easyJet is no longer allowed to advertise that carry-on baggage fees start at “£5.99” as the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) discovered that this pricing was deceptive for passengers.
ASA stated that there was not enough proof to support the claim that this price was applicable “across a variety of flight routes and dates,” and demanded that easyJet discontinue using this statement.
easyJet must also ensure that the lowest price for large cabin bags is available “across a significant portion of flights” moving forward.
easyJet contended that their advertised price was accurate and accessible on various routes but acknowledged that prices could fluctuate based on availability, demand, and operational expenses.
The actual price for a specific booking was clearly presented before finalizing the purchase, as per easyJet.
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The ASA ruling stemmed from a study by consumer group Which?, which 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, the editor of Which? Travel, expressed astonishment at airlines’ disregard for regulations and misleading practices regarding unattainable prices. He supported the ASA’s decision against easyJet based on their complaint.
Boland highlighted that airlines often advertise low initial fares but then impose high additional charges for standard cabin bags, citing that easyJet’s prices for cabin bags were typically five times higher than the advertised “from £5.99”. He advised customers to consider airlines without extra cabin bag charges for potentially more cost-effective travel.
In response, easyJet stated their commitment to providing transparent pricing information to customers and clarified that their intention was to offer factual details on fees and charges.