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From Times Online

May 20, 2008

Ryanair finds another charge

Previously, passengers who checked-in online with hand baggage had priority boarding for free. No longer....

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Steve Keenan

The Irish airline insists it is still driving down fares - but it has also found another new way to add charges to the ticket price.

Passengers who previously checked-in online with hand baggage only were allowed priority boarding. But as of yesterday, they will now have to pay an extra £4.

The charge is the latest in a long line that Ryanair has dreamed up in the past six years. They include charges for paying by credit card, for checking-in at the airport and for checking in luggage.

Opt-out insurance and onboard scratch cards are others and, in future, charges for using mobile phones inflight will be added. The airline is setting prices next week.

It is estimated that Ryanair now have 15 or more separate taxes and charges that now usually costs more than the ticket itself.

In February, Ryanair reported that it carried 12.4million passengers during the third quarter and ancillary revenues - money raised from extra charges - rose 30 per cent to €111million. Overall revenue was €569million.

But the airline has hit back with typical bullishness, saying that its charges are optional and it is up to the passenger if they choose to check-in with baggage at the airport.

Meanwhile, Ryanair reduced prices by four per cent in the last quarter, said new Director of Commercial Revenue, Sinead Finn.

"We are an industry under pressure and it's not going to be a nice situation for the next two years.

"We are driving airfares down and our main business is still selling airline seats - but we will also sell ancilliaries, and that is where the future lies."

The airline is clear that it prefers passengers to fly with only hand baggage, which saves turnaround time for the planes, check-in counters, staff - and fuel.

"I think it is only fair - if you don't take a bag that needs to be checked-in, you pay a lesser fare as you don't burn so much fuel," added Finn.

Apart from the passenger charges, Ryanair's ancillary revenue approach also includes sales of hotel rooms and car hire from its website - Ryanair is now the biggest supplier of sales to Hertz in Europe, said Finn.

Why do we not face it that the budget airlines are simply airborne buses! The prices are very low, most journeys are 90 mins or less, and there are more facilities - loos, coffee, snacks - available than on most regional buses - and the prices are a fraction of the real cost a decade ago ...

Dick Taplin, Cambridge, England

Regarding mobile phones, I was given to understand that Ryanair would impose a surcharge on those wishing to sit in the section of the aircraft where phones could be used, but would also impose a surcharge on those wishing to sit in the aircraft's quiet zone.

Douglas, Arlesheim, Switzerland

I booked with Ryaniar at the end of Jan and opted to check in on-line, great! However during our stay in France we attempted to print our boarding passes for our return journey. This proved to be impossible and consequently had to pay for ariport check in What a con!! Others had the same issue.

Heather Davies, congleton, england

RA still were cheaper, inclusive of all the charges until we arrived at newquay to find a departure tax.
staff would not let us board without paying this and then did not know eec rules on compensation as RA over 2 hrs late due to technical problems.
local staff obstuctive and unhelpfull .not ever

willem boschman, javea,

Forget hiring a car from Ryanair or Easyjet, the same car hire company will charge you less by going direct. It's all a con. Try it out & compare them. In fact anytime you hire check prices through a third party then go direct and most of the time it's cheaper.

Jeff, Norwich, UK

I agree...might be a motivation for some people to lose weight. Save the planet and counteract obesity at the same time!

Greg, Aberdeen, Scotland

Linda, I completely agree. Why should I pay the same price as someone who weighs twice as much as I do.

Fiona, Bristol,

HOw about a charge per kilo of person - a thin person doesn't burn as much fuel ;-)

Linda, Bristol,