Chance News 111: Difference between revisions
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
==Forsooth== | ==Forsooth== | ||
=="Random" seat | =="Random" seat assignment== | ||
[http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ryanairs-random-seat-allocation-not-random-scientists-35880337.html Ryanair's 'random' seat allocation not random - scientists]<br> | [http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ryanairs-random-seat-allocation-not-random-scientists-35880337.html Ryanair's 'random' seat allocation not random - scientists]<br> | ||
by John von Radowitz, ''Irish Independent'', 30 June 2017 | by John von Radowitz, ''Irish Independent'', 30 June 2017 | ||
Ryanair is an Irish low-cost airline. This [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryanair Wikipedia entry] notes | Ryanair is an Irish low-cost airline. This [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryanair Wikipedia entry] notes | ||
that they have often faced criticism for misleading advertising | that they have often faced criticism for misleading advertising. | ||
The ''Irish Independent'' article | The ''Irish Independent'' article concerns a recent controversy. When customers book Ryanair flights, they can pay to select for particular seats, | ||
or else opt for "random" seat assignment, which is free. | |||
says, "Can't stand the middle seat? Don't leave it | Advertising on the airline's website says, "Can't stand the middle seat? Don't leave it | ||
to chance, take your pick from a choice of seats. Get up to 50pc off | to chance, take your pick from a choice of seats. Get up to 50pc off | ||
reserved seats with prices starting at £2." | reserved seats with prices starting at £2." | ||
But is it up to chance? In light of [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1JB3yVCzRWB6HqG7tgfYj4X/ryanair customer complaints], the BBC consumer affairs | But is it up to chance? In light of [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1JB3yVCzRWB6HqG7tgfYj4X/ryanair customer complaints], the BBC consumer affairs show ''Watchdog'' sought expert opinion from Oxford University. To test the claim, researchers had four groups of four passengers book travel on four | ||
separate flights, all under the random seating option. On every flight, all of the passengers got middle seats. The the odds of this happening | |||
separate flights, all under the random seating option. On every flight, all of the passengers got middle seats. | were estimated at about 1:540,000,000. Compare this to the 1:45,000,000 odds of winning the | ||
[http://www.murderousmaths.co.uk/books/bkmm6xlo.htm UK National Lottery] jackpot. Dr. Jennifer Rogers, director of Oxford University's Statistical | |||
Compare this to the 1:45,000,000 odds of winning the [http://www.murderousmaths.co.uk/books/bkmm6xlo.htm UK National Lottery] jackpot. | |||
Dr. Jennifer Rogers, director of Oxford University's Statistical | |||
Consultancy, is quoted as saying, "This is a highly controversial topic and my analysis | Consultancy, is quoted as saying, "This is a highly controversial topic and my analysis | ||
cast doubt on whether Ryanair's seat allocation can be purely random." | cast doubt on whether Ryanair's seat allocation can be purely random." | ||
The article also includes a statement from Ryanair offering the following explanation | The article also includes a statement from Ryanair offering the following explanation which qualifies as an extended Forsooth! | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
We haven't changed the random seat | We haven't changed the random seat | ||
Revision as of 18:30, 6 July 2017
July 1, 2017 to ...
Quotations
Forsooth
"Random" seat assignment
Ryanair's 'random' seat allocation not random - scientists
by John von Radowitz, Irish Independent, 30 June 2017
Ryanair is an Irish low-cost airline. This Wikipedia entry notes that they have often faced criticism for misleading advertising.
The Irish Independent article concerns a recent controversy. When customers book Ryanair flights, they can pay to select for particular seats, or else opt for "random" seat assignment, which is free. Advertising on the airline's website says, "Can't stand the middle seat? Don't leave it to chance, take your pick from a choice of seats. Get up to 50pc off reserved seats with prices starting at £2."
But is it up to chance? In light of customer complaints, the BBC consumer affairs show Watchdog sought expert opinion from Oxford University. To test the claim, researchers had four groups of four passengers book travel on four separate flights, all under the random seating option. On every flight, all of the passengers got middle seats. The the odds of this happening were estimated at about 1:540,000,000. Compare this to the 1:45,000,000 odds of winning the UK National Lottery jackpot. Dr. Jennifer Rogers, director of Oxford University's Statistical Consultancy, is quoted as saying, "This is a highly controversial topic and my analysis cast doubt on whether Ryanair's seat allocation can be purely random."
The article also includes a statement from Ryanair offering the following explanation which qualifies as an extended Forsooth!
We haven't changed the random seat allocation policy.
The reason for more middle seats being allocated is that more and more passengers are taking our reserved seats (from just £2) and these passengers overwhelmingly prefer aisle and window seats which is why people who choose random (free of charge) seats are more likely to be allocated middle seats.
Some random seat passengers are confused by the appearance of empty seats beside them when they check-in up to four days prior to departure.
The reason they can't have these window or aisle seats is that these are more likely to be selected by reserved seat passengers, many of whom only check in 24 hours prior to departure.
Since our current load factor is 95pc, we have to keep these window and aisle seats free to facilitate those customers who are willing to pay (from £2) for them.
Submitted by Patrick O'Beirne