ATW Daily News

Ryanair passengers to pay £2/€3 to use airport check-in desks

Monday August 27, 2007

Ryanair's effort to simplify the check-in and boarding process, cut costs and increase ancillary revenue will include a new £2/€3 ($4.00-$4.07) fee charged to each person using an airport check-in desk beginning Sept. 20.

The LCC said the fee "reflects the cost of airport check-in desk facilities" but also will encourage customers to use its Check'N'Go Web check-in service, which formerly cost the same £2/€3 per usage but now will be free for passengers traveling with only carry-on baggage and will include free priority boarding. The latter service will remain available for other customers for a £2/€3 fee.

"Ryanair's Web check-in and priority boarding service has proven very popular among passengers by freeing them from check-in queues and departure gate queues. However, clearly charging for this service has acted as a disincentive," the carrier said. "We expect that providing this service free of charge will significantly increase usage," it added, noting that the new measures "will, we believe, encourage more and more passengers to travel without checked-in baggage."

by Cathy Buyck

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