UK watchdog investigates Ryanair's 'jab & go' ad

UK watchdog investigates Ryanair’s ‘jab & go’ ad after complaints that it was ‘misleading’ and ‘trivialised the pandemic’

• The ad promoted flights to European destinations and offered seats for £19.99
• It said: ‘Vaccines are coming, so book your Easter and summer holidays today’ 
• ‘Vaccines will mean an end to Covid travel restrictions in mid-2021,’ said Ryanair

Britain’s advertising watchdog has launched an investigation into no-frills carrier Ryanair, after receiving 1,600 complaints about an ad that suggested consumers should ‘jab & go’.

The Advertising and Standards Authority said on Monday that some consumers objected to the ad, which featured a syringe and a small bottle labelled ‘vaccine’.

Some argued it was misleading to suggest the vaccine will be rolled out across the population by the spring and that travel restrictions would be over.

Britain’s advertising watchdog has launched an investigation into no-frills carrier Ryanair, after receiving 1,600 complaints about an ad that suggested consumers should ‘jab & go’

Others objected to what they saw as the trivialisation of the impact of the pandemic on society.

The ad promoted flights to sunny European destinations and offered seats for £19.99 ($27), telling customers to ‘jab & go’.

A voiceover on the ad said: ‘Vaccines are coming, so book your Easter and summer holidays today with Ryanair. One million seats on sale for €19.99 to sunshine destinations in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece and many more — so you can jab and go.’ 

Britain ramped up its vaccination program on Monday by becoming the first nation to start using the shot developed by Oxford University and drugmaker AstraZeneca.

But it’s unclear how quickly the nation can be vaccinated, as it is a huge endeavour with little precedent.

The budget carrier said the ads were factually accurate, given that two vaccines have been approved for use in the U.K.

It also confirmed that bookings could be changed without fees.

A voiceover on the ad said: ‘Vaccines are coming, so book your Easter and summer holidays today with Ryanair. One million seats on sale for €19.99 to sunshine destinations in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece and many more — so you can jab and go’

The carrier said in a statement: ‘Our ad is factually accurate, vaccines are coming (two are already approved) and this will enable passengers to book much needed sunshine breaks for Easter and Summer 2021 and avail of Ryanair’s low prices. 

‘The ad also confirms that any such bookings can be changed free of change fees if customer plans change, which gives Ryanair customers even more assurances when they make Easter or Summer 2021 bookings now. 

‘Some critics wish to complain just for the sake of getting noticed when it is clear that vaccines will mean an end to Covid travel restrictions in mid-2021.’ 

In more positive news for Ryanair, it was recently named by AirlineRatings.com as one of the top 10 safest low-cost airlines for 2021.

In alphabetical order, they are Air Arabia, Allegiant, easyJet, Frontier, Jetstar Group, Jetblue, Ryanair, Vietjet, Westjet, and Wizz Air.

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