10 November 2008

Airlines only 'partially' adopting pricing rules

Some airlines have only partically adopted new EU regulations which were designed to provide price transparency.

The claim comes from What Consumer, a UK consumer portal providing information on consumer rights and forums.

A study by the organisation found that although taxes and fees are now included in advertised prices, it is never the price passengers end up paying.

What Consumer also found that optional ââ¬Ëœextrasââ¬â¢ such as priority boarding, baggage and insurance were still routinely included as standard, rather than on an opt-in basis as per the new regulations.

What Consumer legal consultant Catriona Bright said: "Airlines will always quote the cheapest possible fare available at some point during the dates specified ââ¬' chances are that this price will not be available on the day you want to fly.

ââ¬ÅâœIn addition to this, fares quoted are one-way, which is just as unrealistic as youââ¬â¢ll probably want to come back at some point.ââ¬~

She added: ââ¬ÅâœUnfortunately for consumers, the inclusion of taxes and surcharges does not cover the controversial payment handling fees, which most airlines charge for debit as well as credit cards. In the case of Ryanair, this is currently Ã&#pound;4 per adult, per one-way flight.ââ¬~

Comparative data (source, What Consumer):

Ryanair
Debit/credit card charges (per adult fare, per one-way flight): Ã&#pound;4
Seat allocation/priority boarding (per one-way flight): Ã&#pound;6
Airport check in (per one-way flight): Ã&#pound;4
Checked baggage (per bag, per one way flight): Ã&#pound;8.00
Infant fee (per infant per one way flight): Ã&#pound;16
Sport equipment/musical instrument (per item per one way flight): Ã&#pound;25
Call centre charges: 10p per minute

Easyjet
Debit/credit card charges: Ã&#pound;1.75/Ã&#pound;4.95
Seat allocation/priority boarding (per one-way flight): Ã&#pound;4
Airport check-in: N/A
Checked baggage (per bag per one way flight): Ã&#pound;7.50
Infant fee (per infant per one way flight): Ã&#pound;10
Sport equipment (per item per one way flight): Ã&#pound;16.50

Call centre charges: 65p per minute

BMIbaby
Debit/credit card charges: Ã&#pound;5 / Ã&#pound;7
Seat allocation / priority boarding (per one-way flight): Ã&#pound;5.99
Airport check in (per one-way flight): Ã&#pound;3.99
Checked baggage (per bag per one-way flight): Ã&#pound;7.99
Infant fee (per infant per one-way flight): Ã&#pound;15.00
Sport equipment/musical instrument (per item per one way flight): Ã&#pound;17.99-Ã&#pound;24.99
Call centre charges: 10p per minute

by Phil Davies

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• One way fares are wonderful
  
  

  I agree with most of the comments from Catriona Bright, but her complaint that only one-way fares are quoted is ridiculous. If the no-frills airlines had done nothing else to widen the market, their system of pricing return fares at twice one way finally dispelled the dishonesty and stranglehold of the old IATA pricing system which is still retained at least in part by many scheduled airlines including BA. The extra freedom of being able to travel out by car or train and back by air has vastly expanded the market, made all kinds of journeys easier and cheaper and allowed the expansion of a whole category of exciting open-jaw based holidays with flights out one city and back from another, perhaps in a different country. Sorry, but Catriona's comment indicates a shameful ignorance.

  By Colin Murison Small, Tuesday, November 11, 2008