MSE News: Ryanair to charge for Visa Electron bookings

MyUtopia_2

jammin wrote: »

Newry is not in Ireland.

[runs for cover!]..

-Laugh- Was trying to be diplomatic but failed (I said 'on Ireland', as in the Island) but either way not very handy for people not in the Republic of Ireland or in Northern Ireland.

jammin_2

MyUtopia wrote: »

-Laugh- Was trying to be diplomatic but failed (I said 'on Ireland', as in the Island)

I did notice that actually, fair play.

jadesarah1

Has any one considered these for avoiding Ryanairs charges? Netx prepayment mastercard.

d.e.hill

Are we any further to deciding the best card to get?

I think I'm pretty representitive of the masses when I say I want:
-a card which doesn't attract Ryanair's extra fees
-no sign up charge
-no charge for use
-no charge to top up
-easy to top up (free bank transfer would be lovely)
-no complications of booking in Euros or Rand or standing on my head, etc.

Basically, I want all the things my Electron card currently offers.

As I see it, if I use my card to book flights a couple of months ahead of schedule and my Electron card can be used until the end of December, I won't need a new card until Feb/Mar 2010. The question is that if my ideal card is not available now, will some smart bank cotton on to the demand and make it available before then?

Even if the bank won't make any money from the card itself, having a captive audience keeping a load of "flight only" cash with you has got to be an incentive.

I fly back on forward to my family in N. Ireland regularly and whilst I think Ryanair's methods of business are dodgy (at best), the sad truth is that I will continue to fly with whoever offers the best value option. Including card charges.

benjus

jadesarah1 wrote: »

Has any one considered these for avoiding Ryanairs charges? Netx prepayment mastercard.

I signed up for an Express account yesterday and I'm currently trying to get it upgraded to an extended account (I had to send photos or scans of ID documents). Once I've done that I should be able to get a prepaid Mastercard. I haven't had to pay anything yet, and I can't see any charges listed on the website.

lufcgirl

I'm still going for the prepaid Mastercard from the Quays shopping centre in Newry. Obviously it's hard for anyone who doesn't live there but it's worth checking out your local shopping centres to see if they offer one.

I'm going to stick £100 on it, and it's valid for 12 months and I pay £1 activation fee. And a small charge for each transaction. Considering most of the flights I buy cost no more than £10 return it's a bargain for me, and I can just buy another next time I need more.

We got one today and put £5 on it to test to see if it goes through with Ryanair and it does as the free payment method.

Royalman

Utility Warehouse do a pre-paid Mastercard, it costs £9.99 but you also get a discount at a number of high street stores including Sainsburys, Debenhams, Argos, Currys and Halfords in the form of cashback against your utility bills with them.

Details are on their website :j:j

jammin_2

Is this Mastcard Debit card considered the same as a Mastercard prepaid card, for Ryanair purposes, or not?
http://www.cbonline.co.uk/personal/current-accounts/debit-card/debit-card

lufcgirl

jammin wrote: »

Is this Mastcard Debit card considered the same as a Mastercard prepaid card, for Ryanair purposes, or not?
http://www.cbonline.co.uk/personal/current-accounts/debit-card/debit-card

Can you call them, and then ask what the cards first four digits are, then try to find out somehow if it's an accepted prepaid Mastercard?

I'm struggling, with so many different types of card out there, which one Ryanair deems acceptable now. I think it's a ploy to get everyone to get Ryanair's own!

JPD23

benjus wrote: »

I signed up for an Express account yesterday and I'm currently trying to get it upgraded to an extended account (I had to send photos or scans of ID documents). Once I've done that I should be able to get a prepaid Mastercard. I haven't had to pay anything yet, and I can't see any charges listed on the website.

I've done this today too.

Looks like you have to pay to top the card up via debit or credit card, but possibly not via a bank (it says "your bank may charge!") My hope it they will give a sort code and account number plus a reference number so I can just do a BACS/faster payment straight from my online banking rather than actually have to go into a branch and them charge me?!

https://www.neteller.com/deposit/index.jsf