Health update & a pop at Ryanair

I realise that I've not posted here for a tad over a month, so thought that I'd better update my health status - the hospitalisation ended up being only for two days (1 overnight) and I was cleared of having a DVT or PE or meningitis, which is the good stuff. The less so good news is that the headache which I've now had for 5 weeks continues, varying from a dull throb (when fully medicated) to what I would liken to wearing a skull cap of molten metal. At times it affects my ability to read and, especially, look at emails. I'm still hors d'combat and won't be blogging until I'm back to work. I also await further medical intervention, although the current consensus is that it's most likely to be a viral infection caused by mosquito bites in Barbados.

Before signing off, I must share this letter from today's Guardian:
" A spokesperson for Ryanair on Radio 4 complained they had to cancel 52 flights and "very little information was available". Now he knows how it feels."
(Runway protests, December 9th)
Dave Garner
Southport, Merseyside

Ryanair under investigation

The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) have finally lost patience with budget airline Ryanair and have reported them to the Office of Fair trading (OFT) over what are considered "a catalogue of breaches" of advertising codes. It seems that the ASA have found Ryanair in breach of rules seven times over two years.

The Director General of the ASA said: "It is very disappointing, but absolutely necessary, that we have had to take this course of action. The ASA have given Ryanair every opportunity to put it's house in order and ensure that it's advertising adheres to the code."

He added: "We would prefer to work with advertisers within the self-regulatory system rather than call in a statutory body, but Ryanair's approach has left us with no option but to refer them to the OFT."

Well then, another good reason for me to avoid using them.

Getting sick of Ryanair's greed

An extra £ on the cost of putting a bag into the hold of the plane, which means that your measly 15kg baggage allowance will now cost you a ridiculous £12 for a return flight. If you check in at the airport rather than electronically an extra £6 will be added to the cost of your return journey. Charges for "priority boarding", expensive food and drink and the wheelchair charge even if there isn't a wheelchair user on board etc, etc. Then of course they sue the Government in the hope of winning more of the taxpayers dosh

It all adds up to make me feel that I will never use this bunch of graspers again, but sad reality says that I probably shall unless Catherine helps me insert some backbone.

I would suggest that other budget airlines are available from Scotland and will try to make use of their flights instead of Ryanair. They include Easyjet, Wizz, Globespan, Clickair & Centralwings.

Riga no more

Some months ago Ryanair launched a new route from Prestwick International to Riga. Well, I'm on a bit of a Eastern Europe discovery time at the moment (Poland twice last year and plans for Prague, Gdansk & St Petersburg this year) so I was a happy bunny indeed with this news, went and bought the Rough Guide to The Baltic States and started planning a pre-election weekend break.

All was fine and well until Ryanair decided they were going to sue the Government over extra security costs. Well that did it! The Lady who lives in Kinross-shire took one of her stands and issued her equivalent of a Papal Bull on them - no more flying Ryanair for us. Ergo no visit to Riga for me.

At least Wizz fly from Prestwick to Gdansk, but I've been told no holiday, except in respective wards where the "holiday" will consist of leafletting, canvassing and more leafletting, until after the council counts May 4th.

Contacting Ryanair

Working in a Parliamentary office we regularly get complaints about airlines from constituents. In the case of Ryanair it's often difficult to get through to someone directly.
Sharon Hodgson (Labour MP for Gateshead East) wrote to the Guardian the other day with contact details, which I'm delighted to circulate further:
Caroline Green is Head of Customer Services (sic) and her direct email address is:
greenc@ryanair.com (Please don't send mindless abuse).
The direct dial number for their head office is +353 1 812 1212
Hope it's useful.