easyJet has been prohibited from advertising carry-on baggage fees starting at £5.99 following a ruling by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that deemed the price to be misleading for passengers.
The ASA stated that there was not enough proof that the £5.99 price was applicable to a variety of flight routes and dates, instructing easyJet to discontinue the use of this pricing claim.
easyJet is also required to ensure that the minimum price advertised for large cabin bags is applicable to a significant portion of their flights moving forward.
easyJet defended their advertised price, stating that it was accurate and accessible on various routes, but acknowledged that prices could fluctuate based on factors such as demand and operational expenses.
The actual price for a specific booking was prominently displayed before finalizing the purchase, according to easyJet.
The ASA ruling stemmed from an investigation by consumer group Which? that revealed that the cost of adding a large cabin bag exceeded £5.99 on all 520 easyJet flights examined.
The lowest price discovered was £23.49, with an average price of £30.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel magazine, expressed astonishment at airlines disregarding regulations and misleading customers with unattainable prices. He commended the ASA’s decision against easyJet, emphasizing the need for transparency in airline pricing strategies.
Highlighting a prevalent trend of airlines advertising low base fares and subsequently charging high fees for standard cabin bags, Boland advised customers to consider airlines without such add-on charges for potential cost savings when booking flights.
In response to the ruling, easyJet stated their commitment to providing clear pricing information to customers and mentioned adjustments made to ensure clarity on fees and charges moving forward.
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