Wednesday, 8 October 2014 - 19:35
KLM fined for deceptive pricing
The Authority Consumer & Market (ACM) announced on Wednesday that airline KLM must pay a 200 thousand euro fine for advertising the wrong ticket prices on their website.
On KLM's website the 10 euro booking fees are not included in the offers. According to the supervisor these should have been included because they are unavoidable and foreseeable costs.
"Tackling unclear trip prices is one of the spearheads of the ACM," says directer Anita Vegter, "Consumers are entitled to prices in which all unavoidable costs are include, so that they can compare the prices."
In May last year the AMC published reference points for the travel industry to improve price transparency. People must be able to book a trip for the price that is in the advertisement. Establish costs must be included and all variable costs must be immediately clarified.
A spokesperson announced that KLM is appealing against the fine. According to the spokesperson the booking costs were mentioned, albeit not as part of the ticket price. The airline thought they were complying with the regulations.