So That's Why Ryanair Is So Anxious To Get Mobile Phones On Planes

from the it-all-comes-together dept

Thu, Nov 2nd 2006 4:08pm — Mike Masnick

A year ago, we wrote about how discount European airline Ryanair was eagerly planning to support a business model of free flights with gambling revenue by installing the ability to gamble on seatback screens in-flight. Earlier this year, we mentioned that the company was also quite anxious to be among the first to allow mobile phones to be used in-flight. Turns out that both ideas are a part of the same plan. They want to get people onto their flights and then offer them the ability to gamble on their mobile phones as they fly. Of course, there are some regulatory hurdles to clear up, but Ryanair apparently is really pushing forward on being the free flying casino where you can not only stay connected, you can give away all your money before you reach your destination.

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12 Comments

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avitarx, 2 Nov 2006 @ 4:48pm

I hope
Free flights for those with self contol.

I bet they track you and if you don't play much you don't fly with them again.
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- Anonymous Coward, 2 Nov 2006 @ 5:29pm
  
  Re: I hope
  For sure. I'd be among the first. I'd abuse the free flights and fly everywhere just for the heck of it. Since I'm already poor, it's not like I have anything to waste gambling.
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Gee, 2 Nov 2006 @ 5:33pm

Id be broke
I have pretty good self control and I'm not at all a gambler, but if I got on the plain and had to sit their for several hours, I would probably cave and spend every dime I had, just so I wasn't bored
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PhysicsGuy, 2 Nov 2006 @ 6:10pm

SNAKES ON A PLANE!!!!!
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- Anonymous Coward, 2 Nov 2006 @ 8:36pm
  
  Re:
  Close, but should be SNAKE-EYES On A Plane.
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Tom, 2 Nov 2006 @ 6:18pm

terrorists
So the next time terrorists want to destroy a symbol of capitolism they won't need to go to a titty bar the night before to relax. They can just book a flight on Ryanair, gamble away till they're broke, then blow up the symbol they're flying on. If they had and second thoughts before they lost their money they won't after.
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Bob's Dad, 2 Nov 2006 @ 6:37pm

Re: terrorists
Imagine how pissed you would be if you're a terrorist on board and you won a ton of money...
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Anonymous Coward, 2 Nov 2006 @ 7:25pm

sounds more like the flight would be comp'ed if you gamble, not just for going
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Paul, 2 Nov 2006 @ 7:30pm

"Free"
The flight is free, but you can't get on the flight unless you buy some gambling credits. That is how I see it going down anyway.
How else could they keep people from blatantly abusing the system. Even if they keep a record and don't let people use their flight a second time if they didn't gamble, that is a LOT of lost money if a couple hundred people go on once and just don't gamble.
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Anonymous Coward, 2 Nov 2006 @ 7:35pm

sounds more like the flight would be comp'ed if you gamble, not just for going
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Grant, 3 Nov 2006 @ 12:05am

Ryanair flights are basically free now. If you watch them you can almost always get them for about a penny. This summer I paid 1 cent plus tax and $6 plus tax on Sky Europe.
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Jack, 4 Nov 2006 @ 11:41am

Is it really free?
The flight is free, but I guess you have to put your wager with a minimum amount, so it's really a nice marketing campaign that with simple calculation, taking into account the payout percentage, you can see that it is not free.
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