A third of online flight bookers risk rip-off
The airline and travel operators have been warned their websites had better comply with the law within 12 months or they will face court action.
The report turns the spotlight on Ryanair because the two countries that named names — Sweden and Norway — complained about some of its practices.
But in the meantime, consumers will have to discover for themselves which sites cannot be trusted, as national consumer agencies have decided not to publish the names of the culprits.
The pan-European consumer body BUEC called on its members to investigate the sites and publicise which of them are consumer-friendly.
The Irish National Consumer Agency is in talks with Ryanair and Aer Lingus about some of their practices, including credit card charges, automatic priority boarding and insurance charges unless the consumer opts out.
Sweden and Norway are also concerned about these practices.
The Irish agency also wants to find out if airlines are charging passengers too much under the heading of airport charges and is studying the complex costing system.
John Shine, the agency’s director of commercial practices, said some progress had been made with the airlines, but not enough.
“We will engage with them further and then take a view on what the next step will be, which might be legal action,” he said.
The EU’s Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva was in no doubt that her next move will be to take action, but the websites have a year to conform to fair practices.
“It is unacceptable that one in three consumers going to book a plane ticket online is being ripped off or misled and confused. But my message to industry is clear — act now or we will act.
“We will need to see credible evidence of improvement to clean up these sales and marketing practices within the airline sector by May 1 next year or we will be left with no choice but to intervene,” she said.
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