Germany has become the first country to ban Ryanair from charging customers to use a credit or debit card to book flights, according to this article in the Irish Times: Ryanair banned from charging credit card fee in Germany.
The German court decided that the airline put customers at a "disproportionate disadvantage" by effectively preventing customers from avoiding the charge.
There is now some hope that other EU countries may similarly ban Ryanair from charging customers to use credit or debit cards. However, though the UK's Office of Fair Trading [OFT] described Ryanair's billing methods as "puerile and childish", they did admit the airline was "narrow letter of the law" with its charges - though only just.
Read more about Ryanair Fees and how to avoid them.
Update
Ryanair have hit back at the article in the Irish Times, claiming that the result of the case actually 'vindicates Ryanair's position', stating that the charges are valid if there is a 'widely available free payment method' offered. They've asked for a retraction from the Irish Times.
However, it seems Ryanair are being selective with their facts. It is by no means clear that the German authorities accept the Pre-paid Mastercard as a 'widely available free payment method'. The German Consumer Federation (VZBV) has said on Test.de that Pre-paid Mastercards "are offered only by a few banks and cost 20-30 euros per year", thus questioning both the freeness and wide availability of the card. Read the article here in German or in English (Google Translate).
Second Update
I have now been sent the original German court ruling, which directly contradicts Ryanair's claims. In it, the court says: "The proposed free of charge payment planned by the defendant [i.e. the pre-paid Mastercard] does not meet these requirements [that Ryanair must provide a free payment method]." Therefore, Ryanair's claim that they have been 'vindicated' is as baseless as their claim that they fly to Barcelona, when they don't.
The beginning of the end for The No Class airline?
Letīs hope so.
I am with the last poster hopefully this is the beginning of the end what the germans should do now is make ryanair return all the fees they got away with charging within germany + the rest of the costs the passenger was forced to pay and on top of that ban them for 2 weeks.
EU legislation says “If an airline is banned in one country within europe,the ban becomes effective for all european countries.” so that would be
ryanairfor two weeks across europe the money they would lose would be brilliant!it could end themCredit card charges.
In France charging for credit is an activity restricted to banks. Therefore credit card charges are illegal for bookings made in France.
Hmm, John, I’m not sure that works.
‘Charging for credit’ is not the same as ‘charging to use a credit card’.
Charging for credit means “I give you credit, you pay it back later and I charge you for that”.
That’s not what a credit card charge is.