Tonyryan,
I would not attack the people in the sharp-end, never. I just think it must be difficult to stomach some of Mr. O'Leary's B.S. - it seems so frequent nowadays.
I find it ironic that a number of airlines try to imitate Southwest Airlines in terms of operating structure but don't understand that Southwest's CULTURE is really the glue that bonds everything together. I personally know many Southwest pilots who would DIE for Herb Kelleher - he is their hero. The fact remains that this business is inherently a service business, and the "front-line" troops need to provide service commensurate with standards set by other airlines - consumers already have high expectations. Southwest tickets are cheap, but the service levels do not suffer - flight attendants and pilots always seem delightful and cheery and do their best to find ways to accomodate passengers - and go that "extra mile." Southwest, the model for all low-cost carriers, has it all - cheap tickets, profits and happy employees...
O'Leary is a JACKA$$ - that is undeniable. I respect Ryanair pilots, but I also feel somewhat sorry for them because they have to endure O'Leary's repugnant nature....