Ryanair long said publicly they never overbooked, at the same time happily overbooking me.
Turning up at the airport to find the office had booked me the wrong way on a flight (
), the return to Ireland was initially described as fully booked. "Never mind, they never all turn up" was said, and I was sold a high-priced one way ticket just as check-in was opening, never mind closing. Probably a handful of empty seats.
Regarding funds paid well in advance, the days of these being to the advantage of the airline are long passed. Ever since it was held that the credit card companies are liable in case the goods are not supplied, they hold on to the money until there is proof they have been, in the case of airlines that the flight operated. A market of intermediate financial organisations termed Payment Processors has sprung up to handle these transactions.