Cost of booking flights by credit or debit card 'has increased by 600%'

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Cost of booking flights by credit or debit card 'has increased by 600%'

Fri 17th Jul 2009

The fees for booking a flight by debit or credit card have increased by 600 per cent over the last 18 months, it has been discovered.

Conducted by Which? Holiday, a new report shows that low-cost airlines and some travel agents have bumped up their transaction fees significantly for debit or credit card payments.

It discovered that Ryanair has increased the sum for debit cards from 70 pence to £5 per person each way, while credit card fees have risen to £5 from £2 during this timeframe. Wizz Air charges have also gone from 70 pence to £4 per person each way.

Travel agents Thomas Cook now charge £10 per booking for payment by credit or debit card, while First Choice has gone from charging nothing at all 18 months ago to a fee of £2.50 for debit card payments.

Editor of Which? Laura Cowan said that any debit or credit card costs levied should be "reflective of the costs incurred" by companies.

"This does not appear to be the case with current charges, and we are concerned that airlines may be using them as a way of boosting profits," she added.

In related news, Ryanair has announced that it is considering introducing standing areas on its flights in a bid to cut costs and save space.

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