Living on an island, technology has enhanced the travel experience and opened up so many possibilities and options. Before the internet, Irish people didnt really travel that much. It was only in the 1980's that international travel became mainstream but it was limited to package holidays to Spain or the big blow out trip to Orlando. Travel between Ireland and UK was seen mainly as a way to visit family or go to England for work.
Yeah no doubt Ryan Air changed travel in Europe for the better. Everyone complains about them and then books with them. Honesty they are no better or worse than what Aer Lingus has become.
I remember paying 300 pounds each to go to London from Dublin - they best you could hope for was 70 some odd pounds each way on a student fare. So yes that has improved a lot.
Aer Lingus had (and sort of still does with the US for the most part) a monopoly so they could charge anything they wanted and you paid it. The staff is not anything like their commercials they are running on you tube currently - they gave us an attitude for asking for a glass of water one time because they were on break. Never seen them offer anyone Ice Cream or offer to help with your bags - more often I get on the plane and their luggage is filling my overhead bin space. They basically go on break for most of the flight after "meal" service. At least the Ryan Air folks are constantly trying to sell you something...
All that said in the US it was far better in the "old" days - none of this showing up 3 hours before your flight and dealing with security who does not even know seem to know what an camera is. Those lenses always mess them up for some reason and its at the point I don't want to carry it unless I have precheck. TSA Precheck is great - but Aer Lingus does not participate - one the the few. I tend to fly elsewhere in Europe and then go to Dublin (on Ryan Air) and fly home from Dublin with Aer Lingus since they have customs there - another great improvement.
Clear is also very good if you fly from a terminal that has it - and yes you can use it with Pre Check - you go to the front of pre-check after going through clear. So another Technology improvement.
I do miss being able to go to the airport bar with people that were going home - you could stay till the flight left - now they have to go through security and just go and hang out alone for a few hours in the airport. That is especially bad when they are upset because they have to go and it may be a year or two before they get back.
I miss the skycaps - lots of places no longer have them.
Being able to wait to pick people up at the airport - cant do that anymore. Technology wise the new Cell Phone lots are great but not as convenient as just being there when folks come out.
Not being able to bring water or liquids on the plane over 3oz - I miss that.
The assigned seating is not an issue for me as I refuse to fly any airline that you cant pay for an assigned seat.
I've done the Ryan Air one or twice back before they let you buy seats in advance and even with priority it was always a mob scene. Never again.
Anyway as with many things there are pluses and minuses - but much of TSA and security is theater IMO. Makes you feel good but the miss a lot. They seem to constantly change things - one day they want to scan your laptop and kindle - the next day they yell at you for having it out.
Anyway In testing they miss stuff all the time - its pretty well documented - it just makes some folks feel good.
Just as an example I had a small knife in my bag (a wine opener) - not even noticed in Austria. Got to London and had to change places and go through security and security was sure there was something in my bag - I thought there was not. Finally after 10 minutes of searching he found the wine opener and confiscated it. I honesty did not even think of it with that tiny blade. So in that case a 50% success rate.
BTW - one time the confiscated my kids Bob the builder butter knife - he was in tears - but they let him keep the spoon and fork. I could do far more with those than the dull butter knife so really what is the point other than no knives. I had a women on my flight last week with knitting needles - those are a dangerous weapon IMO.