They are Europes largest low cost airline - the equivalent of Southwest in the US. They seem to be very profitable also - very popular on the stock exchange.

Low frills service- no seat allocation, no free drinks, no FF programme. That said there in-flight service is not really very different from BA, Aer Lingus on European routes in coach, IMHO.

When I last used a FF award to fly within Europe the taxes were £30 and I then found out buying a regular ticket with Ryanair would have cost less. Never use FF awards within Europe.

They have great punctuality records - they close and walk away from check in at the half hour mark (EI has started copying this) and I for one am happy with this.

The fare you quoted actually seems high - you should be able to beat it on their own web site.

And finally they use what were once called secondary airports - Frankfurt will be Frankfurt Han not Frankfurt International.

Thankfully,they don't use London Heathrow (possibly London's worst airport) - they use Stansted which is worth the journey just to enjoy the award winnning airport building.