Ryanair check-in fee starts today....is it legal?

valiant

The Ryanair thread is getting unwieldy. In any case, this post is neither a comment nor feedback.

The compulsory Ryanair check-in fee of £5 each way, is supposed to be levied on all 'regular fare' bookings made from today, except 'promotional' fares.

The legal issue here is that this check-in fee is compulsory. It's not like the credit card fee (for example) where, technically, you can avoid it by using an Electron card. That means that Ryanair run the risk of falling foul of advertising legislation.

I've been to the website this morning and went through the booking process for a 'regular fare' and nowhere does it make it plain that the check-in fare is compulsory. Has anyone booked a 'regular fare' today at the advertised price, and then did online check-in (without checked luggage) and been charged ? If you have then you might consider making a complaint to the Office of Fair Trading.

spiro

Because you dont pay it on 'promotional fares' they can probably get away with it because it doesnt apply to every flight.

alanrowell

It isn't a check-in fee - it's a fee for printing your boarding card at home.

But in any case it can be avoided by booking a promotional fare.

The question is - how few promotional fares do Ryanair have to offer on the route for it to be "valid"?

One, Five, Five thousand....

valiant

spiro wrote: »

Because you dont pay it on 'promotional fares' they can probably get away with it because it doesnt apply to every flight.

That's not the case. It's very simple; if you see a flight advertised at a specific headline price then it must be possible to fly at that price.

ray123

Lucky I booked my tickets last week, with an electron card as well!
Seems like they are trying to fleece the consumer for as much as possible!
If after all these extra fees are incorporated, ryanair is still the cheapest, you cannot really complain.

djgandy

Where do you pay this fee? I take it it is done when you pay for the fight?
I cannot see any mention of it on ryanair's site, the fee is only mentioned for 'checked baggage'

sturll

It's a rip off.

djgandy

sturll wrote: »

It's a rip off.

Thanks for your constructive opinion.

valiant

djgandy wrote: »

Where do you pay this fee? I take it it is done when you pay for the fight?
I cannot see any mention of it on ryanair's site, the fee is only mentioned for 'checked baggage'

From Ryanair themselves:

http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=09&month=may&story=gen-en-130509

That is ambiguous (typical of Ryanair) as to whether it includes those without checked baggage, but articles in the media are less ambiguous:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/4985694/UK-fliers-pay-more-for-Ryanair-check-in.html

sturll

djgandy wrote: »

Thanks for your constructive opinion.

Anytime

Budner

I dislike them, but have to admit Ryanair is one of the best run companies in Europe. I think they would've investigated the legality before they did this