The Flybe ‘Charge For A Seat’ Scam
UPDATE: You DO NOT have to pay an additional ‘seat charge’ to fly with flybe. By default, they select a seat for you and tack the charge on to your bill. You can deselect the seat and “continue” to the next page to remove the charge. Regardless, you’ll get a seat. It’s always a first come first served policy… just got to race everyone to the extra leg toom seats!
UPDATE 2: It seems other low cost airlines have started doing this too. Ryanair, Jet2, bmibaby and air berlin have all been reported to be taking part in the charge for a seat scam.
UPDATE 3: The problem is not in charging for a seat. Premium seats being sold for a premium, is fair business in my eyes. The problem is the lack of transparency. Don’t select a seat as default and make it difficult to un-select that option.
Low cost airliners are pretty well known for advertising a ridiculously low price then hitting you with the extra charges to ramp the price up.
Today I booked two tickets with FlyBe. While going through the checkout procedure I select my seats and choose the emergency door row so we’ve got some extra leg room.
I go to pay, hit submit, and in my horror realise I’m being charged a £30 seat charge. That’s a charge for sitting, and trust me, there is no standing option – I looked.
Luckily my password was incorrect and it spat back my order giving me the chance to go change the seats from “emergency” which cost £15 to standard.
Back to checkout … and I see a £12 seat charge.
At this point I’m a bit cofused.
Not only am I paying a fee to fly, a fee in taxes, a transaction fee and a fee to have luggage but also a fee to sit during the flight.
So I go back and de-select my seat options and continue. It turns out preselecting a seat guarantees you a place and you are charged for the service. Fair enough, it’s just not made clear.
So dodging this £30 bullet I continue and pay the fees to get us where we’re going.
With a £3 credit card fee on top. Another fee, this time a fee to pay the fees. ffs.
February 6th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
next they will be charging for air in-flight…
November 3rd, 2010 at 7:57 am
Cheers man, came across your site while booking, saved me 16 euro! =D
November 5th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
I agree – have just booked return tickets with flybe and it was a torrid experience – and I’m used to using Easyjet. I thought this was worse – the many traps they lay for you with insurance, baggage and paying to select a seat without them telling you they would charge. 3 times there were errors on the page and even now I’m not absolutely sure if I’ve got my booking as when I pressed the ‘back’ arrow, it returned to my payment page, even displaying the security code from my debit card – for use of which they charged a gobsmacking £9 which they don’t tell you. Would not use them again unless really necessary.
November 29th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Poor ‘ol easyjet, we’ve given them some flack over the years but, like you, I’ve learnt recently they aren’t bad. Ryanair on the other hand – like flybe it’s a bunch of little “tricks” that end up costing you more. For example, they don’t ask you to check your hand luggage size at check-in but instead wait till you’re boarding. When your bag is too big they hit you with a 40 fine to place it in the hold.
February 21st, 2011 at 6:21 pm
thanks, big help
April 3rd, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Just noticed when booking – HUCKSTERS! Cancelled transaction – WHAT a SHOWER!
August 4th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
Thanks for the tip. Just deselected my seat. The scammers!
September 20th, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Rogues.. But scroll to the bottom of the ‘seat’ page and you will find a ‘continue’ button. You are supposed to think it is for car hire but it isn’t, it takes you back to your booking without ripping you off for a seat. Just as important is stealing money by way of ‘Credit card charge’ If they are taking £200 from my account why charge twice?? (Return flights) they still only visit my card company once. These make Rayanair look good.
October 13th, 2011 at 6:37 am
@geroge – Hitting your card twice for a return flight? Ouch. That’s a new one to me. Unfortunately I’ve seen at least 4 other companies roll out this ‘charge for a seat’ scam in recent months – it’s going to be industry standard soon. Which company charged you a card charge twice for a return flight?