Amazing how whenever this subject comes up it is always Ryanair who gets the flak. Doesn't the Regulator or any other "money expert" know that many other airlines including EI and BMI also charge these fees. Don't know about BMI but last time I flew EI there was, unlike Ryanair, no option to avoid the fees but please correct me if this has changed.
Aer Lingus have Visa Electron as their free option although they'll have to change that soon enough as Visa Electrons are disappearing. Knowing Aer Lingus though, as long as a few are still floating around they'll keep it as their only free option until they are probably forced to offer a new alternative. And all Aer Lingus advertised flights exclude the handling fee of course.