Wants To Assure Airlines Are Transparent With Additional Costs

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the U.K. has confirmed it will look into fees charged by airlines on top of base fares to be sure they are presented in an "open and clear" way.

Buying Business travel reports that the CAA said that they will be looking at anything that is an "additional charge", including ticket changes, re-issuing of boarding passes, and check-ins at airports rather than online, an increasingly common practice among low-cost carriers.

“The government and the CAA continue to emphasize to the airlines the importance of compliance with ticket transparency obligations,” said the UK transport minister Robert Goodwill. “To enhance consumer protection in this area, the CAA will start work on unfair contract terms with the airlines this summer.”

The CAA will also look at charges for in-flight meals, seat selection, checked baggage, and credit card payments.

The probe will extend to all airlines that sell tickets in the U.K., not just U.K.-flagged carriers.

FMI: www.caa.co.uk