Same. They seem to be one of the few airlines that are well run. Maybe cause the founder is still CEO, I don't know.

I also respect their honesty. They tell you "we get you from A to B the cheapest way", no more. Traditional airlines' ads are all about traveling in luxury, which is extremely dishonest considering 99% of their travelers experience a not-far-from-Ryanair level of comfort.

Michael O'Leary has been CEO since the early 90s but did not found the company.

Ryanair have a long history of very savvy, far sighted planning. Back in 2001 when many airlines cancelled orders for Boeing planes after 9/11, Ryanair signed a long term contract for 155 brand new 737-800s at a huge discount. They've taken out some smart long term options on jet fuel before a well.

I think their big thing was understanding the difference between stated preferences vs revealed ones. They took away beloved perks of flying, and managed to show that people weren't willing to pay what it cost to provide them.

I still remember their proposal for ultra-cheap standing-only tickets (couldn't get that one past regulators). Kinda wonder if it was seriously meant or not.

Not sure about "cost to provide them" but unbundling is their game. Here are some prices (in euros):

Under the seat bag: 0 Reserved seat: 10 10kg checked bag (carry on size): 16 20kg checked bag (full size): 26 A bag being overweight by 1kg: 70

So they get pricey quickly if you're taking any decent amount of luggage. God help you if you don't have accurate scales at home.

Any non-flat rate pricing for baggage is godsent. I've long been annoyed that US airlines will charge the same amount to check a small bag, with a few pieces of lightweight passenger cabin contraband, as to check a giant 50 pound duffel bag.

So long as the airlines rigidly enforce carryon size restrictions. It was bad enough when baggage was free, now you’ve got people slamming steamer trunks in the overhead cabinets just to avoid the fees.

Unless the flight is sufficiently empty, Ryanair staff often walk around the gate and get anyone with a large or heavy-looking bag to put it on a scale.

(They have the scales available before check-in, so it's reasonably fair.)

That’s the game with discount airlines. Not only baggage, but $ to print your boarding slip, $ to pay luggage fees at airport, etc.

If you read the costs closely and can avoid them, they work great. I flew from SFO to Stockholm with Norwegian Airlines for $400 return on a 787. About the same as SFO to JFK.

But it was no frills. No even free water served (you could ask for it) or any meals. If you prepare it’s great. If you don’t it’s pricey.

There was a similar deal for Paris/SFO return for $300, but United Airlines was determined to undercut them, so I got a United Airlines return flight instead for $275. The billing summary was hilarious:

Fare USD $ 1.49 Taxes & Fees USD $ 273.96 Total USD $ 275.45

Standing-only was a marketing stunt. No one could possibly expect it to be allowed by the regulators.

Ryanair repeating this story gets them free advertising reassuring people that they try and minimise costs.

They know how to handle margins of profit and also a way higher scale than most airlines.