To print this page, select "Print" from the File menu of your browser salon.com > Travel May 3, 2000 URL: http://www.salon.com/travel/planet/2000/05/03/ryan Ryans fly free Virgin Express and Ryanair are giving free flights to people named Ryan. - - - - - - - - - - - - By J.A. Getzlaff 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. salon.com | May 3, 2000   - - - - - - - - - - - - About the writer 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.