Ryans fly free

Virgin Express and Ryanair are giving free flights to people named Ryan.

Published May 3, 2000 4:00PM (EDT)

Meg Ryan, Ryan O'Neal, Brian Ryan O'Ryan. If your first, middle or last name is Ryan, you might want to consider a trip to the U.K. this month.

According to a BBC report, budget airlines Ryanair and Virgin Express are battling over passengers -- and the result is two separate promotions that offer free flights to anybody called Ryan.

That's right, Ryan -- free flights for you. Virgin, which started the promotions, is offering complimentary flights from Ireland's Shannon Airport to London's Gatwick Airport between May 4 and May 14. Not to be outdone, Irish airline Ryanair is offering persons named Ryan -- and one friend of his or her choice -- free flights between Shannon and London's Stansted Airport through May 24.

So hurry up, Ryans and friends of Ryans -- tickets are going fast. "There has been huge demand," a Ryanair spokeswoman told the BBC. "There are a lot of Ryans out there."

A Virgin Express spokeswoman agreed. "There are an amazing amount of Ryans in Ireland," she said.

To receive their free flight, Ryans need to show up with identification, of course.


By J.A. Getzlaff

J.A. Getzlaff's Daily Planet appears every weekday. Do you have a tip or tale for J.A.? Send it to DailyPlanet@salon.com.

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