The London Evening Standard carries a headline that is worth repeating.
Ryanair makes £500m on extras
.
It is worth repeating because the model of budget airlines has been mooted by certain Tories involved in local government as an appropriate model.
I don’t know about you, but when I fly, I like to take a bag (up to £70 on Ryanair). I might want to check it in (up to £30). I might even want to pay online (unspecified surcharge).
One way that budget airlines make their money is by charging for things that you don’t absolutely need. It is possible to travel without luggage checked into the hold. The great bulk of people do want to have hold luggage.
Another way that budget airlines – particularly EasyJet – make money is by offering the best prices for people who pay early with consequently higher prices for those who pay closer to travelling.
Translate this to council-provided services. Do you really need your bins collected every week? Because it’ll cost you fifty quid. Do you really need a breakfast club at your school? Because it’ll cost you twenty quid. Do you really want to pay your council tax online? Because that’ll cost you a fiver.
Are you middle-class enough to be able to manage your finances that you can pay your council tax four months in advance? Have a discount. Otherwise…
I don’t mind state service providers paying more for better services. I have paid extra to have my passport turned around in a day (very good service, by the way) and I often send packages by registered post or special delivery.
I object to state service providers giving a service at the absolute bare minium and charging for the service that people reasonably need.
Ultimately, it it easy to decide to fly bmi instead of Ryanair. It’s rather harder to move from one local council to another. The effect of the equivalent of the £500m made by Ryanair on extras is to increase charges and decrease council tax. It is deeply regressive.
xD.
Posted by Wordmobi