Due to consumer lobbying, European low-cost airlines have conceded to include the cost of paying by debit card in the stated price of tickets. Until now, the fee for paying by debit or credit card has been added to the airfare as an extra service, like seat selection or on-board meals, even though many airlines do not offer an alternative means of payment.
The change comes after investigations by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). It has been estimated that these payment fees cost travelers an additional £300 million per year in addition to the stated ticket price. Airlines like RyanAir charge fees as high as £6 per person to pay by debit or credit card.
By December 2012, airlines must include payment fees in the advertised airfares. Low-cost airlines that have agreed to this change include Ryanair, EasyJet, BMI Baby, Flybe, German Wings, Jet2, and Wizz Air.
