No joke (maybe). This is directly from the Ryanair website — a poll about whether passengers would be willing to stand on flights in order to fly for free or for deep discounts. Take the Ryanair poll and hear their new theme song.
Here’s the direct wording from their website:
Ryanair, the World’s favourite airline, today (9th July) launched an online poll to ask if passengers would ‘stand’ on short flights if it meant they could travel for FREE, or pay 50% less than seated passengers. Ryanair is gauging passenger demand for its ‘vertical seating’ which will allow passengers to travel – for free – in a secure upright position on short flights of approximately one hour.
Click here to participate in the Ryanair poll.
Here’s Ryanair’s purported theme song. Enjoy.
Whether or not this is serious or a convoluted marketing scheme, it is plenty of fun and it is nice to see airlines not taking themselves too seriously while making millions.
Note: Ryanair said it “will continue to explore the concept of ‘fare-free standing’ flights with Boeing and the relevant aviation authorities in the US and EU” after 66% of 120,000 passengers participating in an online poll said they would be willing to stand in the cabin on flights 1 hr. or shorter if the fare was free. The carrier said 42% would stand for half price and 60% felt standing should be an option.
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
