I love to travel. When I start to pack my suitcase there is a sense of excitement which runs throughout my entire body; this excitement intensifies as I make my way to the airport and carries on until the plane is off the ground and soaring through the skies. Over the years I have travelled to many countries, each one with a different airline.
On a recent trip to Malta I took a budget airline, Ryanair. It was supposed to be a quick trip, something cheap and cheerful right at the last minute. I knew that I would only be on the plane for a few hours so it couldn’t be that wrong. Right?
Nope. Sorry, Ryanair, but your flight has got to be one of the worst flights I have ever experienced (and this includes travelling back to the UK from Beijing in the middle of the morning sickness stage). Let me explain why it was so bad.
Space. Firstly, I need space but there was no space whatsoever on my flight. I barely had room to sit up straight without my legs touching the seat in front. I’m not even that tall at 5ft 6ins. You really get the sense of being part of a cattle herd that has been rounded up and placed in a large vehicle with others of my kind and being taken on our way to the slaughter. Uh huh, this is not a good way to travel in my view.
Secondly, what is up with the ‘food’ you serve? Where is the food you serve? I went to order a cheese and ham panini from your stewardess but even though I was one of the first to be served you had run out. Tried ordering the garlic and cheese bread but again, they had run out. Finally ordered the sweet and sour chicken which tasted like rubber and I swear gave me an iffy tummy. I don’t know about the rest of you but when I travel for more than three hours on a flight I want something to eat. This means proper food, not hard boiled rice and a compartment that contains rubbery slop.
Whilst it is known that the majority of airlines do not serve enjoyable food, I have found the meals served on British Airways and Air Emirates for example, to be of much better quality. I don’t fancy paying £15 on slop anymore thank you very much.
Last but certainly not least – entertainment! Even before I started to make my living through my travel writing I enjoyed reading the magazines placed in the compartment in front of me. They inspired me to travel to different places, to experience new foods and drinks, opening a world before me that was mine to experience. It is strange to think that a simple magazine can have such an influence on a traveller but it’s true. Where was my inspiration this time, Ryanair? Oh yes. NOWHERE! I guess inspiration isn’t in your budget – is that why you’re known as a budget airline? Hell, give me a call and I’ll write you up some inspiration on a budget myself. It might help you win more customers in the future.
I’m sorry but I enjoy having a free drink on my flights, I enjoy reading my travel magazines, I enjoy watching a movie to pass the time and I enjoy a little bit of leg room thank you very much. This is why I will never fly another budget airline ever again. That extra money makes travelling much more enjoyable and when you’re travelling your flight experience can have a great deal of impact on your entire trip.
To a certain degree that I would not be getting a great service when I booked a budget airline; I knew I wouldn’t be getting a meal with my seat but come on, Ryanair, buck up your game. You seriously need to pull out your finger and sort out what you are offering, or else I will be offering my money to a different company, one who doesn’t make me feel like a cow being transported to be slaughtered.
On a recent trip to Malta I took a budget airline, Ryanair. It was supposed to be a quick trip, something cheap and cheerful right at the last minute. I knew that I would only be on the plane for a few hours so it couldn’t be that wrong. Right?
Nope. Sorry, Ryanair, but your flight has got to be one of the worst flights I have ever experienced (and this includes travelling back to the UK from Beijing in the middle of the morning sickness stage). Let me explain why it was so bad.
Space. Firstly, I need space but there was no space whatsoever on my flight. I barely had room to sit up straight without my legs touching the seat in front. I’m not even that tall at 5ft 6ins. You really get the sense of being part of a cattle herd that has been rounded up and placed in a large vehicle with others of my kind and being taken on our way to the slaughter. Uh huh, this is not a good way to travel in my view.
Secondly, what is up with the ‘food’ you serve? Where is the food you serve? I went to order a cheese and ham panini from your stewardess but even though I was one of the first to be served you had run out. Tried ordering the garlic and cheese bread but again, they had run out. Finally ordered the sweet and sour chicken which tasted like rubber and I swear gave me an iffy tummy. I don’t know about the rest of you but when I travel for more than three hours on a flight I want something to eat. This means proper food, not hard boiled rice and a compartment that contains rubbery slop.
Whilst it is known that the majority of airlines do not serve enjoyable food, I have found the meals served on British Airways and Air Emirates for example, to be of much better quality. I don’t fancy paying £15 on slop anymore thank you very much.
Last but certainly not least – entertainment! Even before I started to make my living through my travel writing I enjoyed reading the magazines placed in the compartment in front of me. They inspired me to travel to different places, to experience new foods and drinks, opening a world before me that was mine to experience. It is strange to think that a simple magazine can have such an influence on a traveller but it’s true. Where was my inspiration this time, Ryanair? Oh yes. NOWHERE! I guess inspiration isn’t in your budget – is that why you’re known as a budget airline? Hell, give me a call and I’ll write you up some inspiration on a budget myself. It might help you win more customers in the future.
I’m sorry but I enjoy having a free drink on my flights, I enjoy reading my travel magazines, I enjoy watching a movie to pass the time and I enjoy a little bit of leg room thank you very much. This is why I will never fly another budget airline ever again. That extra money makes travelling much more enjoyable and when you’re travelling your flight experience can have a great deal of impact on your entire trip.
To a certain degree that I would not be getting a great service when I booked a budget airline; I knew I wouldn’t be getting a meal with my seat but come on, Ryanair, buck up your game. You seriously need to pull out your finger and sort out what you are offering, or else I will be offering my money to a different company, one who doesn’t make me feel like a cow being transported to be slaughtered.