Ryanair has once again criticized online travel agencies, denouncing what it considers to be “deceptive and harmful” practices that make customers pay up to 176% more for the same services. The Irish low-cost carrier published a report this Wednesday which points to several platforms, including eDreams, Tix and Vola, as responsible for significantly inflating the cost of reservations, luggage and assigned seats.
Various consumer complaints
According to the website specializing in economics and current affairs, Executive Digest, the document was released after a significant increase in complaints from consumers in several European countries.
According to the report, eDreams appears as the main offender, charging 15.67 euros for a seat that on the Ryanair website costs just 5.67 euros. The price of a 10-kilo suitcase also increases significantly: from 12.99 euros to 27.07 euros.
Tix, in turn, was caught selling reserved seats for 17.50 euros and 20-kilo bags for 45.59 euros, which represents increases of 67% and 40%, respectively.
Vola also doesn’t escape the list, charging 25 euros for priority boarding and a 10-kilo suitcase, while Ryanair asks 17 and 16.99 euros for the same services.
“Avoidable” increase and call for authorities to intervene
According to the company’s marketing director, Dara Brady, these practices represent “avoidable additional costs for consumers across Europe”.
The official also accuses national and European authorities of doing nothing to stop the problem. “Despite evidence of harm to consumers, many governments and protection entities, especially Spain’s Minister of Consumer Affairs, Bustinduy, continue to fail to act,” said Brady, quoted by the company.
Ryanair calls for urgent intervention from European institutions and national governments to ensure transparency in the sale of tickets and additional services. The objective, argues the company, is to protect “unsuspecting tourists” who end up paying more without realizing it.
Misleading fees and hidden costs
Online travel agencies tend to attract customers with apparently lower initial prices, but, according to the report, the final prices turn out to be much higher after the inclusion of extras. An analysis by the consumer organization Which?, published in 2023, confirms this trend, concluding that booking flights through these platforms can cost on average 115 euros more than purchasing directly on the carrier’s website.
To avoid surprises, Ryanair advises passengers to always check prices directly on its official website before making any payment.
Some companies, such as easyJet, already publish lists of authorized partners, including Duffel, Amadeus, Travelport, Peakwork and Kyte, ensuring greater security in reservations. Others, such as WizzAir, have announced partnerships with certified distributors to reinforce transparency in the purchasing process.
According to the comparison between the final total price, including all additional services, it is the most effective way to ensure that the consumer does not pay more than they should.
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