An e-mail providing instructions on how to get free flights booked through the Ryanair website has been circulating among Irish internet users since last Friday.
The mail claims that as a result of a glitch in the website, it is possible to circumvent the low cost airlines current two-for-one offer and book flights for a nominal 1 cent with Ryanair paying all taxes and charges.
Ryanair is running a promotion whereby customers who book a flight for travel in early February can book a second flight for free. The e-mail provides a specific address on the Ryanair website (www.ryanair.com/member/freeflights.html), which is the one provided to customers of the two-for-one offer.
This page prompts users to enter the six-digit code they received when booking their first flight, but it now transpires any six digits can be entered.
As a result, recipients of the e-mail have been able to avail of the free flight without having booked a first full-price flight.
One customer who had received the e-mail told The Irish Times she successfully booked two return flights from Cork to Liverpool for a total of €10.02. Customers availing of the offer have to pay a €10 credit card charge and also have to pay any bag charges or priority boarding fees.
However, it now appears that rather than being a "glitch" in the Ryanair website, the e-mail is an example of viral marketing. This kind of marketing involves encouraging customers to spread marketing messages on behalf of the company, either through providing direct incentives or providing offers that seem so good that people want to inform their friends about them.
The fact that the e-mails have been in circulation for almost a week means it is unlikely that Ryanair was not aware of them. In addition, because the promotional site works with any six-digit code, it would seem Ryanair is not attempting to restrict the offer in any way.
A Ryanair spokesperson said that the airline would not be commenting on the story other than to say the promotion has been "hugely successful".
She did, however, confirm that any bookings made through the Ryanair site would be honoured.
