Show summary Hide summary
Ryanair has fired back at complaints about its low-cost €19.99 fares with a blunt three-word response — “Get a grip” — in a social video that contrasts luxury travel expectations with the realities of budget flying. The clip has reignited debate over what passengers should reasonably expect from ultra-cheap tickets, even as the airline faces a separate probe over family seating charges.
From private jets to windowless rows
The short video, posted on the airline’s social channel, opens with an overlay reading “Passenger expectations for €19.99:” and shows scenes of opulent travel — a private jet and a coffee in a porcelain cup by a panoramic window. It then cuts to a more familiar picture for many Ryanair customers: cramped rows, a seat in the notorious windowless 11A position, and the consequences of accepting random seat assignments rather than paying extra to choose seats.
Would you book an overseas break just to spend it in bed?
Baz Ashmawy on growing up without a father figure
The clip’s caption — three stark words, “Get a grip” — was clearly intended to remind travellers that rock‑bottom fares come with trade-offs. Ryanair’s message underlines the airline’s long-standing low-cost model: cheap base fares with additional charges for extras including seat selection and onboard services.
Mixed reactions from passengers
Responses to the video were divided. Some users praised the value on offer. One comment read: “Jokes aside $19.99 for a flight is a pretty good deal.” Another called Ryanair “the most realist and coolest airline.”
Others were less forgiving, insisting they would not accept the compromise in comfort. Comments ranged from “No I will not like it” to “that’s why choosing Ryanair is the worst option ever,” reflecting how personal priorities shape views of budget carriers.
Regulatory scrutiny over family seating fees
Separately, Ryanair is under investigation by the UK’s competition regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), over charges linked to parents who want to sit next to their children. According to the CMA, Ryanair requires at least one parent to be seated with a child aged between two and 11.
Ryanair’s website reportedly promotes “Free reserved seats for kids under 12”, but the CMA says parents and guardians must pay a booking fee to secure those seats. The regulator is examining whether the airline’s approach to these fees is transparent and fair to consumers.
