EasyJet is no longer allowed to advertise carry-on baggage fees starting at “£5.99” as the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) deemed this pricing information to be misleading for passengers. The ASA found insufficient evidence to support that this price was available across various flight routes and dates and has instructed easyJet to discontinue using this specific phrase.
Additionally, easyJet must ensure that the “from” price for large cabin bags represents the lowest price available across a significant number of flights going forward. Despite easyJet’s argument that the advertised price was accurate and offered on various routes, they acknowledged that prices could vary based on factors like availability, demand, and operational costs.
Following an investigation by consumer group Which?, it was discovered that the price for adding a large cabin bag was consistently higher than £5.99 across all 520 easyJet flights analyzed. The lowest price found was £23.49, with an average cost of £30.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel magazine, expressed astonishment at airlines using misleading pricing tactics and commended the ASA’s ruling against easyJet. Boland highlighted a pattern of airlines advertising low headline fares but charging significantly more for standard cabin bags, advising customers to consider airlines without cabin bag add-ons for potentially lower overall costs.
In response, easyJet stated their commitment to providing transparent pricing information to customers and clarified that they do offer large cabin bags at the lowest price available. They have made adjustments to ensure clearer communication of fees and charges in accordance with the ASA’s feedback.