Ryanair, ever on the lookout for ways to fund those knockdown prices, has come up with a new wheeze. According to Marketing, Michael O'Leary's low-cost is to sell advertising space on the overhead lockers of its aircraft.
The news is not quite a surprise, since Ryanair has already gone in for fuselage and seatback advertising; nor is it particularly shocking, since the public has already swallowed far stronger meat. Mammon is in residence on the exterior of London's St Martin-in-the-Fields church, and branding space has famously been sold on a pregnant woman's bump.
The move can, though, be read as another example of how aviation is feeling the pinch as APD and fuel costs rise. Whatever your opinion of Ryanair, it seems determined to stick to its guns - come hell, high water or no water left it won't have you denied the right to get airborne for 99p.
And for the less business-minded there remains the hope that Ryanair will follow London Underground's lead and use its overhead advertising space to launch a public poetry series. "I caught this morning morning's minion, departing Stansted, arriving Riga..."
Nathan Midgley, Travelweekly.co.uk
Ryanair is quite possibly the worst airline. The few times I have had the misfortune of flying with them I have always regretted it and it has come close to / or actually ruined my holiday. They have misleading price charges, rates that are initially advertised as £20-30 end up being £100 plus because the taxes and baggages charges (yes charges to take baggage in the hold) get added on at the last minute.
The latest debacle occurred because Easyjet don't fly back from Biarritz past August so forced to go Ryanair. After taking the hit on the extortionate price hikes, my email confirmation never arrived. It is impossible to access the flight info on the webpage. The customer support number (for which you pay a fair wack) is inoperational 90% of the time.
I would rather pay any other carrier 3x the price than fly Ryanair again.