Ryanair New Year advert banned by ASA
The ASA has banned an advert which Ryanair showed at the end of 2010, advertising the New Year celebrations in Dublin, but stating the price for travelling in January-March.
EasyJet complained about the press advert, which appeared on 16 December 2010, saying that advertising the New Year celebrations while the small print stated “Book until midnight 16.12.10. Travel Jan - Mar. Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply, see Ryanair.com for details. Fares exclude optional fees/charges. Flights from London (Gatwick & Stansted)” was misleading.
Ryanair replied that it was a mistake on its part that had been missed on sign-off, with the date being extended.
The Advertising Standards Authority considered that showing images and discussing the New Year celebrations in Dublin while saying ‘FLY RYANAIR one way from £7’ would suggest to the viewer that these prices would be the ones available for the New Year period. With the small print contradicting this, the ASA ruled the advert as breading CAP rules on misleading, substantiation, qualification and prices.