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So what's the latest brouhaha?

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has announced standing-room only sections on the budget line's 250-strong fleet. For £5 you could buy yourself a 'vertical seat' on one of its short-haul flights.

How exactly are they planning to do this?

By dispensing with the back ten rows of conventional seats and creating 15 rows of standing stalls.

Is that legal?

The Civil Aviation Authority remains intrigued at how the proposals will meet safety requirements, in particular the law that passengers must wear a seat-belt at take-off and landing and during periods of turbulence. But Ryanair has suggested stools may be involved. And they don't just mean the chief exec.

Has no frills gone too far?

Hidden charges on budget flights have gained notoriety but Ryanair has come up with some particularly inventive suggestions for parting customers from their lolly over the years. The airline recently announced plans to introduce coin-operated loos. As of this summer, it will cost you £1 to spend a penny.

Ah well, in for a penny; in for a pound.

Another proposal that never got off the ground was a 'fat tax', charging extra to those who spill over into neighbouring seats. Even though one third of passengers polled endorsed a levy on the seat-breachingly overweight, the plan was finally scrapped because enforcing it would disrupt check-in and frustrate 25-minute turnarounds.

Brings a whole new meaning to travelling light!

On that note, Ryanair last year streamlined its operation yet further by dispensing with its check-in desks and sacking check-in clerks. The savings are supposed to be passed on to passengers, though those who fail to print their own electronic boarding passes in advance are charged £40 each way for the luxury of getting on the plane.

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