Airlines slammed for rip-off prices

Source: Agencies  |   2008-7-4  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

SEVEN online travel operators and airlines have been named and shamed by European Union and Danish officials in an ongoing crackdown against misleading ads and rip-off price schemes.

Travel sites run in Denmark by Ryanair, Air Berlin, Air Baltic, SkyEurope, Aer Lingus, Brussels Airlines and Seat24 were yesterday singled out for violating European consumer law.

Consumers are being "let down by the airline industry" despite the EU investigation into online sales practices launched in September, EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva said.

"There are serious and persistent problems with ticket sales throughout the airline industry as a whole. It is completely unacceptable," Kuneva said.

The seven operators, some already criticized for Websites run in other European nations, were accused by Denmark's consumer ombudsman of misleading consumers on booking procedures, notably on prices and terms under which flight tickets can be used.

Henrik Oee said his investigation involved 13 foreign companies that run online travel services in Denmark, five of which have already moved to change their practices.

The seven others were still in violation, he said in a statement from Copenhagen.

"Consumers have the right to know where to keep a close watch," he said.

Kuneva's spokeswoman, Helen Kearns, said online booking agency Seat24 pledged to bring its Website in line with EU rules by August, but Ireland's Ryanair and Germany's Air Berlin had disagreed with the Danish conclusions.

Kuneva said in May that a third of people who shop for flights online in the EU were being cheated by misleading ads and prices. She gave airlines and travel operators a year to comply with EU rules or face legal action.