/ / / / / /

LCCs Now Bragging About How They're Not Screwing Over Customers

October 2, 2009 at 3:57 PM | by | Comments (0)

EasyJet and Air Berlin tracked down reporters this morning to announce that, in sharp contrast to Ryanair, they will not be removing their check-in desks from the airports they service. The airlines, in a bit of a throwback, cited the concept of "service" as the basis for their decision. How quaint:

'To have somebody in the airport you can ask questions to, and to take baggage for free, is a crucial part of our service,' said Alexandra Mueller, a spokeswomen for Air Berlin, Europe’s third-largest low-fare carrier... EasyJet, Europe’s No. 2 discount carrier, has 'no plans to go down the Ryanair route,' said Samantha Day, a company spokeswoman. The Luton, England-based airline may introduce free online check-in for all passengers this winter, she said. Now, only customers traveling with hand baggage can check in online.

Unfortunately it's doubtful they'll hold out. Ryanair shares rose almost 3% after their "screw you and your weird request for customer service" decision was announced, which if nothing else confirms that UK stock traders don't fly Ryanair. Industry experts predict that the increasing prevalence of online check-in will leave airlines unable to justify paying human beings to help other human beings.

Tangentially, it's pretty entertaining to hear airline reps explain why Ryanair is able to get away with their nonsense. The article quotes a British Airways mouthpiece musing out loud that "Ryanair will always be a couple of years ahead in this kind of thing," leaving the part about how "only their customers would tolerate this crap" unstated.

[Photo: easyGroup / Wiki Commons]

Related Stories:
· EasyJet, Air Berlin Keep Check-In, Unlike Ryanair [Bloomberg]
· Easyjet Coverage [Jaunted]
· Air Berlin Coverage [Jaunted]

Comments (0)

Post a Comment

Return to » LCCs Now Bragging About How They're Not Screwing Over Customers

Join the conversation!

Not a member? .
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy (Revised 08/01/2011). © Condé Nast Digital. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast Digital.
Ad Choices