Ryanair rip off: Low cost carriers overprice food and drink
It's well documented that flying can cause dehydration but it seems low cost carriers are a little too aware of how thirsty passengers can get at 30,000ft.Budget airlines including Ryanair have been exposed for imposing huge mark-ups on food and drink bought in the air.A family of four could easily spend around 45 for a sandwich, drink and pack of crisps, according to research by travelsupermarket.com.
Get your wallet out: The flights may be inexpensive, but should you feel a bit peckish or thirsty on board a Ryanair flight, you better get ready for a price shockA small tub of Pringles crisps, which costs 26p in a supermarket, costs 2.20 on a Ryanair flight - nearly nine times as much.
And the mark-up increases when it comes to drinks, with a 500ml bottle of still water costing 25p in a supermarket and 3 with Ryanair - 12 times as much.
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Meanwhile, easyJet charges 1.50 for a 330ml bottle of Vittel - six times the price of a larger 500ml bottle of Eden Falls water bought in a six pack at the supermarket,
Sandwiches are also far more expensive in the air. The average price at Asda is 2 but easyJet, bmi baby charge twice that and flybe.com price them up at 3.95.
Write caption hereMonarch charge 1.50 po! unds for the 43g tub of Pringles and easyJet 1.75.
A standard 33cl can of Pepsi costs just 25p if bought in an eight-pack at Asda, but comes in at 1.60 flights operated by Thomas Cook flight.
Bob Atkinson, travel expert from travelsupermarket.com, said:
Holidaymakers flying with airlines which dont offer a complimentary meal are in danger of wasting money on highly inflated prices for food and drinks on board.
If youve saved money on flights why throw away up to 50 each way on overpriced food and drink for a family of four?
Some airlines do offer meal deal bundles which can help to keep prices down, however, savings are not big in the scheme of things.
It is far cheaper to either take your own from home or buy sandwiches and snacks at a supermarket before your flight.
Theres no getting around the liquids ban, so its worth buying any non-alcoholic drinks in the departure area, where the choice is greater and prices are more affordable.
Ryanairs communications chief, Stephen McNamara, defended the airlines mark-up on food and drinks.
He said: The restaurants on the 100th floor of the Empire State Building or on the top of the Eiffel Tower also charge a little more than the shops below.
You do tend to pay a bit more in a restaurant at 30,000 feet.
You dont have to pay our prices. If you dont want to buy a bottle of water, dont buy it.
If you are saying passengers should pay the same as at a supermarket like Tesco or Asda then bear in mind you are not comparing like with like.
If the likes of Tesco and Asda start offering air fares we can look at this again.
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