Use Ryanair card or pay extra for flights

Budget airline Ryanair is to force all its passengers to use its own branded debit card to buy flights, or pay an extra £12 a head.

From November, anyone hoping to book a Ryanair flight at the advertised price must pay using a "Ryanair Cash Passport" to avoid the extra £12 per person the Irish airline charges to issue a return flight ticket.

The Office of Fair Trading has ordered that surcharges be dropped after finding they cost Britons £300million in 2009. It warned airlines it will take them to the High Court if the charges do not stop but so far they have largely ignored the call.

Ryanair justifies its decision by saying its new card offers free withdrawals from some cash machines but admits this service may go next year. It also says it will reimburse the card's £6 application fee - but only in Ryanair travel vouchers.

Martin Lewis, of website moneysavingexpert.com said: "Ryanair is sticking two fingers up at every regulator and consumer group."