Ryanair’s New Online Check In Fee
By Don Nadeau, on March 20, 2009, in Airfares
When various American-owed airlines charge extra for aisle seating, checked bags, etc, that’s very irritating of them, but certainly not deceptive pricing. Checking bags and sitting in certain seats are optional activities that most passengers aren’t required to do.
However, Ryanair, a popular budget carrier in Europe, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, is eliminating airport check in and starting to require that you check in online, with a fee of around $6.50 for this (depending on the exchange rate), which is not included in its “lowest fares guaranteed” advertised prices. This seems to be deceptive pricing. You have to pay the $6.50. It’s not optional.
Ryanair is the same airline whose CEO admitted that it was investigating charging for use of onboard toilets! This would be a very creative, but perhaps not a good business decision.
We applaud Ryanair for being a low fare leader for years. Even with the online check in fee, it still often is. We just hope that the airline maintains an ethical reputation.
