Debit Card Charges to be Included by Airlines
Posted by Sue Anderson, 5th Jul 2012
A new ruling by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) will ensure airlines now have to include debit card surcharges in their headline prices rather than showing up on the final pages of the booking process.
Twelve airlines were subject to an OFT consumer law investigation and have now agreed to the changes.
Amongst the airlines were Ryanair, easyjet, Aer Lingus, BMI Baby, Flybe, Jet2, Thomas Cook and Thomson. Many have already updated their websites and pricing structures with the remainder to follow by the end of this year. The airlines have also agreed to show surcharges for paying by credit card clearer and easy to find.
Clive Maxwell, the OFT's chief executive, said: 'This is a great outcome for the millions of people who buy flights online. It is important that the cost presented when they search for a flight is realistic and that they are not surprised by extra charges. Otherwise it is harder for them to shop around for the best deal.'
Following recommendations from the OFT last year, the Government has also announced plans to bring forward legislation to ban excessive debit and credit card surcharges across the economy.
Twelve airlines were subject to an OFT consumer law investigation and have now agreed to the changes.
Amongst the airlines were Ryanair, easyjet, Aer Lingus, BMI Baby, Flybe, Jet2, Thomas Cook and Thomson. Many have already updated their websites and pricing structures with the remainder to follow by the end of this year. The airlines have also agreed to show surcharges for paying by credit card clearer and easy to find.
Clive Maxwell, the OFT's chief executive, said: 'This is a great outcome for the millions of people who buy flights online. It is important that the cost presented when they search for a flight is realistic and that they are not surprised by extra charges. Otherwise it is harder for them to shop around for the best deal.'
Following recommendations from the OFT last year, the Government has also announced plans to bring forward legislation to ban excessive debit and credit card surcharges across the economy.
Search the sunshine.co.uk website:
×