New rules require advertising true cost of cheap flights

According to new legislation approved by the European parliament this week, European carriers will be banned from advertising that misleads customers about the actual cost of airfares. On their websites, they will no longer be able to advertise 99p or €1 fares without including associated costs, under newly-approved legislation.

By year’s end, all advertised fares will need to include all applicable charges, fees and taxes, including fuel and security charges. Optional items, such as travel insurance can be listed separately, but clearly, as add-ons.

The new rules have already been approved by the 27 EU member governments, and are aimed particularly at low-cost carrier websites that often require customers to book on the Internet. The European commission has reported that one in every three consumers surveyed say that they have been misled over the cost of airfares.

Budget carrier easyJet is welcoming the new rules, as other European nations will now be in line with regulations that have been in place in Britain for some time. Britain has already put in place a requirement that advertised fares must be all-inclusive.

The Association of European Airlines is also welcoming the move, saying that consumers were displeased with seeing advertised fares that ended up having little to do with what they actually paid for their flights. Last year alone, the commission reported finding over 100 airline websites that featured misleading prices.

www.aea.be