Manx2.com has welcomed the news that 12 airlines have agreed to follow Manx2.com’s pricing model by including debit card charges in headline prices, rather than adding an additional surcharge at the end of the online booking process. It is now challenging all flight and ferry operators to follow its lead and adopt completely transparent pricing by dropping credit card charges too.
Since April 2012, Manx2.com has incorporated all credit and debit card, booking and transaction fees into the advertised price of the flight and throughout the booking process. Nearly three months later, twelve major UK airlines are following Manx2.com’s lead following the threat of enforcement action by the UK Office of Fair Trading.
Unfortunately for passengers, surcharges for credit cards will still be allowed, but those airlines have promised to make the charges clearer. Manx2.com has no credit card or debit card charges and no booking fees.
Travel surcharges have been the subject of huge public and political unrest for a number of years. Last year a super-complaint from Which? to the UK OFT resulted in the UK Government announcing measures to try and outlaw credit card surcharges in the future. However, many companies simply responded by transferring card charges onto high booking fees instead.
David Buck, Managing Director of Manx2.com said: ‘It is good for the industry as a whole to see these airlines following our example but it is disappointing to see that credit card surcharges are still allowed. We listened to our customers at the time, and rather than increasing or renaming the charges, as some companies did, we chose to remove all transaction and booking fees including debit and credit card charges. We are dedicated to providing unrivalled customer service and we felt this move made our position even clearer. Our lowest fares for the whole month ahead are clearly displayed on our website and anyone booking flights knows exactly what they will be charged. We have no booking fees, debit card or credit card charges. Many companies impose charges you can only avoid by using an obscure payment card and we hope that passengers will continue to show their support for our honest pricing and vote with their wallets.’
Manx2.com’s prices also include all taxes, a guarantee of no fuel surcharges, a free 10kg carry-on bag allowance, free online check-in, free transfer to an earlier flight on the day of travel, if seat is available on the day of return travel, as well as free parking at Blackpool and Gloucestershire Airports. In addition, Manx2 offer a ‘rescue service’ for any passengers who miss their flight and they will re-book passengers onto the next available flight for just £30.
