Aer Lingus and Ryanair still to fully comply over misleading flight pricing

Two airlines – Aer Lingus and Ryanair – have still to fully comply with measures laid down by the Office of Fair Trading to prevent misleading pricing on their websites  

Both carriers have given guarantees to the OFT that they will be altering their websites to do so as soon as it is possible.

They have changed their homepages to include fixed, non-optional costs but technical issues have prevented them from changing their booking processes by a deadline of July 31 set by the OFT.

In the interim, Ryanair has agreed to place a clear statement on its website to inform consumers how much taxes and charges will add to the final price.

The OFT said it will be working with the National Consumer Agency in Ireland and other international partners to ensure compliance across the holiday and travel industry and undertakings provided by the airlines are complied with. 

The announcement follows action by both the OFT and ABTA to ensure that airlines and travel companies stop the “unfair and misleading” practice.

The OFT has forced 11 airlines to change their advertisements and websites – both their homepages and booking processes – to include fixed, non-optional costs in their headline prices.

They are: easyJet, bmibaby, Flybe, Thomsonfly, flythomascook, Monarch, Jet2, Globespan, Wizz Air, Sky Europe and Germanwings.

ABTA has taken action against “several members” over misleading price indications and has handed our fines and reprimands.

OFT executive director Sean Williams said: “The OFT is committed to ensuring that consukmers are not mislead by advertised prices that bear little relation to actual prices.

“Misleading pricing not only undermines consumer confidence but also distorts competition and we will enforce the law enthusiastically where we find that consumers have been misled.”

ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “ I am very pleased to see that the OFT has taken appropriate action against airlines who were continuing to mislead the travelling public.

“It is disappointing that two airlines are still not toeing the line but we trust the OFT to ensure that they will.

“Now customers will be able to make a fair and accurate comparison of prices when shopping around to book their flights and holidays.”

Thomson sales director Derek Jones said: “We welcome this action by the OFT. 

“Whilst this will ensure a level playing field across the industry, it will also be of great benefit to consumers, many of whom don’t realise that the ‘bargain’ holiday they’ve been tempted to buy, costs them much more at the end of the booking process.   

“These extra charges exploit customers – people work all year for their holiday and deserve to have clear pricing.

“Thomson will continue to ensure it offers customers honest and clear pricing and advice on its website and in its brochures. The addition of customer reviews and Google Earth onto our website gives customers access to more information than ever before and enables them to make an informed decision about their holiday. 

“Thomson will continue to develop our website to allow our customers to make an informed decision about the type and style of holiday they wish to buy.”

by Phil Davies