Office of fair trading blasts RyanAir

The chief executive of the office of fair trading, John Fingleton, in an interview spoke out against RyanAir’s practices while charging credit or debit cards. The UK government’s premier authority on consumers and competition has stated that RyanAir, the fastest growing low cost carrier, indulges in a ‘funny game’ with its passengers.

Fingleton stated in an interview that RyanAir has found a type of low frequency paying mechanism that allows optional charges for people using credit or debit cards. He blasted the airline carrier saying that it was akin to taunting the customer and pointing out to them that the procedure is barely legal. He also mentioned that the game being played by He also mentioned that the game being played by RyanAir was almost childish as it ended up with passengers being charges extra money.

The end credit card charge is not marketed upfront by the budget carrier despite advertising taxes and other additional charges. However under consumer law, all companies are required to advertise their additional charges upfront.

RyanAir is of the opinion that those passengers who use a MasterCard prepaid card need not have to pay the five pound surcharge evoked by other credit and debit cards. Since this is a standard procedure it sees no reason to mention these charges on advertised fares.

These statements however did not affect RyanAir much who chose to simply dismiss the concerns of the chief executive. They have however released the Fingleton sale which will release one million four pound fares from January fourth. This offer will only be available to travelers having a MasterCard prepaid card and who choose to travel only with carry on luggage.