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Finally! Ryanair overhauls its website to make it less ugly

The website has been the source of much angst for its customers over the years, but now it’s been updated to something a bit less blue and yellow.

Updated 21:59

FOR MANY YEARS, the Ryanair website has been the source of much angst for its customers.

Potential passengers frequently complained about the bad design, the many requests to purchase add-ons for their flights, and the decidedly non-user-friendly experience.

The company took pride in its no-frills approach online, pointing out that the website was still massively successful, despite the design problems.

image

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However as part of the Ryanair 2.0 which has emerged in recent months – including the announcement that seats are to be allocated from next year and that fees for reissued boarding cards are to be reduced, both of which were previous stalwarts of Ryanair’s back to basics policy – the website has now undergone a significant overhaul.

The Ryanair Twitter account announced the new site this morning, telling customers: “We have a surprise for you!”. It described the new site as the “1st of many changes for Ryanair.com”.

It comes a day after the airline announced 300 new jobs for Ireland and a number of new routes out of Dublin Airport from next year.

Here’s how the  site looked up until last night:

image

And here’s how it looks now:

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What do you think? Any better?

First published 11:47

Read: ‘Warm and cuddly’ or ‘harsh and caustic’: Are we seeing Michael O’Leary 2.0? >

Read: Good news: Ryanair announces 300 new jobs >

Read: Ryanair to cut fees and bring in quiet flights. No, seriously >

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69 Comments
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    Mute Dave Dson
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:11 PM

    Quick, will somebody blow a trumpet.

    584
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    Mute Glimmerman
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:17 PM

    Was he visited by three ghosts in the middle of the night, what with the big sudden welcomed change.

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    Mute winding_down
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    Nov 15th 2013, 3:55 PM

    More likely I think that MOL’s been shopping for Aer Lingus flights – the two websites are now a mirror image of eachother – right down to the large picture of a smiling blonde-haired lady with a woolly hat!

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    Mute Nick Wyatt
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    Nov 15th 2013, 1:01 PM

    Blow the knockers. I use then to fly to Manchester every third week. Best Price. Best car hire price. Best parking at airport price. If you don’t like them don’t use them and pay more.
    Thank you Ryanair for making flying cheaper than taking a bus.

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    Mute Maire Ni Bhrosnachain
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    Nov 15th 2013, 1:11 PM

    I often get flights for €14.99 or less, each way. If you book far enough in advance there are fantastic bargains to be had. I flew from Ireland West (Knock) to Girona in Spain for €32.00 return in October. Can’t argue with that!

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    Mute Carcu Sidub
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    Nov 15th 2013, 1:14 PM

    That’s some bus that can drive across the Irish Sea.

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    Mute Aunty Simmonite
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    Nov 15th 2013, 1:29 PM
    80
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    Mute David Grealy
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    Nov 15th 2013, 1:32 PM

    There are indeed. Buses go from Busaras to several UK cities via the ferry.

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    Mute Karl Paul
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    Nov 15th 2013, 5:36 PM

    I’d just like to say that I’ve blown lots of knockers in my time.

    29
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    Mute Eamonn Ferry
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    Nov 15th 2013, 11:52 AM

    Thank you Ryanair

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    Mute Ricky Spanish
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:03 PM

    I wont thank them for doing something 10 years overdue.

    Still, it is a considerable improvement.

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    Mute Donaill O'Condruin
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    Nov 15th 2013, 1:10 PM

    I’m sure they’ll be devastated.

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    Mute Owen Brady
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    Nov 15th 2013, 2:00 PM

    I love you micheal

    38
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    Mute Thomas Maher
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:15 PM

    Dam you Ryanair you’re taking away my reasons for complaining about you. ‘ crosses arms, makes grumpy face mumbling to self “can only moan about over taxing , government, HSE,now”. Bloody first world problems.

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    Mute Thomas Maher
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    Nov 15th 2013, 1:46 PM

    A little bit.

    30
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    Mute samdithers
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    Nov 15th 2013, 2:08 PM

    Is the app not the website reformatted for smartphones Jason?

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    Mute Gavin Hughes
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:08 PM

    The old site wasnt great to look at but it was unique and did the job grand, just like their planes, not great comfort but get you from a to b.

    113
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    Mute Silent Majority
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:19 PM

    Having to transcribe that barely legible code every time you wanted to check flights was infuriating though. Could never understand why they didn’t have that at the payments section of your booking if it was necessary – now it turns it wasn’t necessary at all, but it certainly put me of using them a couple of times. They are no longer competing against losers though, no longer can they ignore PR and customer service, so expect this to be the first of many improvements in the coming years in an attempt to increase customer satisfaction.

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    Mute Fiachra Maolmordha Ó Raghallaigh
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:27 PM

    I read somewhere that the original was developed by some transition year student for a fraction of the market rate. If this is true, then the annoying lay out is understandable.

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    Mute Jason Bourne
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:32 PM

    As crap as it was, highly doubt a 15-16 year old designed it. Much more going on in the background than the front aswell.

    37
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    Mute Terence MacSwiney Field
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:39 PM

    If that’s what they call an “overhauled website” I’d dread to think what an overhauled aircraft would look like.

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    Mute Cpm
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:58 PM

    The very, very first version (not the previous version) of the site was allegedly created by transition-year students. Not sure if there was any truth to that though.

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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    Nov 15th 2013, 1:05 PM

    Fiachra, I think anyone under the age of 20 would have died of embarrassment before producing the original website design. The youngsters are generally much more savvy. My money is on it being commissioned from some clueless friend, friend of a friend or family member of senior management – in true Irish tradition – in exchange for free Priority Boarding for life. Can’t believe MO’L paid decent money for it. Far too canny.
    .

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    Mute Cpm
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    Nov 15th 2013, 2:40 PM

    ” The youngsters are generally much more savvy.”

    You clearly don’t work in UI/UX/Web design

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    Mute Ian Stephenson
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    Nov 15th 2013, 3:48 PM

    To the best of my knowledge it was there to prevent “scraping” … That is to prevent travel operators from lifting schedule and pricing info from the site directly for a customer of theirs. Largely unnecessary now.

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    Mute Barney r
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    Nov 16th 2013, 5:39 AM

    @fiachra i also heard the rumour that the original site was deisigned by two graduates (older) and they were paid 500 pounds each for a site that turned over two million before ryanair saw a use for website and called in some professionals. You dont get to the top without screwing as many people as possible. Source of rumour was a college lecturer on web design. would love to know full details or try to remember lecturers name.

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    Mute John Madden
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    Nov 15th 2013, 1:04 PM

    I don’t think it’ll take off

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    Mute Kenneth
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:16 PM

    What a fantastic non unionised company

    56
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    Mute Lauren Heskin
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:25 PM

    Just booked flights on it and it’s still much the same. you still have to go down through the list of countries to find “I don’t want insurance” option and all that usual stuff.

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    Mute Matthew Fitzpatrick
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:29 PM

    Yeah, the “I don’t want insurance” thing is just plain weird.

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    Mute David Grealy
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    Nov 15th 2013, 1:29 PM

    And they’re always changing the wording so it comes up in a different place in the list. Currently it’s ‘Don’t insure me’.

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    Mute Max Power
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:15 PM

    They should have a crack at their app now as well and fix the multiple problems.

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    Mute John
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:07 PM

    Looking Good!

    43
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    Mute gubster
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:31 PM

    Ryan Air are getting lots of free advertising over the last few weeks………

    37
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    Mute Cpm
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:42 PM

    Ryanair

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    Mute Super Joe
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:53 PM

    Ryan’s Air

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    Mute sex godess
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    Nov 16th 2013, 12:21 AM

    Red thumb just because of your profile !

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    Mute Sylvia Hickey
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    Nov 15th 2013, 7:29 PM

    Never had a problem with Ryan Air or their website. I’m old enough to remember flying from London to Cape Town, but taking the ferry and train Dublin to London because it was too expensive to travel that bit by air. It was Ryan Air that forced the prices down. I’ve never really understood the problem some people have with Ryan Air, it is not as if the way they operate is a secret – they are very up front. The rules are well known and the choice is there – if you don’t like the rules travel with a different airline. There’s lots to choose from, it will probably cost you more but that is your choice.

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    Mute john smith
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    Nov 15th 2013, 7:43 PM

    Yeah Ryanair that has ruined the industry for people in it ,do you think mol is a saint ,he is laughing all the way to the bank.on his work force .

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    Mute Richard Day
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    Nov 16th 2013, 9:35 AM

    From 1993 to 1997, the European Union phased in a continent-wide open skies regime that’s dramatically lowered fares, expanded access and boosted tourism, commerce and movement within the now 25-member market. Perhaps most remarkably, these developments haven’t ravaged the fortunes of employees or destroyed the financial performance of airlines to the same degree they have in North America. While airlines like Sabena have died and workers like those at Swissair suffered, many of the continent’s largest airlines avoided the sweeping restructuring that their American counterparts are still undertaking. Many carriers are hiring and both legacy and low-cost airlines are making money.

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    Mute Darren Caffrey
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    Nov 15th 2013, 1:41 PM

    Another stunt that gets people talking about the airline! Clever business man as it’s a major source of advertisement. Good or bad, it still advertisement!

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    Mute Kitty West
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:11 PM

    The new website certainly looks more modern!

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    Mute Stephen Nutley
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:23 PM

    not responsive #fail

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    Mute David O'Neill
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    Nov 16th 2013, 9:22 PM

    It doesn’t need to be on the desktop but it’s shocking that they haven’t got a proper mobile site (and redirect to boot). Perhaps it’s coming soon… But as for responsive design, if the mobile site comes soon, there’s no need for it as the window size on your desktop should accommodate everything unless you’re using a computer from 2002 or less, as it fits into a 1280xXXX viewport just fine, but not so much on a 1024xXXX one. Choosing to browse in severely small windows on a desktop is just stupid. Though they could incorporate it and it shouldn’t hurt it overall. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a #fail, though.

    It’s a vast improvement aesthetically as the old site looked like something from 1998; use as many colors as possible, the more yellows, blues, pinks, and greens, the better. It’s a lot more toned down as the color scheme is not as loud and it is designed with a contemporary layout.

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    Mute Aunty Simmonite
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:26 PM

    Nice site, made me want to fly away to Poland for a few days or maybe Prague. Could I use me bus pass on the Continong?

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    Mute BPA Free Paper Rolls
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:56 PM

    It’s a joke still no email address to contact them !!!

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    Mute Des Moore
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    Nov 15th 2013, 12:59 PM

    Ryanair offers for 14 euro must be a joke , i can never get it for that price every time i book even for a day its over a 100 euro

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    Mute Jane Jermyn
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    Nov 15th 2013, 6:42 PM

    €14.99 for flights over Christmas – 19th Dec and 6th Jan – Cork Liverpool – booked this afternoon!!

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    Mute Patsy Kerwick
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    Nov 15th 2013, 1:46 PM

    Hate it when i see O’Learys smug face on anything. I would not fly with Ryanair again if i got it for free.

    13
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    Mute Michael O' Kelly
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    Nov 15th 2013, 5:50 PM

    Patsy ! do’nt worry . Its never for free , just reasonable !

    17
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    Mute Michael Tormey
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    Nov 15th 2013, 11:34 PM

    Sad sod !

    5
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    Mute Oisín Tarrant
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    Nov 15th 2013, 4:56 PM

    Love the pic on the landing site, its 5 different pictures banged together on MS Paint. Having said that, thanks Ryan Air for bunches of cheap holidays. A genuine peoples airline.

    12
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    Mute Mickey Mouse
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    Nov 15th 2013, 5:46 PM

    Can someone tell me what’s with Michael o leary and ryanair’s sudden change of heart over the last few months. All these customer friendly changes when he used to stick two fingers up at us for so long. Did the shareholders come down hard on him?

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    Mute Jane Jermyn
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    Nov 15th 2013, 6:38 PM

    Much easier to book – just got a return Cork to Liverpool over Christmas for €30 and it was much simpler – instead of having to answer NO to all the things you don’t want, you would have to tick them if you did and so can zip down the site and book much more quickly and using my debit card there is no charge either.

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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Nov 15th 2013, 3:35 PM

    People wondering what all the changes are about…all about money I’d guess. O Leary doesn’t lift a baby finger unless there’s an issue that may cost him money

    7
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    Mute Nick Wyatt
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    Nov 15th 2013, 1:04 PM

    Des. You need to book 2 to 3 weeks in advance. My flights are always 14.99

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    Mute Martin Smith
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    Nov 15th 2013, 6:20 PM

    now that all the pop ups have been removed and it is a simpler experience will we see a reduction in added costs as the continued resdesign of the old website was one reason o leary used when hiking ryanair fees.all that time trying to buy aer lingus allowed easyjet to become ryanair competitor in the marketplace….now all we need is for easyjet to target the irish market and we will see proper competition in low cost fares

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    Mute Stephen Ö'Farrell
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    Nov 15th 2013, 10:26 PM

    Still not mobile optimised. What is wrong with them?

    4
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    Mute Maria Nordwind
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    Nov 15th 2013, 11:27 PM

    Just checked in for my flight tomorrow. ..I must say I was surprised. ..in a good way! :)

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    Mute Michelle Meleady
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    Nov 16th 2013, 6:22 AM

    It does look better. Has anyone noticed that Ryanair are now playing catch up with Aerlingus? The roles have been reversed from the 2006-2009 period.

    3
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    Mute sex godess
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    Nov 16th 2013, 12:22 AM

    We don’t give a fcuk!!!

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    Mute Gerry McClair
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    Nov 15th 2013, 10:19 PM

    What about an app? Behind the Times

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    Mute Michael Mulhern
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    Nov 16th 2013, 12:35 AM

    What a p r I c k

    2
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    Mute sex godess
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    Nov 16th 2013, 12:05 AM

    Read my lips WEEEE DONT GIVE A FUK !!!!!!!

    2
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    Mute David Sweeney
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    Nov 16th 2013, 12:47 PM

    A 20Kg bag going outbound costs €25, the same bag return costs €35. Why??

    1
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    Mute Gowanoutathat
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    Nov 17th 2013, 12:28 PM

    A horrible nasty company who offer cheap flights cheap service and cheap everything.
    If you want to go through your life being thrifty and being threated like dirt as Ryanair do . Go ahead..
    They make millions from it , you get to travel like sardines .
    Oh yeh !
    Sales are down, they’ve realised they are despised by most . Now there’s a panic on in Ryanair to get business in as other airlines are now as cheap without the contempt being shown to clients.

    Rant over,,,, here comes the Red thumbs now.

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    Mute Natalia Karasinska
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    Nov 16th 2013, 12:05 AM

    http://jobs.donedeal.ie/view/call-centre-and-customer-service-jobs/customer-service-manager/4990

    Just created a new customer service sites (hundreds new jobs?) in Romania and Hungary!
    Not in IE? – wtf Michael??

    1
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    Mute Joanne Michaels
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    Nov 16th 2013, 9:32 AM

    Looks very like the Lufthansa site. But I won’t judge it til I really need to use it! Then I’ll know how good, bad or ugly it is. Good that they were willing to take on the feedback though.

    1
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