Budget airline easyJet has been instructed by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to cease advertising carry-on baggage fees starting at “£5.99” due to concerns over misleading passengers. The ASA determined that there was insufficient evidence to support the claim that this price was available across various flight routes and dates. Additionally, easyJet must ensure that the lowest price for large cabin bags is offered across a significant portion of flights in the future.
easyJet defended its advertised price, stating that it was accurate and applicable to a range of routes but acknowledged that prices could vary based on factors such as availability, demand, and operational costs. The airline emphasized that the actual price for a specific booking would be clearly displayed before purchase.
This ruling by the ASA follows an investigation by consumer group Which?, which revealed that the price for adding a large cabin bag exceeded £5.99 on all 520 easyJet flights analyzed. The lowest price identified was £23.49, with an average price of £30.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, expressed astonishment at airlines’ practices of using low headline fares and then charging significantly higher prices for standard cabin bags. Boland emphasized the importance for customers to consider airlines without cabin bag add-ons to potentially save money.
In response, easyJet stated that they are committed to providing transparent pricing information to customers and have made adjustments to ensure clarity following the ASA’s feedback.