Ryanair’s encouragement
Ryanair increased its baggage and airport check-in charges today and has issued a warning that it will continue to increase them in an effort to “encourage” its passengers to travel with hand luggage only. Baggage charges have gone up from €6 to €9 per bag while check-in fees have increased from €3 to €4. My old friend Peter Sherrard, who has repeatedly - and wrongly - accused me of publishing “baseless” complaints about Ryanair, says the move will help “encourage” passengers to “avoid” the charges by bring hand luggage only and checking-in online, which is free. He said the airline would keep increasing its charges until it has reaches it target of encouraging at least half of its passengers to travel with hand luggage only. How long do you think it’ll take before Aer Lingus follows suit?
What if the market does want to carry luggage! Say there is a market for only 30% of people carrying hand luggage, is ryanair going to keep punishing the rest of us forever in an effort to reach some elusive target.
Comment by Paul | January 23, 2008 at 5:29 pmPaul, yes. Yes they will.
Comment by Conor | January 23, 2008 at 5:46 pmHas Peter ever discussed the impact of this charge on disabled people or older people? Oh that’s right don’t mention disabled people and Ryanair. I say this as a passenger with them next week who can’t pull my bag and is dammed if I’m going to get one of their untrained agents to take me to the gate in a crappy chair where I have no rights to shop or enjoy the airport like any other traveller. I’ve paid for the bag. Sucker…
Comment by Suzy | January 23, 2008 at 6:37 pmAer Lingus charges €9 each way (online) or €12 (pay at airport).
Comment by europhile | January 24, 2008 at 10:06 amWoe betide anyone who fails to pay their baggage charge online, Conor. The fee you’ll have to pay Ryanair at the airport has leapt up from nine euro to 18 euro. Oh and you’ll have to pay four euro on top to use a check-in desk. That’s right: 22 euro each way for a bag. It’s cheaper to post your luggage back home at that price.
Comment by Paul | January 24, 2008 at 12:19 pmThis has to do with regulation. What are the chances of these “stealth charges” being outlawed at EU level?
Comment by Steve K | January 24, 2008 at 12:23 pm