Agents trailed “promotions”, without detailing associated costs
Portugal’s Directorate-General for Consumer Affairs announced has announced it has detected offences in advertising airfares on social media in five of the 10 travel agencies inspected in July – meaning each one now risks fines of between €3,500 and €45,000, and, possibly more importantly, it raises the question ‘how many more travel agencies are doing the same?’
Said the DGC in a statement sent out to newsrooms today: “It was found that half of the travel agencies analysed did not comply with the law when advertising trips with a promotional price highlighted, without mentioning other associated costs.”
Between July 9 and 26, the public authority for consumer protection carried out an inspection of airfares advertised by travel agencies, analysing 367 commercial messages posted on 32 pages of websites and social networks (Facebook and Instagram) of 10 operators.
“As a result of the offences detected, five notices were issued against five companies, which could lead to fines of between €3,500 and €45,000,” said the DGC.
According to the law, all advertising referring to air transport fares must indicate the total price to be paid by the consumer, including fees, taxes and other charges, as well as information that the commercialisation of the fare is subject to the number of seats available.
The authority emphasised that it must also be indicated “in a clearly visible, clear and unambiguous manner, whether the price refers only to the outward or return legs or to the entire journey.” This information “is essential to allow the consumer to compare prices and offer conditions, thus ensuring clear, adequate and transparent communication.”
The DGC stressed that it was only on social media that it found these failings: the websites of the travel agencies displayed all mandatory legal information.
Source: LUSA
