You are here: Home - Household Bills - News -

Ryanair discount scam warning

0
Written by: Emma Lunn
28/07/2021
Ryanair has renewed calls for customer to book directly with the airline after accusing an unnamed online travel agent of running a ‘bogus discount scam’.

The statement is the latest development in a long-running battle between Ryanair and third-party agents, which the airline says are not authorised to sell its flights.

In the latest warning, Ryanair said an online travel agent, with no affiliation to Ryanair, was offering ‘discounted’ Ryanair flights. But it said no discount existed and that the agent was storing customers’ payment details for fraudulent use at a later date.

It did not name the offending online agent but urged customers to book online via its direct channels, including its website and app.

In November it blamed delayed refunds on unlicensed online travel agents, saying many of these agents “provided false customer contact and fake payment details at the time of booking”.

Ryanair urged customers who “mistakenly booked through an OTA” to check if they had been overcharged using its Price Checker tool and said customers should also look out for its Verified Seal to ensure they had booked directly with the airline.

Dara Brady, Ryanair’s marketing director, said: “This latest OTA scam is yet another reason why passengers should always book direct. Online travel agents are selling our flights but have no commercial agreements with us to do so, and any screen scraping of our website is in breach of the terms of use of www.ryanair.com.”

“In response, we launched the Verified Seal on the Ryanair website and app earlier this year to help customers avoid the pitfalls of booking with online travel agents, who often overcharge, and may provide incorrect customer information which prevents Ryanair from dealing directly with its passengers.

“This was launched in conjunction with our Price Checker tool, in an effort to bring to light the unnecessary mark-ups that online travel agents are charging customers. Over 50,000 customers have used the tool and next time these customers will book directly to avoid being overcharged.”

“Ryanair will continue to raise awareness around the issues associated with OTAs to protect customers from these unlawful practices and we call on consumers to be wary of fake offers of discounted Ryanair flights and to always book directly on the Ryanair.com website/app to access the lowest fares and direct customer care.”

There are 0 Comment(s)

If you wish to comment without signing in, click your cursor in the top box and tick the 'Sign in as a guest' box at the bottom.

Big flu jab price hikes this winter: Where’s cheapest if you can’t get a free vaccine?

Pharmacies, supermarkets and health retailers are starting to offer flu jabs ahead of the winter season, but t...

Is now the time to fix your energy deal?

Fixed energy tariffs all but disappeared during the energy crisis. But now they are back with an increasing nu...

Octopus steps in to buy Shell Energy – what customers need to know

The deal is expected to complete in the fourth quarter of 2023 and will take Octopus Energy’s retail supply ...

What will happen if rates change

How your finances will be impacted by a rise in interest rates.

Regular Savings Calculator

Small regular contributions can build up nicely over time.

Online Savings Calculator

Work out how your online savings can build over time.

The best student bank accounts in 2023: Cash offers, tastecards and 0% overdrafts

A number of banks are luring in new student customers with cold hard cash this year – while others are compe...

DIY investors: 10 common mistakes to avoid

For those without the help and experience of an adviser, here are 10 common DIY investor mistakes to avoid.

Mortgage down-valuations: Tips to avoid pulling out of a house sale

Down-valuations are on the rise. So, what does it mean for home buyers, and what can you do?

Money Tips of the Week