Madam, - Declan Meagher's letter of April 13th makes a number of inaccurate claims about Ryanair's services.
1. Our charges for checked-in bags and priority boarding are optional. If passengers don't want these services, they don't pay for them.
2. There are three key issues which differentiate Ryanair from Aer Lingus: our fares are half those of Aer Lingus, our punctuality is better and we guarantee no fuel surcharges.
3. Finally, if Mr Meagher prefers the high-fare flights (and fuel surcharges) of flag carriers then that is his right; but he should realise that he is consistently paying three or four times Ryanair's average fare for his so-called "complimentary meal".
We have no doubt that Ryanair's 50 million passengers prefer Ryanair's low fares, our better punctuality and our guarantee of no fuel surcharges. - Yours, etc,
PETER SHERRARD, Head of Communications, Ryanair, Dublin airport.