Greg McDonald
2nd October 2009, 08:47 AM
From NEWS.COM.AU:
A UK airline that has done away with check-in desks is slugging passengers with a $73 fee is they forget to check-in online.
From today all passengers travelling with low-cost airline Ryanair will have to pay $9 to check in their luggage. But anyone who forgets will be hit with the emergency check-in fee and forced to use the airline's new "bag drop" desks.
A spokesman for Ryanair said the changes will "allow all passengers, including those travelling with checked baggage, to check-in online thereby avoiding time wasting queues and delays at airport check-in desks."
The new measures have been designed to save the airline $84 million a year, Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's chief executive said.
Mr O'Leary said the high fee is to cover the cost of reissuing the ticket and is to encourage passengers not to forget again.
The airline will also increase luggage check-in charges from $37 to $55 for a return, while a second bag will now cost $128 instead of $73.
The changes come as research by the UK's Liberal Democrats found hidden extra charges make up an average of almost 60 per cent of the cost of a family ticket by Ryanair.
The airline made almost $1 billion from add-on fees including baggage check-in and credit card booking costs last year.
A UK airline that has done away with check-in desks is slugging passengers with a $73 fee is they forget to check-in online.
From today all passengers travelling with low-cost airline Ryanair will have to pay $9 to check in their luggage. But anyone who forgets will be hit with the emergency check-in fee and forced to use the airline's new "bag drop" desks.
A spokesman for Ryanair said the changes will "allow all passengers, including those travelling with checked baggage, to check-in online thereby avoiding time wasting queues and delays at airport check-in desks."
The new measures have been designed to save the airline $84 million a year, Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's chief executive said.
Mr O'Leary said the high fee is to cover the cost of reissuing the ticket and is to encourage passengers not to forget again.
The airline will also increase luggage check-in charges from $37 to $55 for a return, while a second bag will now cost $128 instead of $73.
The changes come as research by the UK's Liberal Democrats found hidden extra charges make up an average of almost 60 per cent of the cost of a family ticket by Ryanair.
The airline made almost $1 billion from add-on fees including baggage check-in and credit card booking costs last year.