EASYJET misled customers by claiming that the cost of adding a bag to flight bookings was “from £5.99”, a watchdog has ruled.
The Advertising Standards Authority banned the airline from using the wording, saying there was not enough evidence the price was available “across a range of flight routes and dates”.
Its ruling comes after an investigation by consumer group Which? found the charge for adding a large cabin bag was more than £5.99 on all 520 easyJet flights analysed.
The lowest price was found to be £23.49, and the average was £30.
Which? Travel magazine editor Rory Boland said: “It’s frankly astonishing airlines think they can ignore the rules and mislead customers with unattainable prices.
“It’s absolutely right that the ASA has made this ruling against easyJet as a result of our complaint.
“Our recent investigation found that there is a culture of airlines using low headline fares — then charging exorbitant prices on top to take a standard cabin bag.”
EasyJet told the regulator its advertised price was accurate and available on a range of routes but prices varied depending on factors such as availability, demand and operational cost.
After the ruling, it said it had “made some changes to ensure the information is as clear as possible”.
It added there are “always some large cabin bags available for the lowest price”.
CALL THE DOC
DR MARTENS has taken a kicking after ditching sales and discounts over Christmas.
Group revenues fell 3.1 per cent year-on-year down to £253million in the 13 weeks to December 28, the firm admitted yesterday.
That dip was driven by a 7 per cent fall in direct-to-consumer sales and comes amid a major turnaround drive.
The firm predicted “broadly flat” revenues this year but is on track to return to profit.
HONED LOANS
YOUNG professionals will be able to get mortgages based on their future earnings.
New two-and five-year deals at Vernon Building Society are designed for people in skilled roles such as teachers, accountants, engineers and solicitors.
Underwriters assess affordability against expected future income — helping young professionals borrow in line with their career trajectories rather than current earnings.
GROUND RENT CAP FITS
A GROUND rents cap set to benefit the 3.8million leaseholders in England and Wales has sparked fears over investor confidence in the UK housing market.
The Government shake-up will limit ground rent — a fee paid by leaseholders for the land beneath their buildings — at £250 a year. It will see many save more than £4,000 during their lease.
But savings and investment firm M&G said it would take a hit of £230million.
It added that the changes were “disproportionate” and would clobber savers and firms investing in UK assets.
