Ryanair looks to improve customer service

[NewWorldRecord]

Ryanair looks to improve customer service

AAP
October 26, 2013, 2:22 pm

Budget Irish airline Ryanair has announced a series of measures to improve customer service. PAA

Budget Irish airline Ryanair, whose chief executive Michael O'Leary has in the past labelled some of his passengers "idiots", has announced a series of measures to improve customer service.

In the past, O'Leary has insisted passengers only care about cheap fares and punctuality.

But in a recent U-turn, the outspoken Irishman said his airline should try not to "unnecessarily piss people off".

On Friday, the airline said that over the next six months it would increase the hand baggage allowance to allow for small ladies handbags, and cut baggage and check-in fees.

Passengers are also to be given a 24-hour grace period in which to change minor errors in their bookings.

O'Leary said the airline was "actively listening and responding to our customers" as it implemented plans to increase its capacity from 80 million passengers per year to 110 million over the next five years.

A survey by the consumer magazine Which? last month rated Ryanair the worst for customer service out of 100 big British brands.

The airline was also forced to apologise and refund a passenger, whose family died in a housefire, after it refused to change his flight and charged him 188 euros ($A270) for a new ticket.