Discount Airline Ripoffs!
Monday, July 12, 2010
My last blog post got me thinking. I have significant frustration with all of the "extras", most discount airlines charge. Lets look at six discount airlines and their fares
1. Edinburgh to Oslo with Ryan Air
Fare advertised: 10 pounds.
There are of course no 10 pound seats left when I try to book one- The seats are now 26.99 pounds (see right). They then add:
- a compulsory web check in fee of 5 pounds - If its compulsory I believe it needs to be in the fare
- bag fee-its my choice to take 15kg of bag for 20 pounds
- I choose to board first - Ryanair seats are not allocated – you choose where you want to sit once you are on board so early boarding guarantees you access to the “better” seats.I like the emergency exit so 4 pounds more
- Travel insurance. I decline it but they are quite persistent at trying to get me to buy it
- a 5 pound admin fee (why is this not included in the original fare if everyone is going to be charged it?)
TOTAL FARE for a 10 pound flight? 60.99 pounds. While this is still a great fare-its 500% higher than advertised. And with the compulsory check in and admin fees, the advertised fare should have been 20 pounds.
2. Sydney to Melbourne with Tiger
Fare Advertised: $38.95. Tiger claws these expenses from you:
- a seat! Yes, the fare entitles you a ride in the plane but on top of that everyone pays for their seat: $4 gets you a crappy one (think middle seats and back of plane), $10 are the average seats and for $30 you get a good one like front row or emergency exit- I choose emergency exit
- a bag $20 for 15kg
- a Credit Card fee of $6
TOTAL FARE for a 39 dollar flight? $94.95 -170% higher than advertised- It would seem to me that the advertised fare of $38.95 needs to be $48.95 to include the tax, seat fee and ;"convenience" fee as these are non optional.
Fare Advertised: $9.00
Actual cheapest fare available in all of August: $85.74 then add:
- Taxes and fees of $29.40
- Carry on bag $30 (thats extortion)
- Checked bag $25
- Emergency exit seat (my choice) for $20.
4. Toronto to Vancouver, BC with WestJet
Fare Advertised: $219.00
To that we add taxes and charges:
- HST: 35.64 (Harmonised Sales Tax)
- AIF: 25.00 (Airport Improvement Fees)
- ATSC: $7.12 (Air Travellers' Security Charge)
- NAV/Ins: $23.00 (I assume Navigation and Air Traffic Control Services)
- Seats which start at $11.30 (i choose emerg exit for $16.95)
Advertised fare should be: $321.06
5. Kuala Lumpar to Phuket with Air Asia
Fare Advertised: 130 MYR
Air Asia adds:
- Taxes 25MYR
- Bag 15kg for 20 MYR
- Meal options are 8 MYR (on such a short flight that makes sense as an extra)
- To reserve a seat is 5 MYR (25 for a "Hot Seat")
- Travel insurance automatically-you have to "unselect" it to avoid it
- a "convenience fee" of 5 MYR to pay for your ticket
TOTAL FARE for a 130 MYR flight? 185 MYR -40% higher than advertised
Advertised fare should be: 185 MYR
6. Christchurch, NZ to Melbourne, Australia
Fare Advertised: $169
The Jetstar fare includes the taxes but not a luggage charge of $20. It also includes your seat unless you want an upfront seat ($10) or an emergency exit seat ($25). They also charge you a $5 "extra" for your credit card fee-that is not an extra.
TOTAL FARE for a $169 flight? $194 -16% higher than advertised
Advertised fare should be: $174
I understand that airlines want to charge us for our choices (eg bags or an emergency exit seat) but I dont agree for paying for an everyday seat on the plane. To show taxes as extra also annoys me. I cant make those suckers optional.
The whole system makes comparing fares tricky eg Airline A includes a bag but charges for a seat while Airline B includes all and Airline C waives the seat fee but and charges for bags. Not convinced thats being competitive
Can I please be quoted a fare that includes travel, seat, taxes, check in and booking fee? To bring a bag or ask for an emergency seat, charge me (although I think frequent flyers should get a discount on that charge!)
What do you think? Do you find the charges annoying? Rude? Confusing?
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