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Ryanair and Aerlingus have been in fierce competition for some time now. Too fierce, according to the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland, which just ruled against both carriers.

Ryanair got slapped pretty hard, for advertising "Easter Specials," that ran from April 28 through June 14. Easter was April 20; the low "Easter" fares didn't include Easter.

Oops.

Ryanair was also hit for saying in some of its ads, "Aer Lingus ripped you off and they still do."

Aer Lingus objected to that characterization, noting that Ryanair's "comparison" fares looked very high, compared to the fares the airline was actually charging. Ryanair countered that the fares it used were quoted from Aer Lingus' annual report.

The ASAI ruled against Ryanair on that count, too, saying the Aer Lingus fares quoted in the ad were misleading, and that the charge of 'ripping off' travelers was "denigrating and unjustifiable."

Then, Aer Lingus got smacked.

One of its ads that boasted "the cheapest Aer Lingus fares each way" didn't jibe with one complainant's claim that the seat his daughter bought to Boston was a hundred Euros more-expensive than the one she was sitting next to...

The ASAI ruled the Aer Lingus ad, "misleading."

FMI: www.ryanair.ie; www.aerlingus.ie