Coaches to Beauvais Airport
33% fare increase on coach from Beauvais to Paris: the ticket costs now 13€ instead of 10€ (in cash, please). You also have to show up 3h15 before take off, instead of 3h. That’s beginning to be ridiculous considering that more and more people use this service – not to mention that I have been yelled at once: I had handed my ticket to the driver who tore it and then tried to enter the bus with a bag (first yell), and I finally presented a torn ticket after putting by bag in the boot (second yell). And imagine it’s the first contact that tourists have with France when arriving…
The website allows you to buy a ticket online, but you have to add an extra 2€ to the price (it used to be for Credit Card costs but it is now for « file costs »; you are aware of that extra 2€ only when submitting your form and it is non-refundable) and it doesn’t seem to be working very well (my Firefox keeps telling me that POSTDATA has expired from cache, blabla) when you click from the link above. Some HTML code is apparent. I really don’t feel confident about buying tickets from their site…
As a customer (I have been using these coaches for 5 years, now!), I don’t feel treated with any respect at all (33% increase, with cash; the website is not even updated properly everywhere and shows obvious flaws that no one cares to fix). The feeling I have is that some company (I couldn’t find who operates that service) just take customers for idiots who just have to pay because there is no other way to get there. That is a real shame.
The kindly went on to say however that 'As the Airport Authorities and not Ryanair operate the Beauvais coach service' that they were 'not in a position to comment on same.' but did wish to inform me that they had 'taken the liberty of forwarding your comments on to the Director at Beauvais airport.'
They apparently did note some of my comments though and consented to pass my 'information regarding the bus timetable been incorrect onto our Web Design Department so this maybe amended.'
They concluded by optimistically hoping that this experience 'will not deter you from flying with Ryanair in the future.'
Well, if nothing else, their customer service is prompt!
I point out to you that at the time of my last trip to Beauvais airport, my bus ticket cost twice the price of my flight. Had this trip been a mere 12 days later, that ratio would have risen to 2.6 times the price!
So they money for the bus is not going to Ryanair. Who is it going to? Chambre de Commerce et de L'industrie de L'Oise who operate Beauvais Tille airport.
Does it really cost 754 to transport a busload of passengers from Porte Maillot to Beauvais? I think not. I think it is merely a way of reducing the costs that they must recoup from Ryanair to keep the 'international' airport in operation. That and to line someone's pockets at the expense of those of us who are not travel-savvy enough to count the extra costs involved when one travels 'low cost'.
— Lucia · 2005-01-06 21:58 · #