Easyjet ends fee-free bookings as it now charges for Visa Electron

callum9999

The_Groat_Counter wrote: »

Like I said in that other thread, it'd be far preferable if easyJet just operated a straightforward policy of what you see is what you'll pay - if a flight shows up as costing £29.99, then one should be able to buy it for that price using a debit card, full stop. And if the price of all flights would have to go up a bit to cover lost revenues from the charge being abolished, then so be it.

Go on easyJet, why not just be honest and upfront about it all - it'd only enhance your reputation.

I think the trouble is that reputation isn't strictly important in this area of the market - just brand awareness. There isn't really any reason at all to be brand-loyal, they are more or less the same. I just choose the cheapest option from any of the airlines and go with them - though this makes Easyjet £9 more expensive than they were for me a couple of days ago, so any chance I would fly with them has instantly become lower.

The_Groat_Counter

jamesbrownontheroad wrote: »

The problem is that Easyjet is attempting to stay ahead of the curve on this one, by referring to the £9/€11 fee as an "admin fee" - effectively distancing it from the cost of handling a debit or credit card transaction and labelling it as a cost incurred in the general administration of the sale. This makes it difficult for the EU legislation to apply, because the charge is not linked to a single traceable transaction cost that the banks might charge Easyjet.

Is that perhaps why it's called an 'admin fee' rather than a 'booking fee' (which is a question I posed upthread)?

If an airline makes most of its sales online (as easyJet do), then the idea there should be a separate 'administration fee' for processing sales is just a bit absurd - the administration involved in making a sale is after all an integral part of their overall business.

callum9999

The_Groat_Counter wrote: »

Is that perhaps why it's called an 'admin fee' rather than a 'booking fee' (which is a question I posed upthread)?

If an airline makes most of its sales online (as easyJet do), then the idea there should be a separate 'administration fee' for processing sales is just a bit absurd - the administration involved in making a sale is after all an integral part of their overall business.

No it's completely irrelevent what the fee is called, it's what the fee is for that matters. Simply keeping the "booking fee" name while removing any direct link to payment method would have been enough - I have no idea why they have changed the terminology though.

I fully agree with the second paragraph. Where they are avoidable like with Ryanair etc. (even though they are now pushing it to the extreme of acceptability!) fair enough, but any compulsory charge should be loaded into the flight cost. Same with Ryanairs absolutely ridiculous check-in charge! Why on earth separate that cost out from the main fare (to their credit, they include it in all advertisements) - maybe some sort of tax loophole?

2010

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) calculated that travellers spent £300m on card surcharges in the airline industry alone in 2010.

Now travellers will have to spend £300m a year on "admin fees" instead.
Or probably more.

No money saved just called something else.

NFH

2010 wrote: »

Now travellers will have to spend £300m a year on "admin fees" instead.
Or probably more.

No money saved just called something else.

It's not about saving money. It's about prices being transparent and inclusive. The airlines will receive the same aggregate revenue, but travellers will be able to make more informed decisions based on clear prices.

SaveTheEuro

NFH wrote: »

It's about prices being transparent and inclusive.

Anything but on the easy jet app. The admin fee is added at the last stage just as payment is about to be taken.

BoGoF

It's just like what was predicted when the OFT announcement was made......everyone will have to pay extra and those previously 'savvy' people lose out.

zagfles

SaveTheEuro wrote: »

Anything but on the easy jet app. The admin fee is added at the last stage just as payment is about to be taken.

No it isn't. It's added as soon as you've selected your flights. Before choosing options (baggage etc).

budgetflyer

In the Soviet Republic of Britain, the weak and lazy benefit, and the hard working and diligent pay for them.

SaveTheEuro

zagfles wrote: »

No it isn't. It's added as soon as you've selected your flights. Before choosing options (baggage etc).

Not true. It appears on page 6 of the app just as payment is requested.