The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) strongly supports the position expressed by Option consommateurs…
The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) strongly supports the position expressed by Option consommateurs (Quebec) who denounced misleading advertising by some air carriers.
ACTA has been advocating that airline advertising provide complete and accurate disclosure to consumers and asking for a consistent approach across Canada through Federal legislation says ACTA President and CEO, Marc Andre Charlebois.
ACTA believes that a national approach is essential to achieve the highest level of protection for all Canadian travel consumers. This standardized approach will also maintain a fair competitive landscape between various industry participants (airlines, tour operators and travel agencies) whether they operate in a regulated province or not, or they advertise nationally or not.
ACTA`s position, presented last September to the CMC on fare advertising, is as follows:
Fares advertised by airlines should be the total cost for the service provided by the carrier, that is, the amount the customer will be required to pay for travel between departure point and destination, including all fees, levies, service charges and other added charges considered as integral part of the carrier`s costs. Furthermore, mandatory roundtrip tickets should be advertised as such instead of suggesting to the customer that he can take advantage of better fares when advertising for a one-way ticket.
Currently, discrepancies of up to 90% can be noted between advertised and real fares as shown in the figures published by Option consommateurs.
Travel agencies and tour operators have to abide by the Quebec legislation and advertise real fares, including every added charges; whereas the air carriers have no obligation in this regard. A leveled playing field in advertising should be set for all providers of travel services, concluded Mr. Charlebois.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
