Thomson calls for ‘immediate’ OFT action on pricing
Thomson has called on the Office of Fair Trading to take immediate action against airline and travel companies displaying misleading headline prices (see previous TravelMole story).
The operator’s sales director Derek Jones, responding to the OFT’s move to crackdown on companies with hidden add-ons, said there was concern about a lack of a timetable for action to be taken.
“We want enforcement action to be taken immediately against all non-complying suppliers, including non-ABTA members and airlines,” he said.
“Thomson introduced an Honest Pricing campaign to try to steer the travel industry away from becoming part of ‘Rip-off Britain’, and to make it clear to our customers exactly what their holiday will cost from the outset.
“Yet even now, all of the other major tour operators are being allowed to bait customers with artificially low prices then sting them with a supplementary charge at the end of the booking.
“We want the OFT to take immediate enforcement action industry-wide to create a level playing field. Whilst we’re glad they’ve recognised the issue, we remain hugely concerned that there are no firm timelines for enforcement.”
Thomson has been lobbying the OFT since last autumn to take action against those who continue to levy fuel surcharges.
The operator removed fuel supplements in December last year and introduced an ‘Honest Pricing’ campaign in January, with all fixed non-optional costs included in the basic price.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025