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Social media users were outraged by the dollar prices for Wi-Fi on Aeroflot flights

The presenter of Ekho Moskvy radio drew attention to the fact that the cost of wireless Internet on board domestic Aeroflot flights is indicated in US dollars, not rubles. A message about this appeared on the journalist’s Twitter on December 7.

Representatives of the airline tried to explain why access to the network is sold for dollars, but the question still provoked a heated discussion among social network users, many of whom suspected the company of deliberately inflating prices.

Alexander Plyushchev, an employee of the Ekho Moskvy radio station, posted on his microblog a screenshot of a page with prices for Wi-Fi on board one of Aeroflot’s flights.

Judging by the image published by the journalist, passengers were offered to purchase an Internet package for three megabytes for five dollars, followed by an additional payment of 17 cents for every 100 kilobytes. A 10 megabyte package cost $10. Moreover, every 100 kilobytes over the limit would cost 15 cents.

In a commentary to the screenshot, Plyushchev clarified that he took the photo on board a domestic Russian flight and wondered whether the company in this case had the right to charge for its services in dollars, and not in national currency.

Does the respected @aeroflot have the right to sell services for dollars on domestic flights? pic.twitter.com/hGpTShsUq9

— Plushev (@plushev) December 7, 2014

Twitter users who paid attention to the journalist’s message were surprised by such high prices for wireless Internet on board. Some noted that, regardless of cost, accepting payment in dollars is generally illegal.

At the same time, some microbloggers suggested that the problem was not at all with Aeroflot’s strange pricing policy, but with the English-language interface installed in Plyushchev’s smartphone. However, it soon became clear that prices for Wi-Fi are indicated in US dollars on the company’s website.

@plushev @aeroflot on the website also rates in $$. In general, I would like to ask the FAS about this. They are fans of understanding airline pricing.

— Yanis Dzenis (@dzinkstet) December 7, 2014

@Foxtrotru @aeroflot isn’t indicating the price in dollars in itself a violation?

— Plushev (@plushev) December 7, 2014

Some time later, representatives of Aeroflot published a response to Alexander Plyushchev on the company’s official Twitter. As stated in the message, in fact, payment for services on board is made in rubles, and dollar prices are displayed in the Wi-Fi access menu due to the fact that the network operator on planes is a foreign company OnAir.

Payments to the Internet provider are made in dollars, so tariffs for using the Internet on board are also indicated in dollars. In this case, the passenger can pay in rubles. Hope for understanding!

Aeroflot representative

This explanation did not suit all social network users. Some were outraged that with such payment arrangements, the price of Internet on the plane actually changes every day along with the exchange rate against the ruble.

@aeroflot @plushev sorry for interfering. how can I pay in rubles? the system withdraws in dollars from a ruble card and my bank converts

— Vsevolod Comy (@ikommentator) December 7, 2014

@aeroflot @plushev and pay in rubles at the dollar rate)))

— Alexander Ruban (@KodyHL) December 7, 2014

@aeroflot @plushev does not affect prices and services! You can pay in rubles! True, before it was 150 rubles, and now 275 rubles, but in rubles!

— Leo (@lewa2013) December 7, 2014

@aeroflot @plushev Aeroflot is disingenuous. Payment is made not in rubles, but in the card currency. Prices must be indicated in rubles - otherwise it is a violation.

— Michael Kazmin (@mkazmin) December 7, 2014

Particular attention to Aeroflot's dollar prices, apparently, is also due to the fact that the exchange rate of the American currency over the past few months has risen to a record high of more than 54 rubles. At the beginning of the year, the dollar was worth about 34 rubles. However, starting in the fall of 2014, its rate went up sharply, adding a total of more than 30 percent. Analysts attribute this trend to the weakening of the Russian economy, sanctions imposed by the EU and the United States against Russia, as well as the falling price of oil.

#Scandal #Aeroflot #Alexander_Plyushchev #social networks #dollar_to_ruble rate #Wi_Fi_on_the_plane #Internet_on_board #payment_for_Internet_on_the_plane #dollars