Air-ticket sites face EU shame

The European Commission is to publish results of a crackdown on websites using unfair sales practices to sell air-tickets on 12 November.

But it will not publish the names of offending companies immediately, giving them a further four months to put their practices in order.

The results are expected to show that hidden surcharges and misleading contractual terms are common currency among European airlines and travel agents.

The Commission is co-ordinating action by national watchdogs, with 17 countries (including Norway) taking part. Of 447 websites initially flagged as suspicious, more than half are deemed to be in breach of acceptable practice: operators of 230 of the websites have been given four months to comply with EU rules. Companies failing to tighten standards will be named and shamed by the European Commission. Some countries, including Belgium, which is following up concerns over 46 of 48 websites that were flagged as suspicious, have given particular cause for concern.

Spain is the only country to have released details of companies under investigation. National watchdog the Instituto Nacional de Consumo revealed earlier in October that airlines Ryanair, Iberia, Spanair and Vueling advertised deals that were then revealed to be non-existent in subsequent searches. Ryanair was also criticised for failing to offer contractual conditions in Spanish.

Member states will be able to set the fines levied on companies at their discretion. Not all member states have participated in the probe, but all would have to participate in enforcement measures if companies in breach of the rules are based on their territory.

BEUC, the European consumer’ organisation, welcomed the crackdown on online sales practices. "When it comes to the internet we want the first page to clearly indicate a reflection of the final prices to be paid at the end of the booking process. Every day they [airlines] make up new tricks and additions. Some air companies include a fee for your baggage," said legal adviser Nuria Rodríguez.

The initiative, from the Commission’s health and consumer protection department, is supposed to complement rules proposed last year by Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot, which seeks to force airlines to advertise full fares, including all taxes and charges, both online and offline. Barrot’s rules are expected to be approved by the end of the year. A Commission official said that the crackdown on websites was still justified since the new rules would not come into force for a while.

The move is the first of its kind to have been launched by Meglena Kuneva as consumer protection commissioner. It was co-ordinated under the consumer protection co-operation network, a mechanism bringing together national watchdogs, set up at the beginning of this year. "This is a whole new way of doing business to boost consumer rights," said a Commission official.

Kuneva plans to apply the procedure again next year in three as-yet-undisclosed sectors. The unfair commercial practices directive, which comes into force on 12 December, will strengthen member states’ powers to launch such inquiries.

The European Commission is to publish results of a crackdown on websites using unfair sales practices to sell air-tickets on 12 November.