EasyJet increased its debit-card booking fee to £8 yesterday, more than double the rate barely six months ago.
The budget carrier blamed “significant cost increases”, but confirmed the fees went to easyJet and not to debit-card processors or providers.
EasyJet corporate affairs manager Andrew McConnell said: “The booking fee covers a range of activities and easyJet has experienced significant cost increases in a number of those areas.”
McConnell told Travel Weekly the costs include “administration of the call centre, development and maintenance of the website, and marketing and acquisition costs”.
He was unable to give more details of these ahead of the carrier’s half-year results, to be announced on May 10.
EasyJet charges an £8 card fee per booking, with an additional £4.95 or 2.5% of a transaction added to credit card bookings. It points out Ryanair charges a £12 fee per passenger on a return flight. EasyJet allows multiple passengers for a single booking fee.
The easyJet charge was £5.50 until yesterday and £3.50 last September.
The carrier charges no fee on Visa Electron cards – in line with several other airlines. However, the UK Cards Association has previously reported these are held by fewer than one in ten UK consumers and most banks will not handle them.