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Easyjet ends fee-free bookings as it now charges for Visa Electron
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No, the issue is that the headline price should include compulsory surcharges well before you reach the buy button. People shouldn't have to "work a fare out" as you put it; the fare should be transparent and inclusive from the beginning.The issue is about finding the cheapest flight and in every case before you press the buy button you KNOW the price.
It`s because of all this whining by people who can`t seem to work a fare out that everyone has now suffered an "admin fee".0 -
The same as theatre tickets etc. ?
Yes, it should apply to them too. I thought something was being done about this too?
Just be honest about the price, is that so hard? If I go into a shop and pick up something labelled £20 I except to pay £20 for it. Not be told "that price only applies if you've got our store card and there's an R in the month".
Why should buying online be any different?0 -
Just be honest about the price, is that so hard? If I go into a shop and pick up something labelled £20 I except to pay £20 for it. Not be told "that price only applies if you've got our store card and there's an R in the month".
Why should buying online be any different?
Completely agree with you - I'd rather we had a transparent system, even if that means that the overall cost is redistributed around and removes the advantage to those who made use of the 'loopholes' of knowing which cards didn't attract fees, etc.
The other route that EasyJet could have taken, of course, would be to include the fees in the headline price but then offer a discount of, lets say, £8 per person for people paying with Visa Electron. The difference there is that the headline price goes up by £8, which makes them look less good against their rivals, which is why they don't want to do it (even if most customers booking a single flight just for themselves would actually pay the stated price +£8 because my guess is that most EasyJet flyers don't have Visa Electron cards).
Transparent pricing is also a benefit in terms of time saved in comparing alternatives, and encouraging stronger price competition by making it harder (in principle) for companies to rely on confusion marketing where price is concerned.The same as theatre tickets etc. ?
Theatre tickets are problematic for this, but the fact that their approach is equally bad doesn't, to my mind, make a credible defence for the position of airlines like EasyJet.
"Everyone else was doing it!" was the outraged defence of MPs found with their snouts in the trough on expenses payments.0 -
Theatre tickets are problematic for this, but the fact that their approach is equally bad doesn't, to my mind, make a credible defence for the position of airlines like EasyJet.
I`m not defending any of them and a more open, straightforward, clear cut pricing system for everything would be better for everyone.
But I`m afraid we live in rip-off Britain where it`s a national game to try and confuse and trick the public to part with their money.
Hence the energy companies having 50 odd different tariffs.
Surely one for gas and one for electricity is all that`s needed.
And what`s the great reply from the energy secretary when confronted by the confusion "I urge people to shop around and switch".
Instead of saying "I`ll sort those fiddling, uncompetative b*stards out".0 -
even if that means that the overall cost is redistributed around and removes the advantage to those who made use of the 'loopholes' of knowing which cards didn't attract fees, etc.
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How can it be a loophole to have a payment card that attracts no fee? It is widely advertised on the various airline sites! The people who do not research or cannot be bothered are the ones who did not get the fee free card.
Me finding the best interest rate loan versus somebody just going for the first one is exploiting a loophole as well?0 -
No, the issue is that the headline price should include compulsory surcharges well before you reach the buy button. People shouldn't have to "work a fare out" as you put it; the fare should be transparent and inclusive from the beginning.
You're right, people shouldn't have to, but the point they were getting at is they have just ruined it for all the people whodo do it.
The only thing that matters to me is that every Easyjet flight I take has now rocketed in price by £9 (I say rocketed as that is generally well over a third of the cost of my flights).
While I share your sentiments that prices should be transparent and upfront, all this achieves is making it more expensive for those who aren't too lazy to compare themselves.Completely agree with you - I'd rather we had a transparent system, even if that means that the overall cost is redistributed around and removes the advantage to those who made use of the 'loopholes' of knowing which cards didn't attract fees, etc.
The other route that EasyJet could have taken, of course, would be to include the fees in the headline price but then offer a discount of, lets say, £8 per person for people paying with Visa Electron. The difference there is that the headline price goes up by £8, which makes them look less good against their rivals, which is why they don't want to do it (even if most customers booking a single flight just for themselves would actually pay the stated price +£8 because my guess is that most EasyJet flyers don't have Visa Electron cards).
Transparent pricing is also a benefit in terms of time saved in comparing alternatives, and encouraging stronger price competition by making it harder (in principle) for companies to rely on confusion marketing where price is concerned.
Theatre tickets are problematic for this, but the fact that their approach is equally bad doesn't, to my mind, make a credible defence for the position of airlines like EasyJet.
"Everyone else was doing it!" was the outraged defence of MPs found with their snouts in the trough on expenses payments.
As someone above said - it isn't a loophole. It is (was) clearly stated on the Easyjet website that you could book for free with Electron cards (as well as on numerous travel websites etc.). And on what basis do you make your "guess"? I can't find it now but I can remember ryanair releasing the statistics on how people paid - and the vast majority used a card with no fee to book.
The crux of the issue for this person, and me, is that in order to placate the lazy, the people who put a modicum of thought into their travel costs lose out.0 -
My guess is easyJet needed to do something to increase revenues and they did this instead of raising fares.
A no frills airline is almost bound to start charging for large overhead locker only hand luggage soon.Posts are not advice and must not be relied upon.0 -
Those people who were previously using non-surcharged payment methods were being subsidised unjustifiably by those who used surcharged payment methods. The only reason this subsidy existed was to enable headline fares to be advertised at lower than their true price. It is fair and reasonable that this practice has come to an end.callum9999 wrote: »You're right, people shouldn't have to, but the point they were getting at is they have just ruined it for all the people whodo do it.
The only thing that matters to me is that every Easyjet flight I take has now rocketed in price by £9 (I say rocketed as that is generally well over a third of the cost of my flights).
While I share your sentiments that prices should be transparent and upfront, all this achieves is making it more expensive for those who aren't too lazy to compare themselves.0 -
callum9999 wrote: »As someone above said - it isn't a loophole. It is (was) clearly stated on the Easyjet website that you could book for free with Electron cards (as well as on numerous travel websites etc.). And on what basis do you make your "guess"? I can't find it now but I can remember ryanair releasing the statistics on how people paid - and the vast majority used a card with no fee to book.
The crux of the issue for this person, and me, is that in order to placate the lazy, the people who put a modicum of thought into their travel costs lose out.
So would you be happy if all retailers jumped on this bandwagon? Imagine if this spread - every single thing you buy has a different payment method which isn't surcharged. Tesco charge a 40% "payment fee" if you don't use a Tesco credit card. Sainsbury's charge 30% if no Nectar card. John Lewis charge 35% if you don't have a Proton card. The barbers only charge their quoted rates if you have a Neutron card. The bus charges 50% extra unless you pay only using 20p pieces. The sandwich bar at work charges 20% if you don't pay in Thai Bhats.
You may be happy to spend your entire life researching the best payment method for every single thing you buy, and be happy to have 100 different cards. But some of us have better things to do.0
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