EasyJet Carry-On Chaos 🤯: Baggage Fees Exposed! ✈️
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Baggage Fees Exposed: EasyJet Faces ASA Scrutiny
EasyJet has been instructed to cease advertising carry-on baggage fees as “from £5.99” following the Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) decision. The ASA determined that EasyJet’s wording led consumers to believe they could take their bags on flights for that price. Consumer group Which? flagged the claim on EasyJet’s website, citing a common practice among airlines of advertising low fares with subsequent additional fees. EasyJet responded, stating: “We always aim to provide clear information to our customers, and the purpose of this page was to display factual information on fees and charges to customers.” They added that they routinely offer large cabin bags at the lowest price.
ASA’s Firm Stand on Misleading Claims
“The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that EasyJet’s claim regarding flight routes and dates was misleading, instructing the airline not to use that wording in the future. EasyJet informed the ASA that the section of its website where the claim appeared was intended solely for informational purposes, not for marketing or promotional activities. The airline’s website now states: “Fees vary with demand, route, flight date and time of booking. You’ll see exact price at time of purchase.” EasyJet explained that it was “not able to provide specific figures” because cabin bag prices depend on a multitude of factors, including availability and demand, and that customers would clearly see the actual price of a cabin bag when booking a flight.
Hidden Costs: A Budget Airline Reality
Travel expert Simon Calder cautioned that passengers flying with some budget airlines could face unexpectedly high baggage charges, with the cost of adding a standard cabin or checked bag on certain routes potentially increasing the overall price of the journey by as much as 165%. “If you want to take anything more than a small personal bag, then you could end up paying more for that than your actual ticket,” he stated.
A Culture of Deception – Airlines Under Fire
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, highlighted a “culture” among airlines of using “low headline fares, then charging exorbitant prices on top to take a standard cabin bag,” describing it as “frankly astonishing” that airlines would ignore regulations and mislead customers. “Given the unattainable prices, it’s entirely appropriate that the ASA has issued this ruling,” he stated. “Customers booking trips should carefully consider airlines that do not offer cabin bag add-ons, as this option may prove more cost-effective.”
Consumer Confidence Eroded: The Bigger Picture
Jane Hawkes, a consumer rights expert, emphasized that this issue isn’t isolated to EasyJet. “The problem simply serves to erode customer confidence if airlines increase the confusion surrounding baggage allowances,” she explained to the BBC.
EU Regulation Awaits: A Step Towards Fairer Baggage Rules
Last year, European Union lawmakers voted to mandate that airlines permit passengers to bring a carry-on bag weighing up to 7 kilograms on board without charge. However, this law has not yet been implemented, pending approval from member states.
This article is AI-synthesized from public sources and may not reflect original reporting.