BOOKING A SEAT on a Ryanair flight has just got more expensive – but the budget airline says the increases are not its choice or fault.
Customers will now pay a 2 per cent credit card fee, as well as the usual €6 admin booking charge on each ticket.
In a highly-critical statement this morning, the company said it was disappointed with a decision by the Office of Fair Trade on credit card fees, which means higher prices for passengers.
The OFT have made it illegal to add card charges at the end of a booking process. It also said that all cards should be treated equally – as if they were cash payments.
Spokesperson Stephen McNamara invited the office to now “pay these fees on the consumers’ behalf”.
“Ryanair is disappointed, but not surprised, by the OFT’s attempt to distance themselves from their anti-consumer rulings,” he added. “Before the OFT imposed these baseless changes, airlines could partner with card providers to allow their cardholders the exclusive advantage of avoiding such fees.”
The 2 per cent fee can still be avoided, however, by using debit cards or German ELV transfer.
The second administration charge of €6 will continue to be applied to all bookings from today. Ryanair said this is to cover costs associated with its website.
From 1 February 2013, this charge will be subsumed into higher ticket prices. The lowest cost flight available on a Ryanair schedule will then be €22 instead of €16.
More: Ryanair comes onto customers via website>
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