SEAN OLSON,
Sir, - Michael Dwyer has my sympathy (page 11, August 19th). It is outrageous that any passenger should be treated in such a way. And he is right to question the real cost to Aer Lingus incurred by arbitary decisions taken by faceless bureaucrats. It would be interesting to see how much the overbooking game actually costs.
But perhaps those bureaucrats have found a way to make up those costs.
Last week I travelled to Amsterdam and back on lunchtime flights (check-in at 11 a.m.). One might have expected a sandwich - even at the back of the bus. But no. I was offered a tiny packet of some salty things, ("Not peanuts because of the allergy"), and a drink on both flights. The alternative was a packet containing two biscuits. This on an airline which, I seem to recall the chief executive stating, was a full service operation unlike cheapies like Ryanair.
Perhaps the full service means the sight of somewhat embarrassed flight attendants parading up and down trying to persuade travellers to make in-flight purchases of perfumes, and other things they do not want.
Is it any wonder that people vote with their feet and Michael O'Leary's no-frills approach pays such handsome dividends.
While I am at it Aer Rianta is also pretty dire. Going out on Monday (August 12th) I could only see five seats in the check-in concourse. Check-in was a bit like being in the Irish pack when the French were on the rampage last season, and upstairs, if you wished to sit down, it had to be at a dirty table in the smoking area having purchased something from one of the franchises. The non-smoking area had no chairs or tables so passengers had to sit on the floor.
At Schipol there were plenty of sitting areas, clean and friendly cafes and bars and no scrummage at the check-in desk. Airside was just as pleasant.
Have we missed something somewhere? - Yours etc.,
SEAN OLSON, Shankill, Co Dublin
Sir, - In 1962, Aer Lingus, to publicise its new Transatlantic flights, offered a promotional package which included a one-way flight to Shannon and return to Dublin by train. Tickets were booked for my parents, my sister and me, but on arrival at Dublin Airport we found that the flight had been overbooked. A visit to the cinema to see The Belles of St Trinians followed by fish and chips was scant consolation for us children for what was to have been our first trip by air.
Judging by Michael Dwyer's recent experience at the airport (August 19th), little has changed in four decades - but at least he got to stay in a hotel! - Yours, etc.,
Dr CHARLES DALY, Dungarvan, Co Waterford
Sir, - In the midst of a Roman emperor's triumphant return from a successful conquest, a slave would be employed to whisper in his ear and remind him of his imperfections. Ryanair on the other hand, has to make do with a few whinging letters about it in The Irish Times instead. - Yours, etc.,
STEPHEN LANE, Clonee, Dublin 15