Extra, extra! How airlines will make you pay

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Extra, extra! How airlines will make you pay

Major airlines struggling to maintain profits in the face of stiff competition and rising fuel bills are increasingly looking at sales of non-ticket extras as a way to boost earnings without harming their reputations or alienating customers.

Low-cost pioneers such as US carrier Southwest Airlines and Irish group Ryanair, have been cashing in on such alternative or ancillary revenues since their advent, pushing sales of everything from teddy bears to train tickets, bacon sandwiches to baggage charges.

Extra, extra! How airlines will make you pay

The article above, links to a page by Ryanair on how to avoid the "extra" fees, its a classic read (http://www.ryanair.com/en/notices/gops/110914-AVOID_FEES-EN-GB):

How Do I Avoid Paying Optional Fees?

Here at Ryanair, all of our optional fees are designed to encourage passengers to travel in a low cost way, which enables Ryanair to save costs and pass on these savings through the lowest possible fares to you and your family. So here’s an easy guide on how best to avoid these optional fees:

Administration Fee–is avoidable by paying with Ryanair's free form of payment

UK residents only - Click here to apply for a UK Ryanair Cash Passport
Republic of Ireland residents - Click here to apply for an Irish Cash Passport

Priority Boarding Fee - is avoidable by simply not selecting this service.

Reserved Seating Fee – is avoidable by simply not selecting this service.

Airport Boarding Card Re-issue Fee – is avoidable by simply presenting your online boarding pass at your departure airport.

Checked Baggage Fee - is avoidable by simply travelling with no checked baggage.

Excess Baggage Fee – is avoidable by simply complying with Ryanair’s agreed baggage weight limitations.

Online Check-In Fee – is avoidable by simply purchasing the lowest advertised promotional fare that includes the online check-in fee free of charge.

I note that they fail to mention, you can avoid all the above by simply not flying with Ryanair...

 

[harvyk]

I note that they fail to mention, you can avoid all the above by simply not flying with Ryanair...

Airfare - is avoidable by simply not flying...

 

[medhead]

I like "complying with ryanairs agreed baggage weight limits".

Compliance implies an imposed limit not an agreed limit.


Sent from the Throne

 

[simongr]

Online check in fee??? That has to be the worst possible fee - oh and only avoidable if you book a fare which includes it - so you can't actually avoid it at all...

 

[Mattg]

Wow, Ryanair's "boarding pass re-issue fee" would have to be the most ridiculous charge I have ever seen. AU$93 to print a piece of paper?! You might as well buy the printer!

 

[seanpodge]

Wow, Ryanair's "boarding pass re-issue fee" would have to be the most ridiculous charge I have ever seen. AU$93 to print a piece of paper?! You might as well buy the printer!

I'd say the check in fee is the best/worst one. Thankfully it would never pass muster with the ACCC down here.

 

[JohnK]

It is amazing the Ryanair airfare gets you a seat on the plane. After all a seat should cost extra....

 

[nlagalle]

The tv show Come fly with me (the comedy) sums up Ryanair perfectly when they were showing they had life jackets but you had to pay for them, plus options like priority disembarkation and a whistle.. Swipe your credit card to get the lifejacket!!

 

[harvyk]

Wow, Ryanair's "boarding pass re-issue fee" would have to be the most ridiculous charge I have ever seen. AU$93 to print a piece of paper?! You might as well buy the printer!

Yeah, but then the printer would take you over your weight limit and they'd charge you for that...

It is amazing the Ryanair airfare gets you a seat on the plane. After all a seat should cost extra....

You get the seat with the airfare, but of course there is the mandatory seat belt usage fee. I believe that fee even allows you to unbuckle you seat belt twice (but not three times, that's an extra fee)

 

[Oneworldplus2]

A disgruntled passenger has a blog on Ryanair.
http://www.ihateryanair.org/

 

[burmans]

You have to laugh at the headline that AIRLINES will make you pay and then talk about Ryanair and Southwest. They are at the extreme end of the spectrum and everyone with half a brain knows their charging methodology. If for one am glad there is a Ryanair as they have IMO reduced the overall price of tickets and (very much) differentiated the experience. Have even actually flown them once, 5 pounds from Marseille to Manchester (though yes it was 29 pound with a few extras), not as bad as some make out though not my preferred mode of transport.