The Office of Fair Trading in the UK is to crack down on airlines and holiday companies who mislead customers over prices. At the moment it is not unusual to see an airline advertise a flight at a certain price, only for this price to be more than doubled once airport taxes, fuel supplements and other costs are added. For example, easyJet quoted £16.99 on their website for a one-way flight from London Stansted to Barcelona on the 28th February. The final price came to £38.94 if paid for by credit card.
Members of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) are already bound by a code of conduct which requires them to show clear and transparent pricing. The OFT will now expect airlines, many of whom are not ABTA members, to abide by these same rules to ensure a level playing field for all travel companies.
Europe Travel Planner will be monitoring the situation closely.
Original post by Andy Pettefer and software by Elliott Back