D-Reizen, Prisvrij still misleading consumers with travel offers: Consumers' Association

D-Reizen and Prijsvrij are still misleading consumers with special offers on travel packages, the Consumentenbond reported after a follow-up investigation into travel packages that turn out pricier than advertised. Other travel organizations in the Netherlands have made improvements since the consumers’ association’s previous warning.

Consumentenbond checked 30 random offers from D-Reizen and Prijsvrij. In 27 of them, the actual price for the trip was higher than advertised because the ad price did not include unavoidable fees or was only if you depart abroad. Two offers were sold out. Only one was correct. Consumentenbond checked the same offers four more times within 25 hours. “A large part of the sold-out trips and incorrect offers still appeared on the sites.”

“It is a shame that not all travel providers have their affairs in order yet,” Sandra Molenaar of the Consumentenbond said. “Consumers are entitled to honest offers.” The association has reported D-Rezien and Prijsvrij to the Advertising Code Committee and the Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM).

Other travel providers have made significant improvements, the Consumentenbond added. “For example, they state if the offer price only applies when departing from a foreign airport. KLM Holidays, Transavia Holidays, and TUI now include mandatory booking costs in the price. Expedia stopped advertising Holiday Deals with incorrect prices. And the Travel Club no longer advertises prices online at all.”