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RYANAIR PASSENGERS already pay for food, luggage, wheelchairs and sports equipment. But now they will have to pay just to get on the plane.
Customers of Europe’s largest low-budget airline will soon be charged four pounds sterling per return flight to check in at airport desks. The new charge, which will be introduced on September 20, comes on top of the 10 pounds sterling it costs to put a single bag in the hold.
Ryanair claims that the charge had been brought in to limit queues and lighten plane loads. It said that check-in would be free for passengers who travel with one
 ‘Ryanair claims that the charge had been brought in to limit queues and lighten plane loads’ |
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piece of hand luggage only and register for their flight online. Baggage-free fliers who check in online will be able to go straight to security checks and bypass queues at Ryanair check-in desks.
The airport check-in charge is a ground-breaking tactic and there are fears that other airlines could adopt it if it proves a success. However, easyJet said it had no plans to introduce the charge.
A Ryanair spokesperson said: “The idea is not to make more money from this. We want passengers to use our web check-in facility in far greater numbers and check-in fewer bags. The fees are entirely avoidable”.
Airlines have come under attack recently for hiding costs from customers by failing to display the full price of tickets on their websites. Earlier this month, the Office of Fair Trading ordered 13 airlines, including Ryanair and easyJet, to include all extra charges in their prices upfront. Consumer groups have complained that websites list the lowest possible fare at the beginning before adding in hefty charges and taxes.
