Stansted guilty of misleading customers over parking fees
Stansted has been found guilty of misleading customers after running an advert on its website claiming to offer savings of up to 70% to those who pre-booked their airport parking.
When a customer tried to book a parking space for 23 hours at both short and mid-stay car parks at Stansted, they found it was cheaper just to turn up and park rather than pre-booking on stanstedairport.com.
The Advertising Standards Authority upheld their complaint and ordered Stansted not to repeat the advert.
In its ruling, it said that customers would understand from the ad that they might not achieve the full 70% saving, but they would not expect to pay more than the turn up and park price.
"We considered that to be material information, which had not been made clear in the ad," said the ASA, adding that future ads must make it clear if there were circumstances under which the customer would pay a higher rate for pre-booking than the equivalent ‘Turn up and Park’ rates.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps