Action on travel and food costs
Saturday 28th January 2012, 3:00PM GMT.
Advocate Rose Colley who is likely to become head of the Jersey Consumer Council next week
RISING food prices, ‘hidden’ airline charges and the Island’s bus service are all to be scrutinised by the incoming head of Jersey’s consumer watchdog.
Advocate Rose Colley, who is expected to take up the post next week, has highlighted these issues as the major priorities for the Jersey Consumer Council.
A family lawyer and former London councillor, Mrs Colley also plans to tackle the utility companies on the prices of electricity, gas and water.
She was nominated last month to succeed Senator Alan Breckon, who had been chairman of the Jersey Consumer Council since it was formed in 1995. Provided no last-minute challengers step forward, her appointment should be approved by the States on Tuesday.
Mrs Colley, who plans to fight on behalf of consumers in a number of areas, said that many shoppers felt they were not getting value for money. Using the example of an M&S promotion advertised in Jersey and the UK for the same price but excluding a bottle of wine here, she said that Islanders were paying more than they should be paying.
Mrs Colley said that chain restaurants which refused to offer the same deals in their Jersey outlets as in the UK would also be in the firing line. ‘I think there is also a general feeling that the cost of travelling from the Island has increased a lot, and that’s where the issues like baggage charges and all the extra charges become important to people.’
Her comments come on the back of a statement that debit and credit card charges imposed by airlines should be reviewed. Flybe charges up to £5.50 per person per journey in card fees, while Easyjet customers can expect to pay at least £8 per booking depending on the card they are using. The UK government plans to ban excessive card fees this year.
Mrs Colley said that hidden airline charges, including the cost of baggage, had also become a big issue for people booking flights.
And with Connex’s contract to run the Island’s bus service coming up for renewal, Mrs Colley – a regular bus user – said that that was another area which deserved to be examined. ‘The frequency of the bus service to outer areas, particularly in the winter months, is a big issue and on busy routes overcrowding can also be a problem, even with the introduction of the double-decker bus,’ she said.
Saturday 26 May
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Provided no last-minute challengers step forward, ……hardly think that there will be any challengers as nobody seems to know how to!!!!
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Look at the M and S advert it clearly states that the offer is availible in selected stores in the UK and Guernsey. Last time I checked Jersey was Jersey and not UK or Guernsey. Tough luck that the deal isn’t availible here, c’est la vie!!!
Why should chain restaurants offer the same deals in a Jersey outlets as they do in the UK. The offers vary from town to town and city to city. Again tought luck we live in Jersey but lifes a bugger.
Excessive charges, I am 50/50 I know there are these charges when booking so I factor it in, to me it is just part of the price. Take them away and the airline will increase their prices. What about excessive charges charged by the states for parking? I am not talking about the hour but for the zones that are 20 minutes, where can I buy a 20 minute pay card? I cannot, I have to spend an hour to park for 20 minutes? now that is a rip off, if there is no option to pay for 20 minutes then there should not be 20 minute zones. What about administration fees, another hidden charge, charged by the states at Active card and every gym on the island, not only do you have the monthly membership you have to pay a sometimes very hefty admin fee or hidden charge, just to become a member.
I will say well done on Connex, where i live, if i took the bus home from work I would have to pack my desk up and get to the bus station in 5 minutes or else I would have to wait to the next day for a bus. Good luck with this one.
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And her new proposals are? Where has the lady been living latley then?
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Who gives a monkeys about airline costs, it is NOT on the majority of peoples minds right now, surviving day to day is! As for chains of restaurants, again people can vote with their feet and go else where, it is not an essential item. And is it wrong to exclude the bottle of wine?? Chief medical officer will be quite happy with that considering the majority apparently abuse alcohol!!
Is it not the UK that are looking into booking costs on travel also, so no need to waste time when the UK cracks down on this and might I add at no expense to the Island.
Connex has been the topic of many threads, until the States stop subsidising them and get in a company that runs a proper service and to meet the Islands needs, don’t bother blowing hot air. This is the job of another department!
You Ms Colley are looking into your own selfish needs and are not thinking of the ordinary person who is fining it difficult to make ends meet.
Stick with what is on everyones minds food, utilities, motoring and rental costs, how the hell are ordinary folk going to be able to keep paying these extortionate costs compared to the UK?
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Well, i give a monkey about airline costs. So does anybody concerned with Tourism, and those who may be considering the Island for holidays, family visits or buissness. As the Island is 9×5 surrounded by a moat, anything in or out has to shipped by air or sea.
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So PJ… I take you will be the ‘last minute challenger’, volunteering your time to take on this role?
no?… thought not.
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Having worked for a food retailer in the past i can tell Mrs colley exactly why food is more expensive here, everything comes by boat – this is expensive, if anyone does not believe me ring ferryspeed or condor and ask for a price for a trailer of food to be brought to the island – the four digit bill might give her pause for thought
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All of which adds an interesting angle to the well known issues of: the on-island agricultural wage, with few locals and lots of immigrants working in agriculture.
In addition why is this food miles cost not exerting market forces on a greater proportion of agricultural output being focused on feeding islanders? (I am not an expert on this, but it makes me ‘mighty curious’)
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It is a complete myth that shipping costs are a problem.
If you are finding it a problem, that is because your purchasing department have failed to negotiate good prices with suppliers, and carriers.
I have always been able to source goods at a price which enables them to be sold at the same, or lower price found anywhere. Including shipping costs.
Many islanders are doing exactly that for themselves, by shopping online.
I notice that many groceries can now be bought online. So, I think local supermarkets need to sharpen their pencils!
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Exactly!
How can Pound World and the like import cheaply to sell their wares and others cannot?
Why is it sometimes cheaper to buy Jersey exported goods on the mainland than it is in our very own back yard?
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As for local produce The BBC Countryfile proggramme Sunday 29th January 2012 came from Gurnersey, and highlighted that a shop keeper has imported milk from England, contrary to the local law. The Gurnersey Court is due to rule. Bad luck Donkeys! You’re in the EEC, free passage of goods across frontiers! Woophee for prices, tough for local producers. The biggest farm in the Island’s would be a small holding in UK and a back garden in many european countries. That plus the welfare stndard expected for livestock, if you want the best, your going to have to pay for it.
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Not to mention the extortionate harbour dues (paid to the States) which are payable on every ton of freight moved into the Island
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agreed this may slighty affect the price however – how is it then that the UK can sell Jersey Royals cheaper than we do ??
I think it probably an excuse – you live on an Island therefore I shall charge what I like, because you don’t have much choice !
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Remember when Morrison’s sold jersey royals at half the price of any-where else here?
Shipped to Britain,and packed in Britain,sent back to jersey and sold at least half the price!
Got it in one bagpuss
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The answer to Jersey Royals is simple, the major UK supermarkets are hell’s bent on screwing each other, even at a loss in individual stores. Plus any goods in a supermarket belong to the supplier, until sold. So any waste is bourne by the supplier. To give you an idea of the stupidity, Kent local grown potatoes were a few years back promoted by ‘Buy one, get a bag of green beans free’ Me, being me, checked the Country of Origin of the beans, Zimbabwe! Which was in a famine situation at the time.
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Surely they must be exporting and importing Jersey Butter as its price raised by nearly 40% since August 2011 (1.05 then versus 1.40p today in Grande Marche).
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Ok so why is it so much cheaper to buy Jersey royals and other Jersey veg in the UK than it is to buy here?
I would have thought that the freight charges would be the same which ever direction the boat was going, but I have friends in the UK who laugh at the prices we pay compared to them…
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Yes, I’ve seen the cheaper Jersey Royals too, and it was on a market stall, not in a supermarket. The “shipping costs” explanation has always baffled me, as it only seems to apply in one direction! Given the mark up we get on our shopping, I never understood how the fulfilment industry made its profits. Sure, they had a tax advantage, but shipping the stuff in over that expensive stretch of water, and then back across again must have eaten right into those profits. Unless of course, those shipping charges are not quite what they claimed to be. Over to you Mrs Colley.
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Lets hope she succeeds in doing something.
A Few have promised to investigate,but nothing came out of it.
the price of food is a big issue here,as is the hidden cost of airlines.
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I believe that at the last election Advocate Colley stood for election but was unsuccessful. The electorate chose, democratically, not to have her represent us. Now she is appointed to a position “to represent consumers”. Bit odd. I trust she will not simply choose to pursue her own agenda – an agenda that was democratically rejected. Does she get our money to spend promoting her opinions?
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I am a bit suspicious about this lady; she seems to stand for election wherever she lives – lib dem councillor in UK (elected), MP in UK (not elected) and now for Senator here (as you say), but to be fair she was half way up the list.
She seems to get involved in all sorts of other good causes, and being a lawyer,as well as having a home life (perhaps not?), she must be very busy. I just hope that she has time to research things properly and not go charging around on the basis of intuition.
I would have thought that someone with a bit more time on their hands would have been a better appointment.
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No action on Lawyers fees then??
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This article is pure hypocrisy. Simply a PR stunt to get herself into the public eye ahead of the next elections.
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There is no need for action on lawyers fees. You can negotiate very good fees at the moment. Also, people seem to forget the huge legal aid burden they take on.
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Good on her, but how hard is it going to be to get things changed? It is about time it was made cheaper to travel to and from the island without booking months in advance! People feel trapped on the rock due to the high cost of travel by both air and sea. A couple of years ago I wanted to swap flying to to the UK to using the ferry for my weekly commute. I asked Condor if they would give me a discount for a block booking of 20 return trips, they would not give an inch even though this would have led to a potential 45 return trips a year!
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I think she may have “missed the bus” with regards to connex anyway – reviews of and the tender process for large contracts such as that start well before the contract is up for renewal – not just a couple of months before!
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Rose Colley, you should start by examining the removal of GST from shipping and overland transport costs within the UK of goods to Jersey,which are presently levied on goods well before they arrive within Jersey’s jurisdiction. GST should be levied on the point of entry into the island, not on the point of departure from the producer within the UK.This is wrong, is unfair to small local businesses, whose transport costs are multiplied by pallet costs, as opposed to the container loads afforded by large non taxpaying UK based Jersey supplying supermarket chains, whom can claim the VAT back on transport and yet pay no local tax.What is your stance? It would hearten and surprise many if you replied on this thread!
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The disparity between offers advertised here but not available does seem infair. I keep getting e mails sayingI can have a pizza and salad for a fiver at a well known pizza outlet. Doesn’t apply in Jersey luvvy put your hand back in your pocket said the nice lady.
Same as the M&S 2 dine for £10 they did it once but since we can view the ads and see what we can’t have but we are not permitted to participate.Don’t show the ads in Jersey it’s just rubbing our faces in it.
I was on the phone to Sky the other day they resolved my problem and then tried to sell me Sky total package, Sky TV plus line rental plus 20 meg broadband for tuppence hapenny. I’d love it I said but we can’t have it, I pay £16 line rental and £29 for an 8 meg connection plus Sky on top, around £100 a month total.
Getting stiffed it’s the Jersey way.
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Why is the consumer council going to look into this?
Surely the JCRA should be?
Just a question, no doubt that will remain unanswered.
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Sounds like breeding Elephants a lot of noise and commotion for a few minutes at high levels, and two years till any chance of results being seen.
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This revue of Jersey pricing needs to go to the root. Prices charged to Jersey retailers by UK wholesalers, then shipping and importing and then the cost of trading.
I sell products in Jersey which can be purchased cheaper on line, it is a struggle to keep customers. If I charged internet prices I would simply go out of business because the GST and cost of importation adds about 15% to my cost price.
Imported goods from the UK are often posted F.O.C. and customers do not have to pay GST if they cost under £100 which is my typical price band.
Make UK companies pay the GST up front on all goods over £17.99 and this would really level the playing field.
I am fed up of giving advice to customers who then go off and purchase on line and on some occasions come back to ask more advice when they have purchased the wrong item.
It is easy to blame profiteering by local companies for higher prices in Jersey but when you see half St Helier going out of business and shops in prime positions vacant for long periods it seems there is not profit left in Jersey.
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I am unsure what this is all about, I am afraid. Jersey is Jersey and the UK is the UK, both jurisdictions having entirely different tax and remuneration arrangements and it is difficult to compare lifestyles – Jersey office worker drives to work with his partner and spends £1,400 p.a. in parking / London City worker spends 3 hours per day commuting and his season ticket costs him £5,000.
Considering 50% of Jersey’s population were not born hear, including me, if you dont like it, go somewhere else.
On the subject of air fares, in real terms, they are cheap compared with 30 years ago. And the airlines are affected by recent oil price rises.
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Flybe bless em are already dropping the Credit Card Charge, or should I say ‘re packaging’ it.
There will be an increase to a flat £10 charge for all bookings under the auspice of an administration fee!
So they have effectively doubled their present charge and therefore flight costs.
That should be investigated by the JRCA under sharp practice legislation.
But it wont . . .
Ah the Jersey Way . . .
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Your bias against Flybe has blinded you to the obvious…. As usual!
You see it’s not just a fee for Jersey residents is it, so what’s the JCRA gonna do about it???
Also, they can charge whatever they like! Its so funny seeing people on here whinge & whinge about Flybe when there really is a simple solution, I’ll tell you what it is shall I?… Ready… Hold on…
DON’T FLY WITH THEM IF YOU DON’T LIKE THEM!!!
Keep Dreaming.
Love & Hugs.
x
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Err, UUUmmm!
My issue with the card charges Flybe make is that it is for every passenger travelling. A group for example of 10 people, who pay on one card get charged 10 times.
The Bank does charge for a card transaction, currently about 50p. So its not as Flybe say an admin cost and its not a fiver also!
Its like a supermarket adding a Tax based on the number of items in your basket!
Ah now that could be an idea . . .
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I think the £10 flat fee will work out cheaper for some, as it is now for the whole booking rather than credit card fee per passenger, per leg.
Like everyone says, they are not going to hit their margin by absorbing the fee, simply call it something different.
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If shipping costs are so high can somebody explain why I pay less for imported produce than the prices asked for local, often sub standard, produce?
I would like to buy local, but until I get a quality product for less than an imported product, I will not buy local produce.
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As per above…
One word–CARTEL.
Fed up hearing people bleating on about ‘buy local’.
I dont care where the stuff I buy comes from only how much it costs. Jersey produce is no better or worse than items grown or made elsewhere and I’m not prepared to pay a premium for the privledge to use them.
I stayed on an island in the Inner Hebrides for a while and stuff cost nothing like what it costs here so I dont suscribe to the notion that its to do with shipping/importation costs.
Lets also not forget that when you buy an item which is marked 1 pound (which costs 1.05 here with the GST) the items price has already been marked up INCLUSIVE of the VAT element in the UK. So in effect we are being taxed twice! Not to mention the fact that everything is way overpriced too!
I would really love for ASDA or Tesco to open here and really put a rocket up the producers and companies here……never happen though.
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Personally, I believe the public transport issue is a major problem which needs to be fixed pronto,afterall, we all pay for this service whether we use or not anyway!!!
A good service would alleviate traffic congestion, which in turn may reduce road accidents, wear and tear, and help save the environment as less petrol would be required by commuter’s if we all took the bus.
However, the bus company has a lot to do, such as:
Improving the timetable
Improving customer service (too many grunt’s as drivers)
Give good value for money
Improve driving standards
Improve routes
It’d be interesting to see how the insurance companies (losing car insurance premiums), states (losing tax on petrol), car dealerships (losing in car sales), states (again, losing in parking fines/fees) will all react……
In summary, it is not in the best interests of the greedy states to find a solution to this problem…..good luck fighting the old boy’s club on this one Ms Colley!
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How about controlling lawyer fees !!
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JCRA? Don’t get me started on this waste of public money. When they get a grip of the real issues affecting islanders, I might, just might, start to take them seriously.
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I’m sure they’ll be gutted you think that!
Keep Smiling.
x
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Mario – JCRA? Don’t get me started on this waste of public money. When they get a grip of the real issues affecting islanders, I might, just might, start to take them seriously.
I’m with you there, their Christmas newsletter had champagne at Waitrose for about £14 that was a Which best buy. I bought some and when I got to the till it was over £18, I called the JCRA and it turned out they didn’t even visit the store, they just phoned up and asked how much it cost. If my experience of calling Jersey supermarkets is anything to go by you’d be doing well to get someone who speaks English.
If they can’t be arsed to leave the office to check on a price how much use are they?
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So Mrs Colley says the cost of travelling from the island has increased a lot yet a few days earlier the JEP said airfares were down 14% -all a bit confusing!!As for advertsing the £10 M & S meal deal in Jersey(but without the wine so therefore not a good deal!) I think M & S should be taken to task for doing so if it is not available in Jersey.I thought that if something was advertised at a price then the company were obliged to supply it at that price?Our local Co-Op have recently advertised a choice of 3 items for £3 which represents unbelievable value.It turned out to be a misprint on their leaflets but they have been honouring the deal.
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Julie,
Thanks for your comments. There’s no general legal duty on consumers here or in the UK to sell a product at the listed price – the only requirements are that said goods be of satisfactory quality and fit for the intended purpos.
If, for example, you mistakenly listed your car for sale in the paper for £200 rather than £2,000 you would be under no legal obligation to sell it to me at that price (or indeed at all!).
Further reading: http://www.cab.org.je/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=725&Itemid=59
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We could start with removing GST on anything which is necessary for islanders to live i.e food, water, electricity. If we have to add 1% to income tax to offset the expense, at least that would be fairer to all concerned.
As for the bus service, it’s a mystery to me why we need a private company to do this in such a small island, surely a state owned company could control ticket prices and timetables better than a private company which needs to make a profit in the nature of things in order to survive?
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Totally agree with you regarding States’ owned service but the current idea is to let foreign companies pick the best bits of Jersey enterprises such as telecoms and Jersey Post and leave the unprofitable bits for the taxpayer to run.
Re GST, I think that it may now be more beneficial to remove it altogether and, as you suggest, add 1per cent to income tax ( or tax non Jersey registered companies).
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Why is 1% on income tax fairer to all concerned? Those who don’t pay income tax will benefit and taxpayers will be worse off. How on earth is that fairer?
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WHAT A JOKE SHE IS!!
These are all issues facing the world, not just Jersey…so now she thinks she can change the world!!
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She failed to get voted into the States, so now she gets a position where people don’t have to vote her in.
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Lawyers BIGGEST cartel over here,sort out your own 1st love!!
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Sort out the Condor fares fiasco about their pricing and you’ll get my vote.
3 day return to France for us and car £238.
To the UK £258.
UK to France obviously with a different operator for the same period for 2 people and a car £37.50pp.
Grrrrr
Please let us the public vote on who we want to take on the route
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Well Rose,
You can support an up and coming proposition to review and change commercial lease laws which would have an impact on high street prices.
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Is this a paid position Rose?
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She will get £10,000.00 I believe
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The price of water is going up on the 1st of April.
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Flybe – Daylight Robbery -Don’t Fly With Them
I returned from the UK via Birmingham, as my friend lives in Stratford-upon-Avon. I checked in and was a kilo over in my suitcase so paid £30. My son had a small holdall which i was told was OK to go on the plane. Just about to board the plane when Flybe wheel out their new way of taking even MORE from you, a frame which you had to fit your holdall/bag into. Of course it was very small, as my holdall would not fit, nor would 3 other gentleman one of whom had been doing the same route with the same bag for 2 years. We were all charged £40, yes £40 take take a small bag on the plane.
We could have checked the bags in for £15.99 but they never told us that at checking. So they can make a small fortune on a daily basis.
I will never ever fly with them again and i hope Mrs Colley looks into to Flybe, Oh they also charge you £6.00 to sit down
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I do want to support Flybe here. I too am unhappy about the fact that you have to be so careful when making any airline booking these days. I don’t know how the elderly cope. However, make sure your bag (wheels, handles etc) are within the stated size that you’ll find on Flybe’s website, know your way through the online booking process so that you know how to avoid baggage, insurance, seat, car hire etc charges, make use of the website to help find the less expensive flights and book well in advance, and finally, make sure that the price you thought you were to be paying at the start of the process is the same at the end, and you’ll get yourself a good price. And it is perfectly possible to do a short holiday taking only a weekend bag, avoiding the baggage costs. So learn the system, play the system, and let everyone else who doesn’t subsidise you. The world has changed. You need to adapt I’m afraid.
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I got well and truly stung by them a while back and will not use them again.
Now we go BA every time, the price you see right at the beginning of the booking is the price you pay at the end, and I have to say that it has been cheaper each time because there are no hidden fees.
Not to mention free drinks, courteous service and they let us check an extra bag in free last time we returned with them.
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Jersey – Manchester return Flybe, December 2011. Explanation of “taxes and charges”.
Jersey Airport passenger service/security charge £13.28
UK Airport Passenger Duty (UK tax on all flights from a UK airport)£12.00
Manchester Airport passenger service/security charge £9.07
FLYBE ADDITIONAL CHARGES
Fuel supplement £6.00
Insurance supplement £15.00
Card payment fee £9.00
TOTAL £64.35
So the “taxes” element breaks down as follows
UK Government £12.00
Manchester Airport £9.07
Jersey Airport £13.28
and the “charges” element to Flybe £30.00
These “charges” of fuel supplement, insurance supplement and card charges are simply the costs of running the business and should be included in the advertised price. No other business adds these as additional costs to their advertised prices (well apart from
Condor!!).
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No you miss understand. the only element of the fare that is tax is the uk government tax, the rest simply the fare passed off as a tax. It is the same as a sandwich shop asking the customer for 50p towards his rent. the principle that flybe uses is compounding a lie.
Where is our government?
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Gino, the Manchester and Jersey airport charges are nothing to do with Flybe. The Jersey Airport charges go to Jersey Airport. Let’s not make it worse than it is. Flybe are charging £30 over and above their advertised ticket price, and that’s before you start talking about optional charges such as luggage or a booked seat.
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K Howell, flew back from Manchester two weeks ago and yes saw the same thing, two passengers stopped to check the size of their bags at the gate. The cheeky buggers charged them 40 quid each ,said their bags where too big, of course they both outraged as all was fine on the way out.!! Stuff flybe!!no wonder there was only 7 of us on the flight!!! maybe the 200 quid each way price puts people off. Low cost airline my a**! Make a fortune last minute and funeral flights. Flybe just go!bye bye
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More easyjet routes please!!!,bmi baby please come back to manchester and cardiff, jet 2 more routes please, Blue islands stop fobbing us off with the no pay for this and that as your too bloody dear anyway, aurigny too dear also. Not alot of airlines left is there? oh thats because they all pull out of jersey. Thomson fly great airline with great prices in the 90,s…. please come back( cry ,cry) Lets say goodbye to Aurigny, Blue islands and most of all(vomit) FLYBE
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A word of warning on Jet2. Make sure you print your boarding card in advance. I usually travel with Flybe who let you check in at the airport. Jet2 charge you £17 if you arrive at the airport minus your boarding card. Slipped up on that one and a cheap fare ended costing an extra £34 for 2 of us. Not happy.
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Check this out…Jersey to Manchester fri 3rd feb 311.58 , coming back mon 6th feb 226.65… total flight 538.23. Thats flybe..( fall off chair laughing and in shock)
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Just entered these dates to Manchester and there is a return flight available now for £231.73 (plus a credit card fee?). I assume you went for the most convenient rather than the cheapest flights. Go on Saturday 4th instead of the 3rd and it is £173.36. You won’t get a cheap flight if you are not flexible.
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Nice one, rightly put in his place, thats the thing about being a reasonable adult, you don’t just jump down the throats of something that you personally don’t like to make them look bad for the sake of it!
And i’m no Flybe fanboy, just think that if you are going to argue against something at least use facts for your argument and not just make them up!
Love & Hugs.
xxx
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The above info re Flybe is surpassed by British Airways. Their airport charges for a return Jersey – Manchester flight are for some reason £39.89 compared with Flybe’s £22.35 (no sign of an insurance surcharge though where Flybe’s is £15) and their fuel surcharge is a MASSIVE £66 against Flybe’s £6!! BA taxes and charges total £117.89, Flybe £64.35 (both have the £12 APD UK tax).
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Hm, me too am confused with BA taxes. My return flights to Edinburgh via Gatwick 13-20 Feb are £73 odd but the taxes are £99 odd. Still a lot cheaper than Flybe + free luggage, on flight drink/snack etc
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Your taxes, charges and surcharges are viewable on the BA site on the internet and are as follows:
Air Passenger Duty £12 (all flights from a UK airport are charged this tax by the UK government), Airport Passenger Service charges £21.22 (fees that go to the airports), British Airways Fuel surcharge £66!!.
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£10k per annum this failed political candidate will get. Hands up if you would prefer that money to help sports clubs? If “consumers” want to get together to spout their personal opinions, let them do so at their own cost.
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i wouldn’t say ‘failed’, first run and only one off a spot seems like a good job to me. also, if it wasn’t for the reduced number of senators she would have been in…
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Well she didn’t succeed did she. Show me a good loser and I’ll show you…..
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Flight prices should be high. Considering global warming, flying should remain a luxury.
But who cares this days… Don’t we all want to go to an exotic place for our holidays or London to do some shopping…
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Don’t agree because they are flying loads of half empty planes. Cheaper prices means more bums on seats
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Back in the middle 80s a return fare to Gatwick for a weekend away was in the order of £120 per person (maybe more). Adjusted for inflation this is worth about £360 in today’s money.
I checked Flybe last night and for 2 people on the teatime flight out Friday and late flight back Sunday it came to less than £400(with one bag between them, no insurance).
I am in no way an apologist for Flybe or any other airline when it comes to charges but the cost of air travel has halved in real terms in the last 25 years or so. I agree, certain charges should be included in the base ticket cost but when it comes to bags will you want a bag charge included in your base price when you only have a small carry on bag? As for fuel, back then it was probably $50/tonne, now it is upwards of $1000/tonne. Will the family of 4 want 4 lots of transaction charges added to their base cost when now they pay 1? Airlines are probably making less than £2 per person per sector because it is a dog eat dog world out there. Airports/governments all get to add their charges/security fees on top of handling fees etc and the airlines have been squeezed tightly and the only way to get people through the doors is to reduce their margins considerably. When credit card fees are banned and all the adjustments included I look forward to revisiting these pages and seeing the same people complaining mightily how much the basic air fare has gone up and demanding to see just how they come up with the new figure. All the charges are there in the small print. Would you all buy something for 5, 6 or £900 without checking details first? Why then do people buy thousands of pounds of airline tickets without looking at max bag weights/sizes then?
It is not a case of rip-off Jersey or rip-off UK it is just a fact of life. Things cost and when it is only one of two ways of getting off the rock it focuses the mind. Yes there may well be a better way of charging for an air fare but no one airline is going to do it alone. Why give up the ability to advertise a magnificently low basic fare then add things on later when your opponent doesn’t have to.
Enjoy your Island. I wish I was back there.
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All very true I’m sure, but the important line is “Why give up the ability to advertise a magnificently low basic fare then add things on later when your opponent doesn’t have to”. So all airlines should be made to show the real cost of the ticket. I don’t object to optional charges such as luggage and insurance, I’m not sure I approve of having to pay for a specific seat but at least that too is optional but fuel supplements, insurance supplements, card fees/admin charges are NOT optional and should be part of the advertised price. Anything else is cheating. Imagine walking into a shop to buy a product with a price tag on it and then being told there are supplements for the heating of the shop, the assistant’s wages, use of the changing rooms etc.
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So today we hear this woman on the radio trying to play down what she would earn from this..and when pressed dismissively announced it was just Ten thousand pounds….10k for 8-10 hours a week….now we all know how poverty stricken Jersey Lawyers are so why take this job that an out of work person would die for,at the equivalent of 50k a year…..same old same old…
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I imagine she sees it as a way to get better known in a field that is a positive one in order to get elected next time. Seems perfectly reasonable to me.
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I voted with my feet and use Blue Island when I can, cheaper, better service and far more helpful than Slybe.
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You clearly have more money than sense.
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How can they justify making charges for credit/charge card bookings as you cannot pay any other way?
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