Not sure why a discussion about subsidies [or not] would cause you concerns about flying with them? NickB and myself "hate" them because of business practices. My wife, kids, and both our parents fly them a couple times a year. I refuse to out of principle.

What concern do you have, exactly? Ryanair isn't going anywhere soon, if that's what you're worried about..

Pretty much the same here. My partner flies with them every now and then but I too will not fly with them as a matter of principle, except when there is no reasonable alternative.

I would not, however, have any "worry" as such flying with them. It is just that it makes me feel morally "dirty", so to speak.

But in many cases the subvention comes from sources outside the airport, and shouldn't really be lumped under "airport subsidies". Regional and national tourism promoters may feel that paying an airline for delivering tourists to their patch is a rational and efficient use of cash raised through taxation or from their members. There's no point rehearsing here the arguments supporting the economic stimulation provided by air transport.

The conditions you refer to apply to an airport's structuring of an incentive scheme to attract new carriers and/or promote new routes. That a regional tourist authority bungs FR a couple of euros for each passenger it brings to its airports, or gives the airline a wadge of cash to assist in marketing its services to those airports - well, that's another story.

What specifically are you concerned about? Aer Lingus and Ryanair are the only airlines on that route. Which will suit you more depends on your requirements.

Main concern was reliability and making sure that I understand ahead of time requirements if we fly Ryanair. From reading the other threads, sounded like they are apt to cancel and flight and leave you hanging?
Looks like main requirements that must be followed are On line check in and proper baggage requirements.

They would be flying out of Dublin on August 21 on points so did not want to miss that flight. Im thinking best option might be to fly back to Dublin on August 20th?

Is Aer Lingus any better? Flight from Dub-Boston will be on Aer Lingus.

If you are connecting from BOS-DUB-EDI, it would be strongly advisable to book Aer Lingus as they will transfer bags at DUB. FR and EI use different terminals at DUB so if you were transferring yourself there, it would be rather tiresome. EI will also honour your transatlantic baggage allowance, whereas FR would require you to pay baggage fees.

If you book EI on the 21st and misconnect, I don't quite know how they'd handle it on separate tickets. You would be at risk of being boned. So do book the night before and stay at the airport. I normally recommend the Hilton although it's not on the airport campus; the Radisson and Clarion are the only hotels genuinely at the airport.

FR is very reliable these days and generally very punctual. They don't cancel flights at random anymore because they'd have to pay EU compensation of �250 per pax or more. However, any failure to meet any of their arbitrary conditions results in swingeing surcharges (think Spirit). This includes strictly one item of hand luggage (and they really do mean one; there is absolutely zero acceptance of a personal item, whether it is a handbag, camera, shopping, or otherwise), which must fit the sizer (which is marginally smaller than many other airlines) and weigh under 10kg (not as carefully enforced). Failing to check in online also carries a penalty charge, as does failing to have your boarding pass stamped by their passport checker if it's a non-European passport. If you're late to the gate you're liable to be offloaded and be charged a walk-up fare for the next flight.