Ryanair Entropy 'loophole' closed

Stevie Dakota

Looks like Rynair have closed off this loophole, B*******s!

But there is a solution...

Ryanair recently announced that Visa Electron payment cards, such as EntroPay’s Virtual Visa, will start attracting a £5 administration charge effective 1 January 2010 and MasterCard Prepaid cards will become the sole form of free payment.

Good news! You don’t need to seek another payment method in order to avoid future fees. Simply upgrade to an EntroPay Plastic MasterCard!

Use EntroPay Plastic not only at Ryanair but anywhere MasterCard is accepted.*

Upgrade Now to Win £100!

Register for an EntroPay Plastic MasterCard by 31st December 2009 and we’ll enter your name in a prize draw. Five lucky winners will each walk away with £100. Just think – your next Ryanair flight - or flights - could be on us!

Already have plastic? Load your plastic card by 31st December 2009 and you'll be entered in the prize draw! Winners will be contacted by e-mail on 6th January 2010.

kc66

I just got that email. O'Leary always used it as a way of dodging questions about credit card charges. I wonder what he will say now. edit: I didn't read it all, I see its still free, only if you sign up to get the card.

rgunning

Apparently, Ryanair are scrapping the ability to use a Visa electron to bypass the Credit Card fee

http://news.carrentals.co.uk/ryanair-scraps-fee-waiver-for-visa-electron-3429916.html

However, I got a mail from Entropay saying:

Ryanair recently announced that Visa Electron payment cards, such as EntroPay’s Virtual Visa, will start attracting a £5 administration charge effective 1 January 2010 and MasterCard Prepaid cards will become the sole form of free payment.

Good news! You don’t need to seek another payment method in order to avoid future fees. Simply upgrade to an EntroPay Plastic MasterCard!

Use EntroPay Plastic not only at Ryanair but anywhere MasterCard is accepted.*

There is a fee of GBP4.99 for the card application, but that includes delivery.

MODs, I feel this is technically a bargain alert, or at least related to bargains previously posted

TakeTheVeil

Yeah it's good if you book a lot of flights. I've gotten use to using Entropay now

Thunderlips

i dont get this, both post kind of seem weird to me (as in contradicting)....basically whats the craic then....do we need to upgrade and get an Entropay Mastercard???

Or can you still use Entropay??

Basq

rgunning wrote:

MODs, I feel this is technically a bargain alert, or at least related to bargains previously posted

It's really not.. it's not alerting us of a Bargain.

I'm gonna merge this with the existing thread, and move them to 'Online Buying & Auctions'.

Nody

Thunderlips wrote: »

i dont get this, both post kind of seem weird to me (as in contradicting)....basically whats the craic then....do we need to upgrade and get an Entropay Mastercard???

Or can you still use Entropay??

You need a prepaid Mastercard from 1st of January to avoid the CC surcharge; if you wish to continue to use Entropay this means getting their Mastercard.

mcaul

Personally I think this is a great move and probably cost Mastercard a few bob to do it. (O'Leary would not have done this otherwise)

Mastercard prepaid cards are available from payzone at 1000 outlets, so it makes it very easy for everyone to get it and avoid the card charges.

Also available as a giftcard in many shopping centres.

Nody

Those giftcards tend to have a fee for set up and a monthly fee if not used though...

speedbird1

The following is a quote from the Caxton fx web site Your country of residence has no bearing on charges whatsoever.
"To avoid Ryanair administration fees only two things matter:
• The currency of the card used to pay for the flight must match the currency
quoted on the Ryanair website.
• It must be a pre-paid MasterCard® "

See the quote at http://www.caxtonfxcard.com/faq.asp?dist=CAXTGENL

As regards those of us who have an Entropay virtual card and take up the offer of their plastic Mastercard will we be able to buy from Ryanair in Euro or will have to select the UK site in order to avail of the no fee option. ???

I have asked Entropay if we I can have a Euro version of their Mastercard and if that can be loaded from the virtual card which is of course in Stg. The only other option I can see is to cancel the Stg virtual card and re apply for euro one and then have both ion Euros.
I would appreciate comments from anyone who has already got an Entropay Plastic Master card and what is their experience if they already used it. ???
Thanks

M450

I think it's a good change.
Now we can load our card in Euro and pay Ryanair in Euro, so no messing about with exchange rates...
I booked a flight a few weeks ago and left the Entropay account short by about a euro! So had to load it with another 10 pounds... stupid I know, but we won't have to care about that anymore.

Any word whether Aer Lingus will be making the same change or are they still sticking with Electron Visa?

BTW, the title is very misleading.
First of all it isn't a loophole:
Ryanair and Aer Lingus get away with advertising flight prices excluding the handling fee because the fee isn't compulsory. It may be if you don't have the right card, but you still have the option to get the right card...

And secondly it isn't "closed":
Entropay still provide a service that will allow you to pay Ryanair without incurring a handling fee. You even said it in your post...

irishproduce

Anyone know what fees are associated with this card apart from the 4.9 initial fee? I will read all the t&cs but not if someone here has saved some of us the job. Will the card attract the government card Levy?

coldfire1x

Here's the reply I got from them for my query

HI XXXX

Thank you for your interest in our plastic MasterCard.
You may apply for your EntroPay Plastic card by logging into your account and clicking the Get pre-paid EntroPay Plastic MasterCard.
The application fee is GBP4.99
You may use your EntroPay plastic card in a majority of places such as shops, restaurants, online shopping etc.
You may load funds onto your EntroPay Plastic MasterCard only with your EntroPay virtual VISA card – i.e. transfer funds from your EntroPay virtual VISA card.
Once activated, EntroPay Plastic can be used immediately – you can withdraw funds from the ATM instantly.
However you are currently unable to transfer funds from your Plastic card back to your EntroPay Virtual card.
The minimum deposit for your EntroPay plastic card is GBP10
The maximum deposit is GBP2500
Further note you may only deposit funds into your plastic card twice daily.
The daily withdrawal limit form an ATM is GBP500
There is a fee of GBP1.25 for withdrawals from an ATM. Foreign exchange fees on ATM withdrawals are 2%.
Our card services department sends the cards once the application has been approved.
Please allow up to 15-25 business days from the day your application was confirmed for the card to be delivered.
If we can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kind Regards
Michelle
EntroPay Support

pickarooney

I set up and Entropay card and when I tried to add money to it, I was told it would cost 17 euros for the transaction. Am I the only person who finds this ludicrous and feel it negates the point of using Entropay?

speedbird1

I am still trying to work out from the T & C if we can use the Entropay Plastic Mastercard in Sterling to pay for Ryanair flights in Euros without incurring a charge.
Entropay have rold me that if one has a Stg entropay virtual card you can only avail of a Stg mastercard from them.
It was suggested that I destroy my current virtual Stg card and apply for a new one in Euro and then get their Mastercard.
Otherwise I can see charges for currency conversion from Eurp to Stg or visa versa.
Anyone got any ideas on this subject. ?

DrumSteve

damn title is quite misleading.... i thought i was gonna find out ryanairs specific entropy was....