Airline card fees rise 600%

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Re: Airline card fees rise 600%

Airline card fees rise 600%

Friday, 17 Jul 2009 15:18


The cost of using a debit card to buy airline tickets online has increased by 600 per cent in 18 months.

The worst offender was Ryanair – increasing fees from 70p to £5 per person each way.

This means a couple on a return trip could pay £20 for paying with Ryanair.

Flying with Wizz now costs 471 per cent more to use a debit card to pay for a flight 18 months ago – going up from 70p per person each way to £4 per person each way.

Thomas Cook UK now charges £10 per booking for using a debit card and First Choice customers pay £2.50, when 18 months ago neither airline levied a charge.

However, Which? Holiday found some charges dropping.

BmiBaby no longer charges for debit card payment, whereas 18 months ago it was a one per cent charge.

Virgin Atlantic, meanwhile, has changed its policy to charge 1.3 per cent of the total booking for credit card payments, instead of £3 per person.

“We understand that there is a charge to airlines for taking payment for flights with debit or credit cards and that this cost will be passed on to consumers,” said Lorna Cowan, editor or Which? Holiday.

“But how can some of these airlines justify charging over 600 per cent more than they did 18 months ago?

“The amount charged by the airlines should be reflective of the costs incurred by them.

“This does not appear to be the case with current charges, and we are concerned that airlines may be using them as a way of boosting profits.”

First Choice, easyjet, Flybe, Jet2, Monarch, Ryanair and Thomson Airways do not charge for using Visa Electron.

British Airways (BA) does not charge for using a debit card to pay for flights.

A spokesperson for Ryanair said customers can avoid paying card fees by using a Visa Electron card, and 20 million passengers did so each year.

"It is all about personal choice. Passengers can avoid fees by using Visa Electron or not booking.

"Passengers are not kept up at night worrying about credit card fees."

He added Ryanair's higher fees covered the overheads of creating a secure website and other overheads.

"BA says it doesn't charge fees, but it is all factored into the fare, the same with the coffee and newspapers they offer," he said.

He added the airline in the business of selling seats, and people can travel for a €5 seat if they pay with a Visa Electron and take no luggage for the hold.