easyJet has been prohibited from advertising carry-on baggage fees starting at £5.99 as the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) deemed the price misleading to passengers. The ASA found insufficient evidence to support that this price was available across various flight routes and dates, leading to the directive for easyJet to discontinue using the specific phrase.
Additionally, easyJet must ensure that the lowest “from” price for large cabin bags applies to a significant portion of their flights going forward. Despite easyJet’s argument that the advertised price was accurate and applicable to multiple routes, they acknowledged that prices could fluctuate based on factors like availability, demand, and operational expenses. The actual price for a specific booking is prominently displayed before purchase.
The ASA ruling stemmed from a Which? investigation indicating that the price for adding a large cabin bag exceeded £5.99 on all 520 analyzed easyJet flights. The lowest price discovered was £23.49, with an average of £30. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel magazine, expressed astonishment at airlines attempting to circumvent regulations and mislead customers with unrealistic prices. He emphasized the importance of customers being vigilant about additional charges to ensure a cost-effective travel experience.
In response, easyJet stated their commitment to providing transparent pricing information to customers and clarified that some large cabin bags are indeed available at the lowest price. Following the ASA’s feedback, adjustments have been made to ensure clearer information presentation for consumers.
