Ryanair Debit card charge grumble

simongregson

TFD wrote: »

So why do you think they don't charge a handling fee on electron cards?

Because someone has to be able to buy the lowest headline fare, Ryanair have chosen the card type that fewest people have to maximise the fees.

Personally whether legal or not, I find it sharp practice and therefore avoid Ryanair wherever possible. These fees have been hiked up as price comparison sites do not include the card fee.

exel1966

The reason Ryanair don't levy a fee on the Electron card is because they are not permitted to !
All Electron cards have to be fee free as part of the contract with the retailer due to these cards being primarily for those who cannot be accepted for full blown debit cards.

YorkshireBoy

exel1966 wrote: »

The reason Ryanair don't levy a fee on the Electron card is because they are not permitted to !
All Electron cards have to be fee free as part of the contract with the retailer due to these cards being primarily for those who cannot be accepted for full blown debit cards.

If that's the case, then they're going to have to refuse payment by Electron card soon because they seem to be saying, on their website, that they're doing the customer a favour!...

As a special offer to Visa Electron card holders, Ryanair, for a limited period only, will not apply a Debit Card charge.

http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/faqs.php?sect=CHARGES

TFD_2

exel1966 wrote: »

The reason Ryanair don't levy a fee on the Electron card is because they are not permitted to !
All Electron cards have to be fee free as part of the contract with the retailer due to these cards being primarily for those who cannot be accepted for full blown debit cards.

My company accepts electron cards, and there is definitely nothing in our contract to exclude us from charging to take these cards - Amex are the only company that stipulate this.

Backbiter

I think the point being made is that the airline are obliged to offer a fee-free form of payment, in order for their advertised prices to be valid. Otherwise, I think, they'd be breaking the law.
That's why they don't charge for Electron cards (at the moment).
EDIT - Just read exel's post about Electron's no-fee status, which may or may not be the case - I have no idea.

omelette451

Backbiter wrote: »

I think the point being made is that the airline are obliged to offer a fee-free form of payment, in order for their advertised prices to be valid. Otherwise, I think, they'd be breaking the law.That's why they don't charge for Electron cards (at the moment).

I'm not sure whether there's a law about it but you are right in the sense that they do have to include all non-optional fees in the headline fare. I think the 'limited period' stuff is just a get-out clause in case they ever do start charging (as then they could say they planned it all along) but there will always be at least one free way to pay.

Sunday_Morning

I've just paid an additional £30 for my wife and two kids to go to Ireland as a credit charge. Wished I read this first as I would rather have paid the fare plus £25 to anyone with the Visa electron card who would agree to put it through for me!

Actually someone with a Visa electron card could probably make a good living with offering such a service!

It wasn't only that charge that riled me, but also the fact that though I originally had my wife down to carry a bag (and thus pay not only for the bag but also for the obligatory manual check-in), I learned that I would not be able to then have the kids go with the free web check-in no bags option because a separate booking has to be made for those checking in by web. Only I can't have a separate check-in because they are kids!!!! So, had I gone with the bag option, I would have been forced to pay an additional £47!

So they will travel in some discomfort, trying to find space for their carry on bags, not being able to take as much as they wanted over, and waiting to board the plane while the priority passengers get on.

Fair enough to Ryanair. The kids (and their friends at the other end) are looking forward to it so much we didn't want to let them down. But I'm certain the kids experience of it will ensure that they are in no hurry to go back. So Ryanair's is having its last pound of flesh from us.

This is not an airline in my opinion which is cultivating a lasting customer base. I certainly wouldn't buy shares in them...they are one major plane crash away from ruin in my opinion. that's to say while an airline like BA might have a crash, people will still travel with them...Ryanair won't hold on to their customers under a similar circumstance.

It's a shame because I think the continual adding of charges as you go through the process annoys people who would be content to fork out much the same price if it was there at the start of the process. But here's one unhappy customer who didn't really want to travel with them in the first place and has resolved to never do it again.

colinw

I always try to aviod Ryan Air because of all the hidden charges. Much prefer Easyjet and even BA turn out to be cheaper on some routes once you take all of the hidden extras in to account. At least on BA you get a drink and a snack as well. I just feel like Ryan air fleece you.

omelette451

Sunday_Morning wrote: »

they are one major plane crash away from ruin in my opinion. that's to say while an airline like BA might have a crash, people will still travel with them...Ryanair won't hold on to their customers under a similar circumstance.

Indeed. And the budget airlines know it, which is why they pay even more attention to safety than traditional airlines.

dmg24

Sunday_Morning wrote: »

This is not an airline in my opinion which is cultivating a lasting customer base. I certainly wouldn't buy shares in them...they are one major plane crash away from ruin in my opinion. that's to say while an airline like BA might have a crash, people will still travel with them...Ryanair won't hold on to their customers under a similar circumstance.

You are clearly not an economist. Ryanair have one of the strongest business models in the airline industry. Financially speaking, they are a lot more secure than BA.