Bongodog1964: In the case of STN, this is because the airport was designed to be an airbridge airport. The FR planes sit on the tarmac in front of the terminal sat
30 Pe@rson: Next you'll be harping on about boiled sweets and newspapers. From my experience, walking down the steps at STN and across to the aircraft works fine
31 Bongodog1964: Why ? Or is the next FR plan to make a charge for reading one's own newspaper whilst on board ? Once again, a person without accompanying children or
32 JGPH1A: Luddite ! If God had meant for us to walk across the tarmac (especially in England), He'd have made us waterproof.
33 Pe@rson: Â Â But I'd like to point out that I have never destroyed any sewing machine, m'lord. Get priority boarding, or queue as normal, or don't choose FR
34 Bongodog1964: Believe me: If I didn't live in Cambridge, and thus have STN nearly on my doorstep, I would never consider either; airlines which encourage a lack of
Sponsor Message: 
From Ireland, joined May 2006, 312 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2006, 3016 posts, 
From Portugal, joined Jun 2005, 1644 posts, 
From Andorra, joined Oct 2004, 584 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 3033 posts, 
From Spain, joined Aug 2006, 318 posts, 
From France, joined Dec 2005, 190 posts, 
, do warn people when booking Sleazy Boarding:
From Sweden, joined Jul 2001, 1031 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
Printer friendly format 
