Go on have a bet – who do you think is more likely to embrace Social Media, Ryanair or Delia?

Well, if you said Ryanair then you’d be wrong!

In the week that Delia has announced she’s turned her back on the BBC in favour of launching her own online cookery school, PR Week reports that Ryanair has ‘dismissed the value of social media engagement’.

The new head of comms at Ryanair is quoted as saying that while other airlines have tapped into social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, the sites ‘would not be helpful to us, as we would have so many people looking for a response.’

Referring to the social network as a ‘two way tool’ Robin Kiely said that maintaining a dedicated account would probably mean hiring two more people just to sit on Facebook all day..adding that if customers wanted to get in touch the methods were there (i.e. customer care lines).

Oh dear, oh dear.

What’s wrong with having a two way relationship with your customers Ryanair? Or is the prospect of customers being able to easily get in touch and openly share opinions simply too frightening for words?

Shame on you.

Yes, us no-frills passengers understand that low fares come at a price - remote airports, very early/late departures, extremely strict rules and not so much as a free peanut.

But it’s outrageous that is this day and age a huge company like Ryanair has adopted such a head-in-the-sand stance. And I’ll bet that getting through on Ryanair’s helpline takes longer than it does to get through security at Stansted in the peak of the hen party season.

Or is this all simply another ruse to gain publicity for Ryanair (remember those plans to charge for spending a penny mid-air)?