Ryanair criticise Thompson agents for 'rip off' flights
18.08.05
Thomson travel agents were branded 'unscrupulous' by Ryanair - for loading charges onto the budget airline's fares, and not informing customers. It is not known how many Ryanair seats are sold by travel agents, most of whom charge handling fees, but it is thought to run into the tens of thousands.
Thomson declined to comment on claims by Ryanair that tickets purchased through one branch of the UK's leading travel agency chain were up to 85% higher than the price quoted on the Ryanair website. Others were 70% and 69% more expensive, the airline said.
Ryanair said a Thomson agent in Barrow in Furness quoted £53.26 for a Liverpool airport - Dublin flight. The flight would have cost £28.85 on its website - a price hike of 85%.
The Irish carrier's head of sales and marketing, Sinead Finn, said: 'Ryanair offers the lowest fares in Europe by selling direct on www.ryanair.com. However, some unscrupulous Thomson travel agents are fleecing passengers by selling our flights at vastly inflated prices, with some charging a whopping 85% more than the web fare available.'
'Consumers are entitled to be told if a handling charge is being levied on their ticket. Unfortunately many Thomson travel agents are not informing their customers and instead are ripping them off.'
'Rip-off Britain is alive and well so don't let travel agents take you for a ride. For the lowest fares, cut out the middlemen by booking directly.' Ryanair urged consumers to avoid agents and go online to book direct in order to avoid the additional charges.
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