As we are frequent flyers with Ryanair from Liverpool to Ireland, my wife Maria was worried about stories of airlines carrying only the minimum of fuel to cut costs.

Let me make clear that I have no argument with Ryanair. They are invariably on time and our flight is never more than 50 minutes. It's less coming back from Ireland because of the tail wind.

As long as you read and understand the small print when you book online, there should be no need for an unpleasant experience. You soon get used to how stringently the rules are enforced over the size of your carry on luggage.

In any case, I have never expected any journey involving airports and aircraft to be particularly pleasant. They are trials of patience and stamina. They are not part of a holiday. Try a three hour stop over in Chicago's O'Hare airport for fun.

But it has to be said that Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary does go looking for publicity with bizarre ideas at time that, when you think about them, you can imagine might come to pass sometime in the future.

Like standing room only at the rear for a reduced feed. Or charging £1 to use the loo. Or making overweight passengers pay more.

“I wouldn't be surprised,” said Maria, “if the next time we booked there was another instruction. All passengers wishing to fly Ryanair should bring with them a gallon can of petrol for the plane.”

Shhh. Don't give him any ideas. He might just do it.