Ryanair Responds To EU Queries Re: Screenscrapers

Ryanair Responds To EU Queries Re: Screenscrapers





Ryanair today (26^th August) confirmed that it had sent
a detailed response to the European Commission’s enquiry letter last
week concerning Ryanair’s policy of banning bookings made on
unauthorised, illegal screenscraper/ticket-tout websites. A copy of
this EU correspondence and Ryanair’s reply has been published on
Ryanair’s website at www.Ryanair.com. Ryanair provided the European
Commission with detailed documentary evidence to demonstrate that these
screenscraper/ticket-tout websites are:

1. Guilty of unauthorised and illegal access to the Ryanair.com website.
   
2. In breach of Ryanair.com’s copyright.
   
3. In breach of Ryanair’s terms and conditions of travel and terms and conditions of use.
   
4. Do not provide consumers with Ryanair’s accurate terms and conditions.
   
5. Do not provide consumers with accurate details of Ryanair’s pricing.
   
6. Do not keep consumers informed of changes in Ryanair’s terms and conditions or flight information.
   
7. Are regularly and consistently over-charging consumers with over 200% or 300% hidden mark-ups on Ryanair’s ticket prices.
   

Ryanair provided the European Commission with evidence of four
specific websites, Bravofly.com, Edreams.com, Volgratis.com, Wegelo.com
in which the airline’s ticket prices had been inflated by 200% or 300%,
without the consumers knowledge, and these hidden mark-ups are billed
to the consumer as if this was the Ryanair ticket price. These specific
documented examples show the following hidden overcharging of consumers;

(a) Bravofly.com price €60.93
Ryanair ticket price €19.95
Bravofly overcharge €40.95 (205%)

(b) Edreams.com price €385.97
Airline ticket price €106.87
Edreams overcharge €279.10 (260%)

(c) Volgratis.com price €63.25
Ryanair ticket price €25.25
Volgratis overcharge €38.00 (150%)

(d) Wegolo.com price €37.00
Ryanair ticket price €10.00
Wegelo overcharge €27.00 (370%)


Ryanair has pointed out to the European Commission that the
illegal and unauthorised activities of these screenscraper/ticket-tout
websites have in recent weeks caused dramatic slowdowns and outages on
the Ryanair.com website, resulting in bona fide consumers being unable
to access Ryanair’s timetables, prices or make bookings on
Ryanair.com. Ryanair also explained to the European Commission that
since it is the only airline to operate with a lowest price guarantee,
Ryanair’s guarantee becomes invalid if these ticket tout websites can
overcharge consumers with 200% or 300% hidden mark ups on Ryanair’s
guaranteed lowest ticket prices.

Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary confirmed today:

“We have responded to the European Commission’s enquiries by
providing them with documentary evidence of this unauthorised, illegal
ticket-tout scam being perpetrated on consumers by these screenscraper
websites. It is remarkable, but unsurprising, that a number of European
Government agencies and the European Commission has sought to blame
Ryanair for blocking the illegal activities of these screenscrapers,
instead of tackling the real consumer scandal which is the hidden 200%
or 300% mark ups being levied and over-charged on innocent consumers by
these illegal screenscraper/ticket-tout websites.

“Since Ryanair is the only airline doing anything to eliminate
this unauthorised and illegal practice, we are now calling on the
European Commission in general and DG TREN in particular, to take
action to force these unauthorised, illegal screenscraper/ticket tout
websites to desist from unlawfully overcharging consumers by 200% or
300%, particularly when they provide no useful service to consumers.”

http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=08&month=aug&story=reg-en-260808&pos=BANNER