Ooooh dear, Ryanair know how to make friends, don't they?

A story popped into our WalletPop Twitter feed a few minutes ago. I was directed to The Register to read about a clever web programmer called Jason. He'd accidentally found a glitch in Ryanair's booking system meaning he almost got a free flight to Cork (or, knowing budget airlines, an airport nowhere near Cork). He decided to blog about it. As would WalletPop frankly. WalletPop does love a freebie.

But look at Ryanair's lovely customer service people making friends with the online world in the comments section:

"jason!
you're an idiot and a liar!! fact is!
you've opened one session then another and requested a page meant for a different session, you are so stupid you dont even know how you did it! you dont get a free flight, there is no dynamic data to render which is prob why you got 0.00. what self respecting developer uses a crappy CMS such as word press anyway AND puts they're mobile ph number online, i suppose even a prank call is better than nothing on a lonely sat evening!!"

And you know what? It gets even worse.
I'm pretty shocked by Ryanair's customer service already, but the 'official line' from Ryanair's Stephen Mcnamara was this comment:

"Ryanair can confirm that a Ryanair staff member did engage in a blog discussion.

"It is Ryanair policy not to waste time and energy corresponding with idiot bloggers and Ryanair can confirm that it won't be happening again.

"Lunatic bloggers can have the blog sphere all to themselves as our people are far too busy driving down the cost of air travel"

Now that's not very nice, is it? Idiot bloggers?! Lunatics?! You'd think in shaky times like these, Ryanair would be reaching out to their customers, trying to build lasting relationships and make their customers feel valued. In the meantime, us idiot bloggers will just carry on reporting news about how you might just bag a free (somewhat cramped) flight if you can work your way around a computer system. Budget airlines might not thank you for it though.

Anyone know the number of a charm school?

Thanks to Radio Edit for the link.