‘Thank That Big Idiot’: Ryanair Launches Seat Sale to Mock Elon Musk

Ireland’s low-cost airline Ryanair has escalated its public feud with tech billionaire Elon Musk by launching a special promotional campaign mockingly titled the “Big Idiot Seat Sale.” The airline openly aimed the jibe at Musk, further intensifying an online spat that has unfolded publicly over the past several days.

The controversy took a sharper turn when Ryanair announced the sale on X, posting a caption that read, “Don’t thank us, thank that big idiot, Elon Musk.” The promotion offers 100,000 one-way tickets priced at €16.99 for select European routes, including Basel, Cologne, and Birmingham, with travel available until April.

In another provocative post, the airline added that the discounted seats were “only available for Elon Musk and any other idiots on X,” urging users to book quickly before Musk allegedly snapped one up himself. The messaging, delivered in Ryanair’s trademark irreverent tone, instantly went viral and drew widespread reactions across social media platforms.

The airline also announced that its outspoken CEO, Michael O'Leary, would hold a press briefing to “address or undress” Musk’s comments, accusing the billionaire of having little understanding of airline ownership rules or aviation economics. The post attributed the remarks directly to O’Leary, keeping the feud firmly in the public spotlight.

How the feud began

The dispute began when O’Leary publicly stated that Ryanair had no intention of installing Starlink, Musk’s satellite-based internet service, on its aircraft. He cited concerns about increased fuel costs, reduced aerodynamics due to antenna installation, and higher ticket prices for passengers. O’Leary estimated that adopting the service could add between £200 million and £250 million annually in fuel expenses and raise ticket prices by at least £1 per passenger.

Musk responded sharply, calling O’Leary an idiot and suggesting he should be replaced. The exchange gained further traction when X experienced a global outage shortly after Musk’s remarks, prompting Ryanair to sarcastically ask whether Musk “needed Wi-Fi.”

Musk’s takeover joke and online poll

The feud took an even stranger turn when Musk jokingly suggested that he might buy Ryanair and appoint someone actually named “Ryan” to run the airline—a reference to its co-founder Tony Ryan. He later posted an online poll asking users whether he should proceed with the idea. Nearly one million users participated, with a majority voting in favour, adding fuel to the spectacle.

Ryanair’s latest seat sale now appears to be a calculated response, blending marketing with mockery. While Musk dismissed some of O’Leary’s cost estimates as incorrect, the airline has shown no signs of backing down, choosing instead to lean into the controversy.

More than a joke

Though humorous on the surface, the episode highlights deeper tensions between traditional aviation economics and emerging satellite technologies. Ryanair’s refusal to adopt in-flight satellite internet contrasts with other airlines exploring premium connectivity as a competitive advantage.

For now, the feud remains firmly in the realm of online theatrics, but with two high-profile personalities involved, it continues to draw global attention. Ryanair’s “Big Idiot Seat Sale” signals that the airline is more than willing to turn a corporate spat into viral publicity—and that its war of words with Musk is far from over.