OTA fined for false advertisng
The Department of Transportation has imposed a fine on an online travel agent for improperly rounding down airfares.
According to the DOT, Vayama.com rounded down advertised airfares and did not itemize its booking fees.
These offenses come under the DOT’s unfair and deceptive trade practices rule.
The company accepted a penalty of $80,000 with half of the fine waived if it does not repeat the offenses within one year.
The DOT says it is deceptive for an agent to advertise fares rounded down to the nearest dollar, and charged Vayama with doing this on some fares in 2012 and 2013.
Also, the DOT requires all fees to be highlighted individually, including mandatory booking fees when charged by an agent, a rule Vayama did not comply with in 2013.
The company took measures to correct both violations once informed by the DOT.
Based in Mountain View, CA, Vayama is part of Dutch travel services company BCD Holdings.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025