Michael O’Leary was charged for “extra legroom” in an Irish restaurant.Credit: Luvida Restaurant, collage by EWN
Michael O’Leary, the notorious CEO of budget airline Ryanair, is famous for charging customers for just about everything.
Extra legroom, priority boarding, hand luggage, window seats, actually any seats, everything.
But during a recent dinner outing, he was the one hit with the hidden fees. And of course, people online are loving it.
Michael O’Leary was hit with a charge for ‘extra legroom’ – at dinner
The aviation boss dined at Luvida, a popular restaurant in Navan, County Meath, Ireland, on March 21.
O’Leary enjoyed a full meal: prawns, mushroom toast, sea bass, and wine. But when the bill came, something didn’t quite add up. Literally.
The total was €142.30, but nearly a quarter of that came from curious “extras” that weren’t on the menu.
As it turns out, the restaurant decided to play a cheeky joke on one of Ireland’s most infamous cost-cutters. They issued a fake itemised bill — complete with “optional charges” that bore a strange resemblance to Ryanair’s own controversial add-ons.
The breakdown? €7.95 for “extra legroom,” €9.95 for a “priority seat,” and €19.95 for a “quiet area reservation.” To top it all off, the bill was labelled “Terminal 1.”
“It was a pleasure to host you!”
The restaurant later shared the prank on their Facebook, posting a photo of the bill and thanking O’Leary for dining with them. “It was a pleasure to host you,” they wrote. “Hope you don’t mind us adding some.”
Michael O’Leary, known for his tough-love approach to customer service that made Ryanair’s unofficial slogan: “You want comfort? Fly someone else”, reportedly took it in stride.
Still, social media users couldn’t resist pointing out the irony. The viral moment has struck a chord, especially among travellers who have long grumbled about Ryanair’s policy of charging for nearly everything beyond the ticket itself.
One commenter said: “Very good. Hope his meal was on time.” Another one joked, “I hope you charged him for using the toilet.”
O’Leary, 64, has been CEO of Ryanair for over three decades and helped build the airline into Europe’s largest low-cost carrier. Under his leadership, the airline has become infamous for its no-frills approach and relentless cost-cutting.
