easyJet publicizes sneaky duty-free value bump as passengers issued warning
Greedy easyJet bosses have hiked duty-free prices for the second time in less than 12 months.
Last May we reported the chiselling no-frills airline had raised duty-free prices by close to 40%. But a fresh probe by Daily Star Sunday researchers has found the budget carrier has hiked prices once again by up to seven per cent on some items.
In 2022 easyJet’s inflight brochure was offering a Citizen Eco-Drive Men’s World Time Chronograph watch for £129. But the price for the timepiece was ratcheted up 37% to £177 in 2023 and now by a further 1% to £179 in the current 2024 catalogue.
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Perfume prices have also been hit.
A 30ml YSL Black Opium for her has surged from £45 in 2022 to £58.50 in 2023 – up 30% – before bosses slapped an extra 50p on top to make the current 2024 price £59.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Similarly, Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million for him was priced at £41 in 2022, before a 21% rise saw it hit £49.50 and then a further seven per cent hike making the 2024 price a hefty £53.
The price hikes come after the penny-pinching carrier recently announced it had suffered an £80 million hit from the conflict in Gaza and growing tension across the Middle East.
Martyn James, an independent consumer champion, said: “Don’t be fooled by discounts and special offers.
“Because of the sneaky price rises with duty-free costs, airlines can massively increase prices then discount them later – as we saw last year with Easyjet.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“So don’t buy on board, without checking what the goods actually cost in the airport and online.”
The low-budget airline said it was currently running a sale on its price-inflated duty-free range.
EasyJet said: “We continually review our range to ensure we are providing good value and competitive prices alongside trying to minimise the impact of the inflationary environment and are currently offering 25% off our duty-free range.
“We continue to offer value for money which the growing popularity of the range clearly shows.”
2024 prices
YSL Black Opium – £59 (up 50p) – 1%
Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million – £53 (up £3.50) – 7%
Citizen Eco-Drive Men’s World Time Chronograph – £179 (up £2) – 1%
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