Consumer divisions say agents add on extras without consulting holidaymakers

Airport news for Flights,Travel on 15/03/2010.

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The UK Government will finally clean-up airline booking websites that break European regulations by automatically adding insurance coverage and other non-compulsory costs to travel arrangements. Many low cost airlines and online booking companies pre-select the travel insurance, on-board meal, carbon offset or checked baggage box – meaning passengers could by mistake pay far more than the announced fare.

The online booking issue is pertinent now with holidaymakers starting to buy their Easter travel tickets, yet the problem has been happening for years.

If travellers do not want to avail these additional charges, they need to untick the corresponding box. Yet holidaymakers could pay up to £84 if they fail to notice the charges – ending up a family of four unnecessarily paying hundreds of pounds.

When Jenny Keefe, Consumer Products Analyst of MoneySavingExpert, visited some of the foremost airline booking websites, she found that a number of travel companies automatically add extras when booking for one passenger. She said that it is shameful that companies attract buyers into purchasing pricey add-ons they might not need.

Travel companies that still add such extra charges include Thomson, Ryanair and Lastminute. What's more, the insurance policy added is frequently far more high-priced than the rate from an independent supplier. Easyjet, which previously added some extras to bookings, stopped doing it since the start of 2010, saying that such practice is against the law.

The Department for Transport (DfT) did not however state when it will begin the crackdown, only adding that it will be within this year. In the meantime, holidaymakers are advised to be extra vigilant when booking online.

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