Travel Weekly Blog

When the OFT granted Ryanair extra time to comply with instructions to include non-optional extras in advertised prices, it became inevitable that consumers would for a time be faced with an uneven playing field.

Thirteen budget carriers have now complied with the OFT's instructions, and it is only Ryanair and Aer Lingus who still advertise 'misleading' fares.

As I said a few days ago, none of this has come as a shock to the trade (see image; click it for an explanation).

But what about consumers?

The potential for confusion is obvious - especially as some compliant carriers are not emphasising that the price you see is the price you pay.

EasyJet and Monarch's homepages seem to make no mention at all of the changes, and Flybe has only a small text link.

So it's good that OFT consumer protection group head Mike Hanley has made things explicit, warning consumers to 'be wary' of Ryanair prices.

Consumer readers take note: until it becomes compliant (which should be by Febrauary 2007) Ryanair's prices may not be as competitive as they look.

Nathan Midgley, web producer