easyJet’s advertising of carry-on baggage fees starting at £5.99 has been deemed misleading by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The ASA found insufficient evidence that this price was available across various flight routes and dates, prompting the ban on such claims by easyJet.
Moreover, easyJet has been instructed to ensure that the “from” price for large cabin bags represents the lowest price across a significant number of flights going forward. In response, easyJet defended its advertising, stating that while the advertised price was accurate and applicable to multiple routes, actual prices could vary based on factors like availability, demand, and operational costs.
Following an investigation by consumer group Which?, the ASA ruling revealed that the actual price for adding a large cabin bag on all 520 easyJet flights analyzed exceeded £5.99. The lowest price found was £23.49, with an average price of £30.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, expressed astonishment at airlines’ practice of using low headline fares and then charging significantly higher prices for standard cabin bags. He emphasized the importance for customers to consider airlines without cabin bag add-ons to potentially save on costs.
In a statement, easyJet emphasized its commitment to providing transparent pricing information to customers and mentioned making adjustments to ensure clarity following the ASA’s feedback.