Consumer group warns air travel ticket websites are unfairly overcharging customers
Popular airline ticket websites advertise cheap flights but often charge significantly higher prices for baggage, seat reservations, and other services, according to research by Dutch consumer association Consumentenbond. The organization warns travelers to book directly with airlines to avoid hidden fees and misleading offers.
The Consumentenbond reviewed ticket prices on 11 widely used travel booking websites and found that these platforms can charge up to four times more for baggage and seat reservations than airlines. Some websites also impose mandatory booking fees of up to 63 euros per person—fees that airlines do not charge.
“While these websites claim to offer comprehensive comparisons, they frequently exclude flights from major carriers like easyJet, KLM, or Ryanair,” the organization stated.
Several websites were found to promote unnecessary and overpriced services. For example, eSky charges 7 euros for online check-in, which is free when booking directly with any airline. Booking.com offers a 97 euro package for flight modifications and cancellations without service fees, even for tickets that are non-changeable and non-refundable.
Other deceptive practices include inaccurate seat maps. Booking.com and Gotogate, for instance, display incorrect airplane layouts for certain airlines. Passengers believing they have reserved seats with extra legroom near emergency exits are instead assigned some of the most cramped seats on the aircraft.
“Ticket websites may appear reasonably priced at first glance, but then they impose exorbitant charges for optional services,” said Sandra Molenaar, director of the Consumentenbond. “It’s worse than it was during our previous investigation in 2022. Unfortunately, the companies behind these websites rarely respond to our inquiries.”
The organization reiterated its advice to consumers, “Book your flights directly with the airline to avoid unnecessary costs and deceptive practices.”
