Ryanair payment handling fee(s)
Apr 8, 2009, 9:43 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Ryanair payment handling fee(s)
To defray the substantial administration costs we incur when processing credit and debit cards or ELV direct debits a handling fee applies to each passenger per flight segment.
As a special offer to Visa Electron card holders, Ryanair, for a limited period only, will not apply a handling fee.
As a special offer to Visa Electron card holders, Ryanair, for a limited period only, will not apply a handling fee.
Have no idea what exactly the "Visa Electron" is !
Apr 8, 2009, 10:43 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SAN, CLD
Posts: 176
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_Electron
Its not available in USA so you cannot escape the handling fees
Its not available in USA so you cannot escape the handling fees
Apr 8, 2009, 1:53 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,605
The whole point of Ryanair - and other European low costs - offering "free" booking using Visa Electron is that it gives them a legal way of having low headline prices. However compared to other forms of payment few people have an Electron card so Ryanair and the rest get a "nice little earner" whilst still being legal.
Of course Ryanair is the only one that charges the fee per passenger per flight so a couple doing a return trip will pay four fees
Of course Ryanair is the only one that charges the fee per passenger per flight so a couple doing a return trip will pay four fees
Apr 9, 2009, 1:33 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 40
The whole point of Ryanair - and other European low costs - offering "free" booking using Visa Electron is that it gives them a legal way of having low headline prices. However compared to other forms of payment few people have an Electron card so Ryanair and the rest get a "nice little earner" whilst still being legal.
Of course Ryanair is the only one that charges the fee per passenger per flight so a couple doing a return trip will pay four fees
Of course Ryanair is the only one that charges the fee per passenger per flight so a couple doing a return trip will pay four fees
I believe this to be not quite true. As I understand - as per EU directive - one free-of-charge method of payment has to be offered. Ryanair does that with Visa Electron, which is widely available in Great Britain and some other EU countries. Escpecially the eastern and northern EU countries use Visa Electron where it is a preferred credit card. I have some Norwegian and Polish friends who were rather surprised to find that this card is so hard to get in other countries; they receive the Visa Electron with the opening of any bank account.
Apr 9, 2009, 5:57 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SAN, CLD
Posts: 176
The whole point of Ryanair - and other European low costs - offering "free" booking using Visa Electron is that it gives them a legal way of having low headline prices. However compared to other forms of payment few people have an Electron card so Ryanair and the rest get a "nice little earner" whilst still being legal.
Of course Ryanair is the only one that charges the fee per passenger per flight so a couple doing a return trip will pay four fees
Of course Ryanair is the only one that charges the fee per passenger per flight so a couple doing a return trip will pay four fees
Apr 9, 2009, 6:27 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
If an airline charges a handling fee for ALL payment methods then they have to include that fee in their advertised price (as opposed to adding it later). If there is at least one payment method (such as Visa Electron, or bank transfer) which does not incur handling fees then it is legal for that fee to be added later.
Apr 9, 2009, 11:27 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SAN, CLD
Posts: 176
If an airline charges a handling fee for ALL payment methods then they have to include that fee in their advertised price (as opposed to adding it later). If there is at least one payment method (such as Visa Electron, or bank transfer) which does not incur handling fees then it is legal for that fee to be added later.
Apr 9, 2009, 12:19 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,605
You can avoid the charge without having an Electron card by using Ryanair Gift Vouchers - where there's *only* a £5 / €5 processing fee BUT they only come in units of £25 / $25 and if you use even a penny or cent off one you lose the outstanding balance - and if you top up with a CC / DC they'll charge you for the card use.
Apr 10, 2009, 11:55 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: LCY
Programs: NW Silver, BD Silver
Posts: 233
Another way...
You can get a virtual Visa Electron card from Entropay. You load money onto the card via debit cards/bank transfers. They charge a % fee for loading/withdrawing money, there is no charge for spending. I've used it recently without problems.
NOTE: You MUST select GBP as the account currency, EUR/USD cards aren't recognised as Visa Electron. (I had to find out the hard way...)
NOTE: You MUST select GBP as the account currency, EUR/USD cards aren't recognised as Visa Electron. (I had to find out the hard way...)
Apr 13, 2009, 10:20 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2009
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Although Ryanair's non-Electron card fees look disgraceful, remember it's the total fare that counts and how this compares with competitor airlines' fares.
Apr 14, 2009, 1:14 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2008
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To a certain extent I'd agree, but as I say to everyone who'll listen: it's an amazing thing Ryanair have done - made air travel unbelievably cheap - and still leave people feeling ripped off.
Apr 15, 2009, 12:06 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: BA, bmi, USAir, Aeroplan, AirBerlin, Marriott, SolMeliaMas, BAAWorldpoints
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Good point and Ryanair has - to a great extent - only itself to blame.
I think, though, that there are many passengers who are relatively new to flying and have no idea what carriers were charging 10, 20 or 30 years ago on the same routes.
I think, though, that there are many passengers who are relatively new to flying and have no idea what carriers were charging 10, 20 or 30 years ago on the same routes.
Apr 15, 2009, 12:22 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: M&M, BA Silver, Accor LeClub Gold
Posts: 490
Visa electron is not a 'credit' card
For the sake of clarity, I'd like to point out that Visa electron is not a credit card - it is a payment card. If you don't have the cleared funds in your account, you can't spend.
Apr 15, 2009, 12:44 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: CH
Posts: 240
Lets face it. Its Ryanair. The airline that has customized 737s with extra emergency exits so that the can fit in more self-loafding freight.
What do you expect? You pay extra for everything, if your lucky you´ll end up still below the major carrier fares (considering you factored in the extra hour over rural roads to get to the abandonded military fields they fly from), if you´re unlucky you pay more.
Did I mention there´s no miles and no better treatment for FFs?
Let´s face it: If you choose Ryanair, you get Ryanair. Southwest will seem like a dream of business class travel..
What do you expect? You pay extra for everything, if your lucky you´ll end up still below the major carrier fares (considering you factored in the extra hour over rural roads to get to the abandonded military fields they fly from), if you´re unlucky you pay more.
Did I mention there´s no miles and no better treatment for FFs?
Let´s face it: If you choose Ryanair, you get Ryanair. Southwest will seem like a dream of business class travel..
Apr 15, 2009, 3:05 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Oh, dear. Another pejorative post with little to offer except misleading generalisation.
I'm no apologist for Ryanair - they have Michael O'Liary for that. The fact remains that (i) nobody is compelled to fly Ryanair and (ii) what they do they do very well. They also operate to numerous destinations not served by legacy carriers.
True, though as always YMMV.
I must remember to look for the rural roads on my way to "'abandonded' military fields" like STN, LGW, LTN, BHX, MAN, LPL, EDI, DUB, ORK, VIE, PRG, NCE, SXF, BSL, BRE, MAD, KRK, OPO, AGP, ALC, PMI to name but a few of Ryanair's destinations.
No need to. It's a low frills operator, no miles offered, no FF treatment offered. I thought everybody knew this.
I'm no apologist for Ryanair - they have Michael O'Liary for that. The fact remains that (i) nobody is compelled to fly Ryanair and (ii) what they do they do very well. They also operate to numerous destinations not served by legacy carriers.
True, though as always YMMV.
... considering you factored in the extra hour over rural roads to get to the abandonded military fields they fly from ...
Did I mention there´s no miles and no better treatment for FFs?