Ryanair is widely acknowledged as the world's cheapest airline. Clark has flown them in Europe for
as little as $3.50 roundtrip.
Their chief executive is a wild man with a foul mouth named Michael O'Leary. They mostly hire flight attendants from formerly communist Eastern European countries and pay them on commissions from in-flight sales of goods. This is an airline that will cram 200 seats on a 737. So expect to be uncomfortable if you weigh more than 100 pounds or are taller than 4 feet, 8 inches!
Now
The Daily Telegraph announces that Ryanair is planning to fly from Europe to America at fares starting at $15 one-way.
That was not a typo. That's $15 one-way.
However, the actual launch date is yet to be determined. It's based on when O'Leary can find enough trans-Atlantic planes available at deep discount rates for sale or lease. It could easily be the second half of 2009 or even much later.
When you fly Ryanair, your suitcase must be less than 22 pounds -- or you'll pay a $15 fee to check it in. Clark's
favorite Ryanair story involves the time he wore multiple layers of clothing in Dublin to make sure he avoided that fee!
