RE:
I'm guessing a working-class family from Northern Ireland could only afford to travel Ryanair. I think that despite their pronouncements they are not that cheap and should have refunded the fares in this exceptional case. The principle of caveat emptor still applies but realistically would you expect a poor family to fly BA? I don't fly Ryanair because of the sort of clientelle it attracts (weekend away drunks). I earn enough money to fly with whichever airline I want. However not all people do.