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Warning - Dont book extras with Ryanair
MuttleyCAFC
Posts: 47,851
I booked flights with Ryanair for Venice later this month. Within this booking I selected the airport parking option and was charged for this by Ryanair. The confirmation of booking and instructions have not come through. I have spent hours trying to get through to Ryanair this morning and eventually got through to an agent via their chat service. He said it is not their responsibility and I have to contact stansted airport but they say all third party booking queries have to be directed to who I booked it with. I have made a complaint on the advice of the agent although there was not a specific topic relating to my query. Anyway I made it anyway and have to see what they say. I asked him for a refund on the car parking but he said he couldn't do that! Anyway this is for anybody who books flights with them, don't book extras as they couldn't give a sh*t even though they take your money. I have a few weeks so will sort it but it is wasting a lot of my time.
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Don't book with Ryanair.33
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30 years ago booking with them was straightforward and cheap, nowadays there are multiple questions/catches attached. Advertising a fare of £30 can become £150I have never had a problem with them but I have not used them for many years so to avoid the unfortunate situation with the OP.4
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I frikkin hate Ryanair. Regardless of whether they like it or not, they are legally obliged to compensate passengers for delays and cancellations in accordance with EU regulations. But if you try to claim it from them they just tell you to piss off and take them to court for it, which most people obviously can't/won't do. Absolute cnuts of the highest order!9
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They are one of the shittiest companies on the planet.Yes I know that they are also the largest airline in Europe. Despite this I have kept my vow never to set foot on one of their shitty flights.
However at Xmas it seemed like I might for the first time have to buy something from them - a gift voucher for my niece; she is flying increasingly, and often with Ryanair. Fortunately before I bought I checked on reviews - one star. For a gift voucher, FFS!! Complaints about ridiculous restrictions on use and general Ryanairisms. So I bought her a WizzAir voucher instead. I don't much like them either but the voucher was straight up, use it to help pay for a flight within 12 months, no ifs no buts.
I don't get the mentality of Ryanair, or rather O'Leary. You've done a great job with dynamic pricing, making aircraft more efficient. Why do you believe you also have to treat customers with contempt, even build your brand on such contemptible behaviour?
Avoid them wherever possible. Pay a few quid more. Stop rewarding c***s15 -
It was stupid of me to do the car parking through them. I never do this normally and did this time to save having to do it again! This is just a warning to others. In terms of flights that part seems to work ok if you know what you are doing. At least it has to date.0
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Used Ryan air over 20 years ago, to get a short flight to Cornwall…. Never again!!
Used EasyJet, a lot have been impressed with their service, even refunded me a flight that was over 3 hours delayed, I think due to poor visibility.
Have not used parking, as one time I came back to a flat battery on my car, so tend to use car transfers now rather than airport parking.0 -
I have used Easyjet many times without any concerns, at least with them the booking process has been simple and not geared to having you over.
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Well, I guess this has been done to death already. But why should booking a flight with an airline be full of rip-off traps for the unwary?MuttleyCAFC said:It was stupid of me to do the car parking through them. I never do this normally and did this time to save having to do it again! This is just a warning to others. In terms of flights that part seems to work ok if you know what you are doing. At least it has to date.
I remember when I took the vow. I was flying back from Sandefjord Torp, the low-cost airport that ostensibly serves Oslo. I was on WizzAir. The guy next to me on the bus there was flying Ryanair, to Marseille. This was in the pre-app days, so when we walked into the terminal and found the airport's electronic check in terminals were out of order, we had to go to the checkin desk. OK, no problem. The guy from the bus re-appeared alongside me. His face was that of, well, someone who had had his wallet nicked. Ryanair had charged him €40 to print out his boarding pass🤣2 -
I went to Venice last year with Easyjet but they stopped flying there from Luton so had to drive to Gatwick. Luton and Stansted are far more convenient for me. I have flown Ryanair many times, keeping it simple, without a problem but this is the first time I bought an extra from them which was stupid on my part.1
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Must admit, found Ryanair to be fine as long as you keep to the 'experience' - ie no frills, no extras etc,dont have to contact them , and keep within their luggage rules.
I've flown with them several times and never really had a problem, as i've rigidly stuck to their rules. I used to get 5 pound flights with them semi-regularly from Alicante to Newquay, and also Luxembourg to Stansted - its just when you go off the straight and narrow with them it can get a bit fractious.5 -
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Totally agree. I think they lay traps so you need to be on top of them. One year they changed their baggage rules and were charging customers who didn't know an extra 20 euros on the spot. This year you can't print off your passes and need the app. But their app doesn't work on older devices so people with older phones could be stuck and get charged extra. You don't get told this until you have paid!Zulu said:Must admit, found Ryanair to be fine as long as you keep to the 'experience' - ie no frills, no extras etc,dont have to contact them , and keep within their luggage rules.
I've flown with them several times and never really had a problem, as i've rigidly stuck to their rules. I used to get 5 pound flights with them semi-regularly from Alicante to Newquay, and also Luxembourg to Stansted - its just when you go off the straight and narrow with them it can get a bit fractious.1 -
I have always like the airport experience.I am going away and relaxed, wander around the shops, have something to eat and drink. Fantastic.However, over in Brazil the prices are very expensive and make airports in Europe almost acceptable. You are paying around 3 times more for food and drink than you are in restaurants and bars. I realise that outside of the hotel it is cheap here but it makes you choke once you get into an airport.0
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Finally got through to airport and sorted it!7
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I have used them quite a few times in the past and not had any issues but their increased general lack of customer care and rip off pricing for any addons or genuine mistakes would make me reluctant to now.0
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Fuck Ryanair up the wrongun. I will never set foot on one of their planes again.7
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If I had a choice I would choose the other option but sometimes there isn't one in terms of price and convenience. If I could fly to Venice via Easyjet from relatively near where I live, I would and have done so but Ryanair is my only option if I want that convenience. They also seem to be on time more often than other airlines I have flown. I have absolutely no loyalty towards them and my guard slipped booking an extra with them but if you check everything they can work for you.0
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A few years ago Ryanair bought out the airline buzz.
Micheal Oleary came down to Stansted to meet buzz staff.
He was asked about having a customer complaints team and said we don't have one. When asked what happens if a customer complains. His reply was to tell them to fuck off.
True story, I was there.9 -
Like Tesco have their catchline of 'every little helps'
Ryanair should have ''we don't give a fuck'
Arseholes of the highest order, I have sympathy for you however nothing you have said shocks me in any way2 -
For car parking they are operating as agent to the transaction, and that is clear in their T&Cs. They may take your money but they do so on behalf of a third party (and will take a commission off the third party for doing so). Same with hotels, car hire or any other ancillary service they offer.
If their is an issue with the product, you need to go to the service provider, not the agent.
Over 200 million people flew with them in 2025. I use them occasionally when necessary. Never an issue, but I know when there is one, if it's within their control (late arrival / cancellation) I have redress through the appropriate channels (UK261 legislation).
They are not popular because, ultimately, they put operations and low prices (and profit for reinvestment) ahead of guest experience and comfort, but you get what you pay for.
Before they came along, plenty of people that moan about them couldn't afford to fly. They are at the forefront of the democratisation of air travel.1 -
I think the government could do more. At least in a token way stipulating a basic way complaints should be heard or the company will be fined. I mean basics like not using AI to answer complaints which companies like Virgin do. As Ryanair are irish maybe they can't with them although they do a lot of business in this country. I sorted out my issue by finding somebody helpful at the airport. These people do still exist but are increasingly hard to find. I think a customer service bill would be popular.1
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Be careful about airport parking too. I know someone lives near Heathrow, their roads are full of cars parked there by valet car parking companies who promise that cars will be held on secure car parks and all that. They are just on the street round the back of Feltham.2
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Off topic slightly but I have come to the conclusion gift vouchers are a poor choice of gift from any retailer / service provider.PragueAddick said:They are one of the shittiest companies on the planet.Yes I know that they are also the largest airline in Europe. Despite this I have kept my vow never to set foot on one of their shitty flights.
However at Xmas it seemed like I might for the first time have to buy something from them - a gift voucher for my niece; she is flying increasingly, and often with Ryanair. Fortunately before I bought I checked on reviews - one star. For a gift voucher, FFS!! Complaints about ridiculous restrictions on use and general Ryanairisms. So I bought her a WizzAir voucher instead. I don't much like them either but the voucher was straight up, use it to help pay for a flight within 12 months, no ifs no buts.
I don't get the mentality of Ryanair, or rather O'Leary. You've done a great job with dynamic pricing, making aircraft more efficient. Why do you believe you also have to treat customers with contempt, even build your brand on such contemptible behaviour?
Avoid them wherever possible. Pay a few quid more. Stop rewarding c***sMany years ago when the clothing store Principles went bust we were left many many months later with a few pennies in the pound back from the liquidator. Frankly we pursued it to be awkward because you could see the liquidation costs were a money spinner for them.Vouchers / pre paid cards etc. come with complications these days in redeeming /using with constraints on expiry dates and how many times yoh can use if the balance is more than your spend etc.
Frankly cash is king. Although I get it lacks the personal touch for a gift.4 -
Yes, I am in Stansted's premium short stay. Had damage to a wing mirror by one of the companies you refer to a few years back.0
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Used them once wouldn’t fly with them again if they paid me.1
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My one and only flight with Ryanair was some 20 years ago.I took a short trip to Rome,now,totally my fault,the return date was a month out,I did not pick this up until I attempted to check in for the return journey and was horrified at my error,I was obviously not booked on the flight I checked in for.I asked if any seats where available and was told yes,quite a few but I would have to buy them,which I was a bit annoyed about because they could sell my unused seats(One month later),I thought they could just change the flights for me.Would they fuck,they charged me 550E for me and my wife,for the one way trip back to Stanstead,no amount of complaining and letter writing got me anywhere,never again would I travel with this horrible company.0
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Top travel tips when using "budget" providers:-
- Understand how airlines, hotels etc at the value end operate.
- Read terms and conditions. Don't expect support / consideration outside of them.
This thread will be full of issues where people are pissed off because Ryanair wouldn't make an exception to their terms and conditions or because something outside of Ryanair's responsibility has gone wrong.
For the record, I think O'Leary is a knob, but he's an incredibly successful one that continues to lead a business that has gone from 1.5m to +200m passengers ("customers"?) in 30 years.
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I know I shouldn’t, but I found that quite funny.Hertsseasider said:A few years ago Ryanair bought out the airline buzz.
Micheal Oleary came down to Stansted to meet buzz staff.
He was asked about having a customer complaints team and said we don't have one. When asked what happens if a customer complains. His reply was to tell them to fuck off.
True story, I was there.
At least the bloke tells it how it is, and everyone knows how it is.
Remember a delay/repay some years ago with them
There was a thread on it and mentioned the CEO’s email address.
The only fast track route I had in getting the family’s dough back.
Once flew to Lanzarote and the weather was so bad that after our flight landed (EasyJet), they closed the airport for 36 hours. Spoke to a couple who were on Ryanair flight behind who landed in Gran Canaria.
Had to get cab to port, ferry to Fuertaventura, bus across, then ferry to Lanzarote.
Unfortunately everyone knows the score with his airline, but still has a gripe.
I guess he has to fund these £5 deals somehow.
Check, check and triple check would be my advice.0 -
A few years back I was in a restaurant in Marylebone - quiet meal as I was working nearby and on my own. O'Leary came in with an entourage 5-6 employees/sycophants...he dominated the table, the converstaions and most of the restaurant...I've never heard anyone so full of themselves and I suspect he has a similar, top down, influence over the company culture...at a guess a certain man in power in the USA is probably very similar.4
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I'd rather stay in the UK than fly with Ryanair. Never had a major issue with them but decided around ten years ago that I prefer to pay more and travel in comfort, with an airline that recognises the needs of travellers, e.g. having luggage, decent check-in rules.5
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SporadicAddick said:Top travel tips when using "budget" providers:-
- Understand how airlines, hotels etc at the value end operate.
- Read terms and conditions. Don't expect support / consideration outside of them.
This thread will be full of issues where people are pissed off because Ryanair wouldn't make an exception to their terms and conditions or because something outside of Ryanair's responsibility has gone wrong.
For the record, I think O'Leary is a knob, but he's an incredibly successful one that continues to lead a business that has gone from 1.5m to +200m passengers ("customers"?) in 30 years.
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