Airlines' stealth charges are anti-family, warns watchdog
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FAMILIES searching for a low-cost breaks have been hit by rising airline stealth charges over the past two-years, a consumers' watchdog has warned.
As the cost of a barrel of oil has risen sharply, so too have extra charges for seat selection, baggage, airport fees and fuel, the Consumers' Association of Ireland (CAI) said.
"The whole manner in which someone books a flight and travels is being changed," Dermot Jewell of the CAI said. "Many of the charges implemented are anti-family structure. If they have to sit together, often they will have to pay in advance."
Mr Jewell said the low-cost airline Ryanair was not the only operator applying the charges. The National Consumer Agency was continuing to examine all airlines' pricing systems, he added.
As the price of oil has escalated, so too has fuel surcharges. In May 2006, Aer Lingus brought in charges of €35 each way on flights to the US and Dubai.
Last November, these were altered for the fourth time to €50 each way to New York, Boston, Washington and Chicago, while Orlando and Dubai rose to €55, and Los Angeles and San Francisco were hiked to €65 each way.
For a family of four flying to New York, fuel surcharges would add an extra €400 on to the price of tickets.
Aer Arann operates a €5 each-way fuel surcharge on its UK routes. "We are anti-stealth charges," Aer Arann's Colin Lewis said. "There are no hidden charges, no baggage fees and no check-in fees."
Ryanair, which has recently said its profits could fall this year, still maintains it will not be introducing a fuel surcharge.
But last month, the UK consumer group 'Which' claimed that Ryanair, which earned almost €110m in 'hidden fares' in 2006, was the worst offender for adding extra charges to published flight prices.
"They are entirely discretionary; it is up to the actual passenger but we guarantee the lowest fares," a Ryanair spokeswoman explained.
While British Airways long-haul fuel surcharge is €151 on certain trips, its European flights carry a fuel surcharge of €31.60 return.
Baggage
Travellers are often penalised by baggage limits, with excess baggage charged per kilogram. Since it introduced baggage charges in January 2007, Aer Lingus has increased luggage fees to €9 online, or €12 at the airport.
Since the charges were first introduced in March 2006, Ryanair has upped its checked-in baggage advance fee for flights booked online from €6 to €9 for the first bag and €18 for each additional bag each way. If baggage fees are paid at the airport, it charges €18 per bag one way. Its airport check-in fee has also risen from €3 to €4.
Ryanair warned that charges would continue to rise until they reached their aim of half of all passengers checking-in online and carrying hand luggage only.
- Louise Hogan
