Suck on this, says Ryanair...
Monday, August 24, 2009 @ 12:04 PM
Most travellers have strong opinions about Ryanair, but it is seldom accused of trying to make life more pleasant for its passengers. Now the introduction of a new product on their inflight menus is causing raised eyebrows 30,000 feet up. Alongside the hotdogs and strange sachets of alcohol, stewards wandering the aisles this summer have been flogging packets of "smoke-free cigarettes". They're smokable on the planes, and also in bars and restaurants and - presumably - museums and libraries and gasworks too.
Popular, are they?
The airline won't give out figures but says they're selling much better than expected.
Who uses them?
According to a Ryanair spokesman, they're selling best on flights out of Italy, followed by those from the UK, Germany and France.
And who won't touch them?
They're just not cool in Scandinavia. Flights out of Oslo and Stockholm haven't seen many sales.
Drinking and smoking ... Isn't Ryanair in danger of turning flying into a pleasant experience?
It depends on your idea of a good time. The whole grab-a-seat procedure to the sound of promotional tunes already makes getting onto a plane feel like a stressful game of musical chairs.
I try to avoid Ryanair - can I get them elsewhere?
The spokesman seems to think they're available on some long-haul flights with other airlines, but there have not been reports of the cabin crew advertising them elsewhere. Ryanair really is a pioneer in so many ways.
How much will a pack set me back?
€6. Or the same price as six trips to the loo under plans to start charging passengers for those, too.
Source: The Guardian