Airline practices ‘unfair’

THE state’s consumer watchdog wants airlines to treat the travelling public more fairly and has threatened to take airlines to the European Court if they refuse.

The National Consumer Agency has written to three airlines — Ryanair, Aer Lingus and Aer Arann — asking them to change their practices on a number of fronts.

Agency chief executive Ann Fitzgerald said it was difficult for people who book tickets but do not travel to get taxes, charges and fees refunded.

It said the administration fee imposed on people wanting to get their money back was unreasonable.

In some cases, people did not get their money back at all, which was unfair because the airlines did not incur the costs.

She is also concerned that consumers are finding it difficult to opt out of charges for travel insurance when booking online. They want airlines to change the way travel insurance is offered so that it is left to the consumer to choose it.

Ms Fitzgerald said the agency had told the airlines it believed that the terms were unfair and was waiting for their response, due this week. They want any non-avoidable costs to be shown with the fare on the front page of the website.

One of the airlines has already given its response to the agency on the various issues raised and another said its response was imminent.

Agency director of commercial practices John Shine said, ideally, they wanted to work with the airlines, “But, if we need to take a stronger line, so be it.”

He pointed out that the agency had been reviewing airline practices over the past six months and had written to the airlines last month.

Ms Fitzgerald admitted that Ryanair had done the people of Ireland and consumers across Europe a “huge service” by bringing in cheap fares.

“All we are asking of Ryanair, and those who follow the Ryanair model, is that they be reasonable and treat us as adults and deal fairly with us,” she said.

“We have a lot of time for them. We would like them to operate their business in a way that benefits all of us.”