A Ryanair trip turned costly for Karen Pritchard and her husband after they were charged £1,375 in extra fees for airport check-ins on a trip from Bristol to Dublin, booked via travel agency Opodo.
Despite expecting the agency to handle online check-ins, the couple was hit with £330 fees both on departure and return after they struggled to access their bookings.
Instead of enjoying their time in Dublin, the couple spent hours unsuccessfully resolving the issue with both Ryanair and Opodo.
Ryanair blamed Opodo, citing that the passengers were overcharged by 80%, while Opodo claimed Ryanair’s “abusive” check-in fees were at fault. Ultimately, Opodo offered a partial refund of £687.69 as a goodwill gesture.
The incident highlights broader dissatisfaction with Opodo, which has faced criticism for allegedly misleading customers into subscribing to its premium “Opodo Prime” membership.
Some users reported unknowingly signing up for the £89.99 annual fee when opting for discounted fares. Many of these customers, claiming a lack of transparency in the advertising, were denied refunds.
Image credit: nappy
