‘Lunatic’ blogger annoys rude Ryanair, media s***s itself…
WHEN Irish blogger Jason Roe was booking his Ryanair flight to Cork for the Irish Blog Awards the other day, little did he realise that his messing about on the airline’s website would generate so much media interest. Roe initially thought he’d found a way to get free flights, but later realised it was just a software glitch that made it appear as though he hadn’t paid for his flight. But when he blogged the bug and mentioned it on Twitter, someone posting under the monicker ‘Ryanair Staff’ began to hurl abuse in the comments zone of Roe’s blog. Trolling? Well, the poster’s IP was traced back to Ryanair’s HQ. The media found out, and the story has appeared everywhere from the Irish Times to CNN and the Daily Telegraph. Ryanair remains unapologetic. Spokesman Stephen McNamara said:
“Ryanair can confirm that a Ryanair staff member did engage in a blog discussion. It is Ryanair policy not to waste time and energy in corresponding with idiot bloggers and Ryanair can confirm that it won’t be happening again. Lunatic bloggers can have the blogosphere all to themselves as our people are far too busy driving down the cost of air travel.”
Funny enough, that’s what Roe was doing when the whole thing started… Not sure the level of media attention was realy justified (some media outlets will pick up on anything to do with Ryanair, no matter how insignificant – perhaps just to get at O’Leary), but I guess this amused/annoyed enough punters to make it worth blogging. Or perhaps Twitter/blogging are perceived as a popular fad by the MSM, who definitely don’t understand the (in)significance of the content. Anyway, some nice publicity for Roe – and the rude people at Ryanair might like to bear in mind that when ‘Ryanair Staff’ was slagging off Roe for not being able to hack a free seat, he added: “There is another exploit you could try – wait until we’re running a promotion when we give away a million odd seats for free anyway.” Open season on the Ryanair site?
With the news today that Ryanair are to consider charging for the use of in flight toilet facilites – £1 a visit is muted – they need all the public goodwill they can muster one would have thought. But then that would be forgetting Ryanair’s legendary “Fuck you!” attitude to customer concerns.
I can just envisage the latest advertising campaign in the light of this new policy on toilet availability:
RYANAIR – SHITE SERVICE EVERY FLIGHT!
Apparently Ryanair thinks removing basic decency and replacing it with abuse drives down the cost of air travel!
Give Ryanair enough time and their motto will become “start flapping your arms and fly yourselves, ya bastards”
check the price of a flight.
then buy a voucher for that amount or as close as possible.
Then pay for the flight with the voucher code recieved and voila;no credit card charges……..;
Did Jason have to pay for two seats?
That big fella needs to stop blogging for a few minutes and get himself on a treadmill.
Ryanair employs Monks?
Can someone book Michael O’Leary a flight thru the Bermuda triangle?
As a gesture of affection, perhaps a few happy customers could be cajoled to contribute towards the ticket?
I love the idea that my very cheap flights with Ryanair (Europe’s most punctual airline) are subsidised by the idiots on Slugger who also use them but hate the experience. Hillarious!
Yeah sure, El Paso.
They pay you shit wages too and you still lick the boss’s ass online in the hope you might not be the next Ryanair flunky to be dispensed with.
I love the idea that my very cheap flights with Ryanair (Europe’s most punctual airline) are subsidised by the idiots on Slugger who also use them but hate the experience. Hillarious!
Posted by El Paso on Feb 28, 2009 @ 12:41 PM
I must admit to being a fan of Mr O’Learys objectives, the downside being some of the vulgar pricks who end up working in the Jam Auction that kind of thinking produces.