True — I didn't mean to slight Ayn Rand or her books. But if there ever was an airline where the passenger's success (super-cheap flight versus being horrifically screwed over) is the direct measure of his or her individual skill, effort, and creativity, it's Ryanair.
If anything, I'd say that Southwest has much more in common with Rand's heroes than Ryanair. To stretch this ridiculous comparison further:
Like Southwest, Roark didn't nickel and dime his clients. Rather, he simply pursued his own architectural ideals: simplicity, elegance, form following function -- to hell with everyone else. You can see the same in Southwest. They eliminated the artificial seating charts, standardized the ticket prices, and allowed bags to be checked for free. They simplified logistics, improved the experience, and didn't think twice about bewildering passengers.
