Comments on: The Southwest Effect in Ireland? Does the RyanAir brand come close? http://simpliflying.com/2009/the-southwest-effect-in-ireland-does-the-ryanair-brand-come-close/ World's largest airline branding resource Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:56:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Money Saving Tips to find Cheap Flight Tickets | Flights To & Flights From http://simpliflying.com/2009/the-southwest-effect-in-ireland-does-the-ryanair-brand-come-close/comment-page-1/#comment-2392 Money Saving Tips to find Cheap Flight Tickets | Flights To & Flights From Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:57:26 +0000 http://simpliflying.com/?p=1362#comment-2392 [...] The Southwest Effect in Ireland? Does the RyanAir brand come close? (simpliflying.com) [...] [...] The Southwest Effect in Ireland? Does the RyanAir brand come close? (simpliflying.com) [...]

]]> By: Martin Hedley http://simpliflying.com/2009/the-southwest-effect-in-ireland-does-the-ryanair-brand-come-close/comment-page-1/#comment-2379 Martin Hedley Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:58:32 +0000 http://simpliflying.com/?p=1362#comment-2379 One reason why RyanAir may still do as well as Southwest in the long run is the primary reason I fly Southwest. I do not like the idea of paying to use the lav. I'm not really keen on paying for everything else - but I fly Ryanair and I will do so again. I must admit the sandwiches and tea they had from Stanstead to 'somewhere near Hamburg' were great for the price - better than airport food oddly. BUT Ryanair will get me there when I expect 99.9% of the time, even if a little late. The primary reason Southwest is my primo carrier in the US and therefore my most travelled airline, is reliability. Yes the service is fun, the fare rules are the best in the industry, I never feel like I've been shorted - BUT they always get me where I need to be on time or very close to it. I now fly transcon on Southwest too. I have found by sheer agonising reality that the major airlines like to mis-connect me in the middle of the country when returning from the East Coast. They tell me the late inbound missed the outbound, it of course was never their fault, and now I have to spend a night with two extra meals at my own expense in Minneapolis, Chicago or.... So I get home, or to business meetings about 12 hours late. Contrast that with Southwest, who may require a change and a one-stop, who may look on the schedule like they take 90 minutes longer - but they get me where I need when I planned to be there. Most often, and I have records to prove it, I'm back before the other guys. As a frequent business traveller, there is no substitute for Southwest. And that's why Ryanair will always be a winner for me in Europe - even while I'm moaning and complaining about the fees. One reason why RyanAir may still do as well as Southwest in the long run is the primary reason I fly Southwest.

I do not like the idea of paying to use the lav. I’m not really keen on paying for everything else – but I fly Ryanair and I will do so again. I must admit the sandwiches and tea they had from Stanstead to ’somewhere near Hamburg’ were great for the price – better than airport food oddly. BUT Ryanair will get me there when I expect 99.9% of the time, even if a little late.

The primary reason Southwest is my primo carrier in the US and therefore my most travelled airline, is reliability. Yes the service is fun, the fare rules are the best in the industry, I never feel like I’ve been shorted – BUT they always get me where I need to be on time or very close to it.

I now fly transcon on Southwest too. I have found by sheer agonising reality that the major airlines like to mis-connect me in the middle of the country when returning from the East Coast. They tell me the late inbound missed the outbound, it of course was never their fault, and now I have to spend a night with two extra meals at my own expense in Minneapolis, Chicago or…. So I get home, or to business meetings about 12 hours late. Contrast that with Southwest, who may require a change and a one-stop, who may look on the schedule like they take 90 minutes longer – but they get me where I need when I planned to be there. Most often, and I have records to prove it, I’m back before the other guys.

As a frequent business traveller, there is no substitute for Southwest. And that’s why Ryanair will always be a winner for me in Europe – even while I’m moaning and complaining about the fees.

]]> By: Oussama Salah http://simpliflying.com/2009/the-southwest-effect-in-ireland-does-the-ryanair-brand-come-close/comment-page-1/#comment-2300 Oussama Salah Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:41:48 +0000 http://simpliflying.com/?p=1362#comment-2300 I agree Southwest has been the 5 stars of LLC and has been emulated by every startup that made it or failed. You can not be a Southwest look alike and make it without having the same work ethics and customer focus. Having worked for Air Arabia a low fare carrier makes one understand the focus on passenger service. How far a simple smile (Air Arabia has a one day course called Smile) and a kind word from a cabin crew or ground staff and listening to what passenegrs require can go. People used to shake their heads when you tell them there are no pillows and blankets on board, but explain to them the trade off in overhead bin space between pillows/blankets and their carry on bags and they light up, nevertheless Air Arabia listened to its customers and provided a reusable light weight kit that has a plastic inflatable pillow, an earphone and a blanket for a fee of course for less than $10 which you can buy, passengers loved it. The idea is listen to your customers and give them what they need and they will pay for it but do not impose fees on passengers, they are not stupid, actually they are very smart and vote with their feet eventually. You want to be as successful as Southwest you have to adopt ethics and practices similar to Southwest, I know Air Arabia broke even in year one (2004) and has been expanding and profitable ever since through hard work, attention to service as much as a legacy airline and a drive to succeed and do a great job. I agree Southwest has been the 5 stars of LLC and has been emulated by every startup that made it or failed. You can not be a Southwest look alike and make it without having the same work ethics and customer focus. Having worked for Air Arabia a low fare carrier makes one understand the focus on passenger service. How far a simple smile (Air Arabia has a one day course called Smile) and a kind word from a cabin crew or ground staff and listening to what passenegrs require can go. People used to shake their heads when you tell them there are no pillows and blankets on board, but explain to them the trade off in overhead bin space between pillows/blankets and their carry on bags and they light up, nevertheless Air Arabia listened to its customers and provided a reusable light weight kit that has a plastic inflatable pillow, an earphone and a blanket for a fee of course for less than $10 which you can buy, passengers loved it. The idea is listen to your customers and give them what they need and they will pay for it but do not impose fees on passengers, they are not stupid, actually they are very smart and vote with their feet eventually.

You want to be as successful as Southwest you have to adopt ethics and practices similar to Southwest, I know Air Arabia broke even in year one (2004) and has been expanding and profitable ever since through hard work, attention to service as much as a legacy airline and a drive to succeed and do a great job.

]]>