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Ryanair to abolish check-in desks



 
 
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  #1  
Old February 21st, 2009, 10:17 PM posted to rec.travel.europe,uk.railway,uk.politics.misc
Lord Truscott of Brownenvelope
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Posts: 18
Default Ryanair to abolish check-in desks

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7903656.stm
Ryanair to abolish check-in desks
Ryanair aircraft
Ryanair says it wants to abolish check-in desks to save money

Ryanair has confirmed it plans to close all of its airport check-in
desks by the end of the year in a bid to reduce the cost of its
flights.

From the start of 2010, all Ryanair passengers will need to check in
online in order to confirm their flights.

Officials at the Irish airline said that, by reducing its costs at
airports, savings will be passed on to passengers through lower fares.

The carrier said that 75% of its passengers already checked in online.

Spokesman Stephen McNamara said the airline saw the move as the
"logical next step" in an effort to pass on savings to passengers
through reduced fares.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary told the Daily Telegraph that
passengers will be able to leave their luggage at a bag drop but
otherwise everything will be done online.

"Ultimately, we want just one in five people to check in luggage," he
said.

The carrier said that 97% of passengers booked online already and 75%
used the internet to check in.
  #2  
Old February 21st, 2009, 10:22 PM posted to rec.travel.europe,uk.railway,uk.politics.misc
disgoftunwells
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Posts: 1
Default Ryanair to abolish check-in desks

On 21 Feb, 21:17, Lord Truscott of Brownenvelope
wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7903656.stm
Ryanair to abolish check-in desks
Ryanair aircraft
Ryanair says it wants to abolish check-in desks to save money

Ryanair has confirmed it plans to close all of its airport check-in
desks by the end of the year in a bid to reduce the cost of its
flights.

From the start of 2010, all Ryanair passengers will need to check in
online in order to confirm their flights.

Officials at the Irish airline said that, by reducing its costs at
airports, savings will be passed on to passengers through lower fares.

The carrier said that 75% of its passengers already checked in online.

Spokesman Stephen McNamara said the airline saw the move as the
"logical next step" in an effort to pass on savings to passengers
through reduced fares.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary told the Daily Telegraph that
passengers will be able to leave their luggage at a bag drop but
otherwise everything will be done online.

"Ultimately, we want just one in five people to check in luggage," he
said.

The carrier said that 97% of passengers booked online already and 75%
used the internet to check in.


Seems a good idea. One less occasion to be insulted by Ryanair staff.

Will they change their policy of not allowing on-line check-in for the
entire group if travelling with a toddler in the party. Or will it be
more efficient to insist that toddlers are checked in with the rest of
the hold baggage?


  #3  
Old February 21st, 2009, 10:56 PM posted to rec.travel.europe,uk.railway,uk.politics.misc
Roland Perry[_1_]
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Posts: 510
Default Ryanair to abolish check-in desks

In message
, at
13:17:32 on Sat, 21 Feb 2009, Lord Truscott of Brownenvelope
remarked:
The carrier said that 75% of its passengers already checked in online.


That's fine, as long as you can check in well in advance.

Easyjet seem to allow you to check in as soon as you book, but BMI-Baby
only 48hrs in advance (until recently it was just 24hrs). The latter is
extremely impractical if you are doing a return trip.

Spokesman Stephen McNamara said the airline saw the move as the
"logical next step" in an effort to pass on savings to passengers
through reduced fares.


What, reduced even more than the "no check-in" fares they currently
offer? Surely the current check-in process is adequately funded by the
£15 fee for 2 minutes work.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary told the Daily Telegraph that
passengers will be able to leave their luggage at a bag drop but
otherwise everything will be done online.


Many airlines now encourage either online or "kiosk" check-in, followed
if required by a "bag drop". The problem being that the queues for he
bag drop are generally worse than for check-in. I have had very poor
experiences of bag-drops from BA (one of the first) KLM and
(surprisingly perhaps) Emirates. Easyjet bag drop has been fine.

"Ultimately, we want just one in five people to check in luggage," he
said.


That's a somewhat different agenda, and could be assisted by allowing a
much more generous carry-on allowance. Of course, the more luggage
people carry on board, the slower it gets. But if the end result is
cutting out all airline-inspired queues and going straight to security,
that has to be a good thing (as long as the hand baggage allowance is
enough for a week's clean clothes).
--
Roland Perry
  #4  
Old February 21st, 2009, 11:13 PM posted to rec.travel.europe,uk.railway,uk.politics.misc
tim.....
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Posts: 1,591
Default Ryanair to abolish check-in desks


"disgoftunwells" wrote in message
...
On 21 Feb, 21:17, Lord Truscott of Brownenvelope
wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7903656.stm
Ryanair to abolish check-in desks
Ryanair aircraft
Ryanair says it wants to abolish check-in desks to save money

Ryanair has confirmed it plans to close all of its airport check-in
desks by the end of the year in a bid to reduce the cost of its
flights.

From the start of 2010, all Ryanair passengers will need to check in
online in order to confirm their flights.

Officials at the Irish airline said that, by reducing its costs at
airports, savings will be passed on to passengers through lower fares.

The carrier said that 75% of its passengers already checked in online.

Spokesman Stephen McNamara said the airline saw the move as the
"logical next step" in an effort to pass on savings to passengers
through reduced fares.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary told the Daily Telegraph that
passengers will be able to leave their luggage at a bag drop but
otherwise everything will be done online.

"Ultimately, we want just one in five people to check in luggage," he
said.

The carrier said that 97% of passengers booked online already and 75%
used the internet to check in.


Seems a good idea. One less occasion to be insulted by Ryanair staff.

Will they change their policy of not allowing on-line check-in for the
entire group if travelling with a toddler in the party. Or will it be
more efficient to insist that toddlers are checked in with the rest of
the hold baggage?


I wonder what they will do after they get a few fines for allowing people
with Non EU passports to travel to a country that they don't have a visa
for!

tim




  #5  
Old February 21st, 2009, 11:52 PM posted to rec.travel.europe,uk.railway,uk.politics.misc
Roland Perry[_1_]
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Posts: 510
Default Ryanair to abolish check-in desks

In message , at 22:13:23 on Sat, 21
Feb 2009, tim..... remarked:
I wonder what they will do after they get a few fines for allowing people
with Non EU passports to travel to a country that they don't have a visa
for!


Interesting you should ask that, as I was about to remark that the
current rules disallow online check-in for people without EU [1]
passports. Presumably because the staff at the gate don't have time to
wonder whether a passenger without an automatic right to travel has a
relevant visa or whatever.

[1] Or is it EU+EEA?
--
Roland Perry
  #6  
Old February 21st, 2009, 11:58 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
David Horne, _the_ chancellor[_2_]
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Posts: 6,049
Default Ryanair to abolish check-in desks

tim..... wrote:

"disgoftunwells" wrote in message
...

[]
Seems a good idea. One less occasion to be insulted by Ryanair staff.


I've found Ryanair staff no different to other airline staff...

Will they change their policy of not allowing on-line check-in for the
entire group if travelling with a toddler in the party. Or will it be
more efficient to insist that toddlers are checked in with the rest of
the hold baggage?


I wonder what they will do after they get a few fines for allowing people
with Non EU passports to travel to a country that they don't have a visa
for!


Still figure out it's cheaper not to have checkin desks.

--
(*) of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
www.davidhorne.net (email address on website)
"The fact is that when I compose I never think of and never
have thought of meeting the listener." -George Perle (RIP 2009)
  #7  
Old February 22nd, 2009, 12:47 AM posted to rec.travel.europe,uk.railway,uk.politics.misc
The Real Doctor
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Posts: 11
Default Ryanair to abolish check-in desks

On 21 Feb, 21:22, disgoftunwells wrote:

Will they change their policy of not allowing on-line check-in for the
entire group if travelling with a toddler in the party.


Am I right in thinking that the online check in restriction is on
traveling with infants - ie less than two years old, sharing a seat?

Ian
  #8  
Old February 22nd, 2009, 01:51 AM posted to rec.travel.europe,uk.railway,uk.politics.misc
Joe[_11_]
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Posts: 1
Default Ryanair to abolish check-in desks

Roland Perry wrote:
Easyjet seem to allow you to check in as soon as you book, but BMI-Baby
only 48hrs in advance (until recently it was just 24hrs). The latter is
extremely impractical if you are doing a return trip.


Is the purpose of checking in to actually check that you are present
though? How will this work with things like double booking which some
airlines seem to do?

Interestingly, when I saw the headline I assumed they were moving
towards the self-service machine model such as that in Terminal 5
(Heathrow).
  #9  
Old February 22nd, 2009, 09:43 AM posted to rec.travel.europe,uk.railway,uk.politics.misc,alt.travel.uk.air
Roland Perry[_1_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 510
Default Ryanair to abolish check-in desks

In message
, at
15:47:42 on Sat, 21 Feb 2009, The Real Doctor
remarked:
Am I right in thinking that the online check in restriction is on
traveling with infants - ie less than two years old, sharing a seat?


From the Ryanair website - the current list of who *can't* check in
online (each will have a reason, whether immediately obvious or not)
with infants at no 4:

[passengers without an EU/EAA/Swiss passport or ID card]
* Passengers travelling with checked baggage
* Children aged between 14 to 17 years travelling alone
* Passengers travelling with infants
* Passengers travelling with mobility equipment (including
children's pushchairs)
* Passengers with reduced mobility, blind/vision impaired passengers
including those travelling with a sighted companion or guide dog
* Passengers who require special assistance at the airport
* Online Check-In is not available from Romanian or Moroccan
airports.
* Passengers travelling on a passport which is due to expire within
30 days from the date of travel.
* When there are more than 9 passengers booked in a reservation
* Passengers travelling on the same reservation with a passenger who
is not entitled to Online Check-in.
* Passengers who have booked and extra seat for the carriage of
musical instruments etc. or for comfort.

.... so every single one of those will have to be overcome to introduce
online-only check in.

Some are clearly 'logistical' - eg various kinds of special assistance
required; and may be replaced by some sort of "not a check-in honest" at
the bag drop. The 'regulatory' ones, like "does this Australian have a
visa for Morocco", "This passport only has three weeks left" and "are we
allowed to let 14yr olds wander around alone" will be more interesting.

[I note that BMIBaby only restricts unaccompanied 14-15 year olds, for
example).
--
Roland Perry
  #10  
Old February 22nd, 2009, 09:50 AM posted to rec.travel.europe,uk.railway,uk.politics.misc,alt.travel.uk.air
Roland Perry[_1_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 510
Default Ryanair to abolish check-in desks

In message , at 00:51:10 on Sun, 22 Feb
2009, Joe remarked:
Roland Perry wrote:
Easyjet seem to allow you to check in as soon as you book, but
BMI-Baby only 48hrs in advance (until recently it was just 24hrs).
The latter is extremely impractical if you are doing a return trip.


Is the purpose of checking in to actually check that you are present
though? How will this work with things like double booking which some
airlines seem to do?


It's my impression that the low-cost airlines don't double-book, because
it removes a major hassle-factor and they aim to get 80% seat occupancy
by price alone.

http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/about...st&sec=traffic

Interestingly, when I saw the headline I assumed they were moving
towards the self-service machine model such as that in Terminal 5
(Heathrow).


That's a different exercise, and one where BA is not alone; KLM insist
on it at many airports, and Emirates new Terminal at Dubai is Kiosk-only
(interestingly, if they can't read your passport, and mine seems
especially reflective, they send you to "check in" at the bag drop!)
Easyjet have several locations where they strongly encourage kiosk use
(eg Geneva). BMI has kiosk check-in plus bag drop at LHR T1, but
strangely only do manual check-in at their "home" airport in the East
Midlands.

--
Roland Perry
 




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