Ryanair once again angers consumers. After the trolley case, social media went wild against the low-cost airline for the "baby supplement". However, if you dig a little deeper, you discover that this time the controversy could be unjustified, given that the surcharge for infants is nothing new and above all it is not an invention of Ryanair: it is applied by all the major airlines active in Italy.
But let's rebuild the story from the beginning.
25 EUROS PER NEWBORN
On the Ryanair website, in the "table of optional supplements”, it reads that passengers will have to pay an extra 25 euros for each child “under the age of 2, both for the outward and return journey”. It makes no difference whether you book online or add last-minute service at the airport: every infant coastline 25 euros. Point.
THE REPORT OF FEDERCONSUMATORI
Ryanair hasn't introduced this supplement recently, yet social media only noticed it a few days ago, in the wake of a complaint from Federconsumatori: "Ryanair's desperate race for profit seems to have no more limits - writes the Association - The supplement absurd in itself, appears even more unjustified when one considers that children must travel in their parents' arms with a special belt provided by the crew: the user therefore finds himself paying more without receiving any advantage or additional services".
THE ACCUSATIONS OF "LACK OF TRANSPARENCY"
The association also accuses the low-cost company of lack of transparency, since the surcharge for babies is not made explicit during the online booking phase, except at the end of the procedure, i.e. on the payment screen. “A user who is a little distracted or even unfamiliar with online bookings may not notice the application of the heavy tax”, continues Federconsumatori.
THE RYANAIR REPLIC
Ryanair defends itself by arguing that in reality the surcharge for infants “is nothing new: it already existed in the past and there have been no increases in the last year. All rates are viewable and clear on our website. Ryanair has no hidden extras and all optional services and fares are highlighted and must be accepted by customers prior to booking."
WHAT DO OTHER COMPANIES DO?
In its note, Ryanair refers to the "infant supplement" as "an industry standard". And, indeed, he is not wrong.
Even the other airlines most used by Italians have surcharges for children under the age of two. Here is a pattern.
- Alitalia: company sources let it be known that a fixed fare of 22 euros one way on domestic flights is envisaged for children under two years of age carried in one's arms; on international ones, however, the cost is equal to 10% of the ticket paid by the accompanying person.
- EasyJet: the British low-cost airline provides a surcharge of 31 euros one way for each infant: "The airports impose costs on us for the travel of infants (<2 years): this supplement covers this cost - specifies the company on its website – This fare also includes an additional piece of hand baggage.”
- Vueling: a table published on the Spanish company's website shows that the so-called "newborn cost" can vary from 14,99 to 154,99 euros.
- Lufthansa: “On international routes, children up to the age of 2 usually pay 10% of the adult flight price – reads the German carrier's website – However, they are not entitled to a seat. If you would like your child to have their own seat, you can book a ticket under the conditions for a child between 2 and 11 years old. On routes within Germany, Lufthansa generally does not charge the flight to small children. Even in this case, however, they are not entitled to a place ”.
- Blue Panorama: on the company website we read that, in terms of tariffs, infants and children "can enjoy reductions according to the rules established by the tariff purchased".
