Budget Travel - Ryanair debit card charge

This is interesting. It's an old press release, but I am so surprised that Ryanair have just accepted this. You don't think they're making this up do you? Besides the fact that the 'cost differential' is pure b*ll.

Ryanair today (Friday 4th July) announced that with immediate effect the fee for debit card payment will be increased to €5 per person, per sector to bring it into line with the Ryanair’s credit card charges. This amendment is required by Ryanair’s credit card providers who will not permit any cost differential between debit card and credit card payments

So that's GBP 4.00, USD 8.00 per person, per sector to use a debit card - the cheapest card for companies to process.

Given Ryanair's shrieks of fury over BAA landing charges, in fact, any airports landing charges, their quiet acceptance of this so called 'requirement' is bizarre to say the least.

Still, no fuel surcharges, isn't that right O' Leary?

So that's GBP 4.00, USD 8.00 per person, per sector to use a debit card - the cheapest card for companies to process.
Which is why

a) you check the final rather than the headline price
b) you get an Electron card which Ryanair doesn't charge for in order to get those nice low headline prices

£4 per person per sector is just a complete and utter rip-off. The commission Ryanair has to pay is probably not even 2%.

Also - lots of other companies charge a lower fee for debit card payments. How come they can do it and Ryanair can't?

How come they can do it and Ryanair can't?
Ryanair bought a lot of shiny new aircraft, Ryanair isn't getting the passengers, Ryanair has said "no fuel surcharges", therefore it's either debit card charges or a coin slot on the loos

Which is why

a) you check the final rather than the headline price


Except you never get a final price until you are at the point of accepting the fare so far, and that's when you get the sting. Once you've entered your name, remembered to deselect the automatic insurance, worked out how much luggage if any you are going to be charged for, decided if Priority Boarding is for you, seen the charge for using a check in desk THEN you tell them you want to pay and they think up another whopping charge!

Visa Electron is a nifty choice by Ryanair, because hardly any banks issue them to 'normal' customers. Although with the credit crunch that might change, just in time for Ryanair's 'trial' to run out...

Ryanair bought a lot of shiny new aircraft, Ryanair isn't getting the passengers, Ryanair has said "no fuel surcharges", therefore it's either debit card charges or a coin slot on the loos

It could be both.

It's because of this with ryanair and to a certain extent the others that Ive just opened an account with www.smile.co.uk .They will issue an elcetron card on the current account on request:D