More and more travel providers now clearly list the prices of their package tours. That is what the Authority Consumer & Market (ACM) reported Monday. The ACM names five major travel providers that now clearly list package tour prices. They include ANWB, Corendon, Expedia, Stip Reizen and Sunweb. This means that they show one price that includes all unavoidable costs or that they list mandatory costs as one amount below the price. Also, these travel providers make sure that the price does not simply change during booking. This makes it immediately clear to consumers at a glance what price they have to pay, the consumer watchdog says. The ACM found this after an audit as part of its investigation into price reporting in the travel industry. Of the major travel providers the ACM wrote to earlier this year, the aforementioned five are now fully compliant. Two other providers are temporarily not offering travel online until they update their price listings. The ACM is continuing its investigation into the remaining providers. “Consumers have a right to clear prices, so that they can compare the various offers properly and are not confronted with unexpected costs later on. Incorrect prices create an unfair playing field and harm parties that do charge the right prices’, says ACM. The principles of clear travel pricing apply to all travel providers. Earlier this year, the ACM alerted 12 major travel providers to the principles governing clear travel pricing. They were given until the end of September to adjust package tour prices to reflect the principles. Expedia complied with the clear price statement with all mandatory fees included in the price at the first check. ANWB, Corendon, Stip Reizen and Sunweb now show their prices including all mandatory fees. This is the ACM’s preference. The ACM’s general principle is that consumers should be able to trust that the first price shown is the price at which to book. “The price, including all unavoidable additional costs, must be clear and visible at a glance.” In doing so, ACM has drawn up the following principles: -If the consumer has not yet filled in details, such as the travel date, travel time or the number of people, then unavoidable additional costs, including those paid on the spot, may not be hidden behind an i’s. Preferably, these costs should be included in the total price, but in any case, they should be listed prominently with the total price, in no more than one additional line and as one amount. These costs may be displayed the same way as the base price. -As soon as the consumer has completed all the details of the trip and all the mandatory additional costs are therefore known, all those costs, including those paid locally, must be included in the total amount. -At the time of booking the trip, the total amount including all costs must be shown. A distinction may be made between the amount to be paid immediately and the amount to be paid on the spot. -The price shown to consumers to invite them to click on the offer must actually be available and bookable at that time. (Photo Shutterstock).
