RYANAIR: The Future of Travel

At this point in history, it's pretty accurate to propose that probably only the Amish are unaware of globalization's imminence.

And even amidst a worldwide economic crisis, it is now possible to jump continents for the cost of going out to lunch:

RYANAIR, the once go-to transportation mode for penny pinching student backpackers in Europe, is going TRANSATLANTIC.


True to their low-budget standard, a flight from London to NYC will set a passenger back about 10 Euro (about $14).

So genius, it made the NY Mag's "Brilliant" square on their Nov. 17 Approval Matrix.

If you're not familiar with it, Ryanair is the original low-budget European airline, the one making Europe trains go out of business by offering INSANELY low cost flights while managing to stay totally legit with licensed pilots and aircraft, etc.

Their their trick is no "free" drinks/food (I read something a while ago that "complimentary" beverages on flights actually costs a passenger about $15), no free checked baggage, open seating, hubbing at the less popular of European city airports (which is sometimes a hassle but the Ryanair experience is so no-frills, you don't really care), and more advertising.

For example, I flew round trip to Portugal from Spain for about $20.

And one way from Spain to Brussels for about $8.

After a 16-hour train ride from Florence to Barcelona, I vowed never to train Europe again (although the view coming into Monaco is so breathtaking, I may have to do the Milan to Marseille leg again one day).



I once studied Ryanair in a marketing class. They are so genius- the CEO's ultimate goal is to have passengers fly free by getting others to pay for it- kind of like TV (advertisers, etc).



And if that weren't enough, they publish a totally clever in-flight magazine that even I would be stoked to work for if I ever got offered.




Now that Ryanair is hopping major bodies of ocean...just imagine one day being able to travel the whole world for pocket change.

Amazing.