Airline Charges Rip Off Discussion

PolishBigSpender

MrSmartprice wrote: »

I also stated before that you need to choose battles with O'Leary carefully. He humiliated Watchdog's Nicky Campbell because he got his facts wrong. The campaign should be that all unavoidable charges should be shown in the headline price, as otherwise it is an offence under s20 of the Consumer Protection Act.

And they are. I'm looking at Ryanair's website right now - and I can see this.

1xAdult234.00PLN
Fare: 234.00PLNOnline Check-In: 20.00PLNTaxes / Fees: 69.85PLNTotal Price: 323.85PLN

I know that I'll pay 323.85PLN for a flight from my local airport to Dublin. I can pay 200PLN to get my boarding pass printed at the airport, I can pay 100PLN for a bag, I can pay 40PLN to use my Visa credit card, etc etc - but all these charges are *avoidable*. This information is on the first stage of booking - so what's the problem?

To try to get optional charges (such as Electron) included is not appropriate, and certainly not Moneysaving. So what is the point?

The alternative will be Ryanair scrapping free Electron and introducing per person/per sector card charges.

Incidentally, Visa Electron is the main debit card in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. To say that it's not widely used is quite frankly nonsense - virtually all banks here (except ING) will issue such cards, even for business purposes. Even credit cards in Scandinavia are usually Visa Electron.

I have wondered why there seems to be such a 'downer' on an airline which seems to fit in with moneysaving principles. It has certainly saved me plenty. Is there something we need to be told?

I'm not sure either - given that the website is about 'consumer revenge' - wouldn't it make sense to educate people without the sensationalism?

Martin would be *far* better focusing on BA/Virgin/P&O/Seafrance/etc fuel surcharges, none of which are optional.

bagand96

The alternative will be Ryanair scrapping free Electron and introducing per person/per sector card charges.

I don't see why that should be the case. ALL the airlines should only be allowed to charge a cost that represents what it costs them to process the transaction on whatever particular card you use. In the case of Visa Electron, and Maestro and Visa Debit, this would literally be pence for your cheap Ryanair flights. The per person per sector charging is an absolute nonsense that is just profiteering.

(Disclaimer, this is not just a rant against Ireland's favourite airline, its a rant against all airlines that do it).

Chester85

It must be absolutely infuriating for these forums owners that the worlds loudest PR machine has still yet to even cast a vague glance or word of interest about the MSE anti-low cost crusade

I maintain...someone didn't get to the gate in time and has a cross to bear

lufcgirl

Why is it that it's just Ryanair that needs to get rid of Visa Electron when with every other airline it's the only free method of payment too?!

I think people have it in for Ryanair for no apparent reason...maybe because their Uncle's friends' cousin missed a flight or they didn't get a Visa Electron in time for booking. It's a simple method, prices are displayed all the way through the booking process, you can add or change things as you want. Rather than saying they are ripping people off, which they are not, people should follow the guide on MSE for cheap flights.

Ryanair aren't interested in an internet forums campaign, they love publicity good or bad!

Mark_Hewitt

Yep, that's my take on it too. The full prices are displayed for you to see before you confirm your booking, so it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone!

lufcgirl

I tell you, everyone who doubts anything should go on the Ryanair website and try and book a flight, follow it right through to the payment screen. It tells you everything all the way through. It's no more a rip off than buying anything else online.

cobblersmark

bagand96 wrote: »

I don't see why that should be the case. ALL the airlines should only be allowed to charge a cost that represents what it costs them to process the transaction on whatever particular card you use. In the case of Visa Electron, and Maestro and Visa Debit, this would literally be pence for your cheap Ryanair flights. The per person per sector charging is an absolute nonsense that is just profiteering.

(Disclaimer, this is not just a rant against Ireland's favourite airline, its a rant against all airlines that do it).

Surely it doesn't cost £5 per trip in costs to process a transaction on Visa though? And it is per trip not tranasction! Many companies will charge you a percentage of the cost not a fixed fee. If you book a trip of 4 people travelling out and back, the cost of processing a Visa payment will not amount to £40! That in my eyes is a rip off.

This charge is the same as booking fees on event tickets which I also think is a rip off.

As for seeing the price as you go, that is perfectly acceptable. It is just a bit of a case of misleading advertising. When I get an email saying "free flights" I don't normally fly for nothing. Then again, I am clever enough to work out that they are not going to be free.

Moonchild

cobblersmark wrote: »

Surely it doesn't cost £5 per trip in costs to process a transaction on Visa though? And it is per trip not tranasction! Many companies will charge you a percentage of the cost not a fixed fee.

That's completely correct, i'm sure Ryanair have negotiated exceptionally low charges for all debit and credit cards.

However, I have heard O'Leary catagorically and clearly state that these are Ryanair Charges, not Merchant Account charges. Like it or lump it, he's always clear.

FannyHill

I read that Ryanair are increasing their charges for checkin luggage.

..............
Passengers on Europe’s biggest airline face another financial shock from next month: a fee of £100 for checking in two bags at the airport for a one-way flight.
Ryanair today announced a sharp increase in charges for checked luggage for bookings made from 1 October. The cost of checking in one case, weighing a maximum of 15kg, rises from £20 to £30. For passengers wishing to check in a second 15kg bag, the fee is £70. These charges are halved when booked in advance online – but even then, a family of four taking two bags each for a Mediterranean holiday will pay £400 in fees for the round trip.
..............

The airline currently charges £10 for the first bag checked in online, and £20 for the second; the two together must not weigh more than 15kg. These fees are doubled if paid at the airport.
.................


That bit puzzles me ???

Can you now with the higher fees take two bags both weighing up to 15 kg each ????

PolishBigSpender

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/price-hike-for-luggage-on-ryanair-flights-1781936.html

Do many families of four take 2 suitcases each when going on holiday, especially as 15kg usually fits comfortably inside 1 case?

This kind of 'journalism' drives me mad - it's highly unlikely that an average family will take 8 cases for a holiday! I read the UK Independent, but this just comes across as yet another jealous bitter attack on Ryanair for not needing to resort to not paying staff/etc.

As for the rationale behind it - seems quite sensible to me. It's discouraging the use of the hold even more, yet the option is still there for people who MUST HAVE MORE LUGGAGE.