Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.What now, even more charges?
Actually the opposite is happening as an extra charge is being scrapped or, to be more correct, absorbed into the price.
That's good news. What extra charge?
It's the surprise debit charge surcharge that many airlines slap on customers at the end of the online booking process. With the charge costing up to £6 per ticket, it's been calculated that surcharging in the airline sector has been costing British passengers around £300m a year.
Who is scrapping it?
Twelve budget airlines are ending debit card surcharging: Aer Lingus, BMI Baby, Eastern Airways, easyJet, Flybe, German Wings, Jet2, Lufthansa, Ryanair, Thomas Cook, Thomson (TUI) and Wizz Air. Another firm, Monarch, scrapped the charge last summer.
That's good of them, isn't it?
They've been forced to scrap the additional charge by the Office of Fair Trading, which acted following a supercomplaint by the consumer group Which?
Does that mean my holiday flight will now be cheaper?
No. The airlines have until December to change their processes. Even then they are likely to add the cost to prices. But at least from then you'll be able to see upfront how much your flight costs with no hidden extra charges.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments