Air Malta charging 60p a minute on customer helpline, says consumer watchdog

Air Malta was listed among the top chargers for telephone assistance to passengers in Britain, with low cost giant Ryanair topping the chart with a staggering £1 per minute hidden charge.

The report accused the airlines of "ripping-off" holiday makers when they ring for help by being forced to phone premium-rate telephone numbers, said Which? Travel.

Airlines and even travel association Abta are using 090 numbers, with calls to BMIbaby's sales centre  came in at 65p a minute, and Jet2.com's general enquiries line and Air Malta's web check-in support cost 60p a minute.

The consumer affairs line at travel firm Abta charged 51p a minute for calls, the report found.

The charges are even heavier for customers who call from mobile phones.

TOP-RATE TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Which? Travel acting assistant editor Chris Gray said: "We want to see companies stop charging high rates for telephone lines customers need to use to get in touch. One of our team was on the phone for more than an hour to an airline recently and his experience will not be unique.

"If you are paying through the nose while hanging on the telephone, it is just another rip-off."

Three per cent of airlines are using the top-rate 090 numbers and nearly a third have 0870 or 0871 numbers, which cost up to 41p a minute from mobiles in the UK.

Another 24 per cent were using 0843, 0844 or 0845 numbers, which also cost up to 41 a minute from a mobile, said researchers.

Which? Travel said that although many travel companies using these numbers will not be charging the maximum price, it is difficult for customers to know what they are paying.

The landline cost is not always stated, and the mobile cost is not spelled out because it depends on what network the caller is using.

The website also said that Budget airlines are even pocketing a staggering £265,000 a day in rip-off debit and credit card charges - despite knowing a change in British law will soon make it illegal.