On 15 Oct, 13:18, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 13:03:24 on
Thu, 15 Oct 2009, asdf remarked:

On Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:52:19 +0100, Roland Perry wrote:

Give an example of Ryanair mugging.

The programme gave two fairly explicit examples. The booking fees, which
are far beyond the actual cost of the transaction

The "mugging" referred to above was about unexpected, or "surprise"
charges. While the credit card fees are somewhat high (it's necessary to
factor in all the costs when buying these fares) they are not
unexpected, nor are they a surprise.

Yes they are. The "headline" fares (49p etc) don't include them, and
many people don't find out about them until they get to the booking
screen.

Actually, some of the fees are currently waived for the "promotional
fares", so be careful what you wish for.

Most reputable companies include any payment handling costs
(incl. cash handling) in their up-front prices.

In that case there are lots of disreputable companies around.

Indeed, the very way we are
discussing them here indicates how familiar everyone is with them.

Only because they're notorious for being an unexpected, excessive
charge!

They are notorious enough, that claiming you've never heard of them
doesn't wash. Ever thought that all the tales circulating about Ryanair
actually work to their *advantage*? They were prosecuted by Essex
Trading Standards, but got off on the grounds that "everyone has heard
the stories about us, and therefore expects extra fees".

I guess if you mug someone in an area notorious for muggings, it
ceases to be one because they should have heard about it in advance
and expected it, and becomes a "walking down the street fee" instead?

Frankly, yes.
--
Roland Perry

So they've created such a lawless situation that anything goes. That
seems to me to be a Bad Thing and a situation that should be
rectified, not condoned.