Comment by xandrius
21 hours ago
Either you got used to their evolved dark patterns or you haven't booked with them recently.
I was also Pro-Ryanair: they allowed to see friends and family across Europe with a student budget.
Now, it's an 8-step booking process where you try to figure out what is actually optional and avoidable and what's included in the advertised fare. Depending on the airport, they threaten to charge you if you don't print your boarding pass beforehand. Depending on the flight, they become pretty aggressive in weighing your carry on, mainly to try to catch you out and make an extra 50 euro.
The company went from no frills budget airline to antagonistic and aggro where literally anything is cranked up to 11 to extract value from you.
I used it once since COVID, last year, didn't seem too bad.
Given the mood in the thread, I do indeed think that I may have a high tolerance for such practices and pay careful attention to fine prints. After all, I had all the training while applying for numerous Schengen and other visas, immigration paperwork. After those, dealing with Ryanair that faces at least some competition and scrutiny is not that bad.