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War of words over low fares
A slanging match has started between British Airways and two no-frills carriers over BA’s claim to offer low fares.
BA has launched an advertising campaign to challenge the perception that it is expensive. In addition to radio commercials, posters will feature on cash machines, in underground trains and in railway stations. The slogan is “Have you seen how small our prices are?”
Easyjet claims that BA is spending £15 million, or an average £100 per seat on its advertising campaign. It said in a statement: “BA obviously now stands for Bonkers Accounting. If BA’s fares really were low cost, they wouldn’t need to spend so much money advertising them. Or they could simply put the £15 million to better use by cutting fares”.
Easyjet’s no-frills partner, Go has also stuck the boot in, calling BA’s campaign a “con”. In a statement Go said: “On flights between London and Newcastle, BA’s taxes, fees and surcharges alone are more than Go’s entire fare”.
“Simply talking low fares isn’t enough- the facts speak for themselves. On Go £26 will get you there and back- on BA it won’t even get you off the ground”.
TravelMole checked out the web fares for a return trip from London to Newcastle from 25 to 27 October with both carriers, and found there was little difference in price. The cheapest return on Go cost £70 for these dates, and on BA cost £67.50 if you took an early morning return flight, or £87.50 to return later in the day.
A spokesperson for Go told TravelMole: “There will be circumstances when they have come under us. But it just means we have sold more seats than them”.
Read our previous stories:
13-September-2002 Ryanair claiming ‘favourite airline’ status
02-August-2002 Going, going, gone: easyjet completes Go takeover
02-August-2002 bmibaby announces big route expansion
29-July-2002 bmibaby to go completely no-frills at East Midlands Airport
07-May-2002 No-frills consolidation is ‘inevitable’ says analyst
29-April-2002 bmibaby md dismisses analyst’s criticisms
19-Feb-2002 Report says BA was wrong to sell Go
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