Aer Lingus in Infuriating "Me Too" Mode?
Thursday May 8, 2008
Just a few days after budget airline Ryanair announced a rise in its baggage tariffs, Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus followed suit this Tuesday. In what was described by one observer a "me too" strategy. From May 8th (that is today) a new fee of 12 will apply to baggage booked online while a fee of 18 will apply to baggage checked in at the airport.
This move has made check-in baggage at Aer Lingus more expensive than at Ryanair and was explained by Enda Corneille, Director of Corporate Affairs, "We want to encourage more of our passengers to carry hand baggage and also to travel with less baggage so the travelling experience can become even quicker and more efficient for everyone. Today's increase reflects the general pricing structure across the industry." What Corneille failed to mention is that while Ryanair allows a round ten kilograms handluggage per passenger, Aer Lingus customers have to pack lighter to a maximum of six kilograms. The new fee applies to short-haul flights only, but ...
While consumers were still fuming about the new charges on short-haul flights, travelers on long-haul flights were shocked to hear yesterday about increased fuel surcharges. All flights booked from May 14th will become more expensive - fuel surcharges on flights to and from Chicago, New York, Boston or Washington will increase from 50 to 65, on flights to and from Orlando the increase is from 60 to 75 and finally flights to and from San Francisco or Los Angeles will rise from a 75 surcharge to 90.
In an interesting development Aer Lingus also seems to apply a rather flexible exchange rate for flights paid in US Dollars, if their press release is correct - the 65 surcharge works out as being $ 100 from Boston, but increases to $ 110 from Chicago! And as if by magic the 75 surcharge from Orlando will cost you $ 110 as well. Food for thought, as passengers are facing an exchange rate of $ 1.33, $ 1.46, $ 1.53 or even $ 1.69 to the Euro, depending on point of departure in the USA (today's official rate being roughly $ 1.53 to the Euro).
This move has made check-in baggage at Aer Lingus more expensive than at Ryanair and was explained by Enda Corneille, Director of Corporate Affairs, "We want to encourage more of our passengers to carry hand baggage and also to travel with less baggage so the travelling experience can become even quicker and more efficient for everyone. Today's increase reflects the general pricing structure across the industry." What Corneille failed to mention is that while Ryanair allows a round ten kilograms handluggage per passenger, Aer Lingus customers have to pack lighter to a maximum of six kilograms. The new fee applies to short-haul flights only, but ...
While consumers were still fuming about the new charges on short-haul flights, travelers on long-haul flights were shocked to hear yesterday about increased fuel surcharges. All flights booked from May 14th will become more expensive - fuel surcharges on flights to and from Chicago, New York, Boston or Washington will increase from 50 to 65, on flights to and from Orlando the increase is from 60 to 75 and finally flights to and from San Francisco or Los Angeles will rise from a 75 surcharge to 90.
In an interesting development Aer Lingus also seems to apply a rather flexible exchange rate for flights paid in US Dollars, if their press release is correct - the 65 surcharge works out as being $ 100 from Boston, but increases to $ 110 from Chicago! And as if by magic the 75 surcharge from Orlando will cost you $ 110 as well. Food for thought, as passengers are facing an exchange rate of $ 1.33, $ 1.46, $ 1.53 or even $ 1.69 to the Euro, depending on point of departure in the USA (today's official rate being roughly $ 1.53 to the Euro).
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