Low-cost airline Ryanair has once again struck a chord online – this time with a brutally honest response to a passenger who tried his luck and claimed a free ticket on social media.
A passenger shared a striking aerial photo of Rome, taken from a Ryanair flight, tagging the airline with an X with the caption: “I took a photo of Rome from your plane. Could you give me a free ticket for this amazing photo?”
Ryanair’s answer was just one word: “No.”
The deadpan response quickly went viral, prompting a flood of jokes and reactions from social media users. “Charge him double for the next flight,” one person joked. Another quipped: “That’ll be €12.99 to keep the view.” A third added: “Next time you’ll be charged extra for a photo this good.”
Several users also poked fun at Ryanair’s famously strict policies. “If he had taken it from seat 11A, they might have considered it,” read one comment, referring to the airline’s seat allocation procedures.
It’s not the first time Ryanair’s social media team has hit the headlines for their cheeky online presence. In another viral exchange, the first flyer posted a photo of a Ryanair plane and wrote: “First time ever. Hope to get a window seat.” The airline replied tersely, “Unlikely.”
The response drew attention to Ryanair’s well-known seating policy where passengers who do not pay to select an extra seat are allocated seats at random – sometimes resulting in so-called “window seats” without an actual window.
According to Ryanair’s guidelines, passengers who opt for random seat allocation can check in 24 hours to two hours before departure. Those paying to select a seat can choose their preferred seat during booking or check-in, with online check-in opening up to 60 days in advance for reserved seats. The cost of selecting a seat varies depending on the location on the plane.
The airline also outlines specific rules for families. An adult traveling with a child under the age of 12 must reserve a seat and ensure that the children are seated next to an accompanying adult. Infants must sit on an adult’s lap and up to four children per adult on the same booking are allocated free seats.
Known for its simple model and unapologetic online tone, Ryanair’s latest viral moment shows once again how the airline mixes strict policies with sharp humor – often leaving the internet divided between amusement and disbelief.
