OFT calls time on 1p flight ads

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has taken action against 13 airlines that do not include all charges and costs in their advertised price. The move will signal the end of low-cost airlines advertising 1p flights.

The OFT has received undertakings from all airlines involved, including easyJet, BMI Baby and Thomsonfly, to include all costs in their advertised price and 11 other airlines have already changed their adverts and websites to include fixed, non-optional cost.

The OFT says Aer Lingus and Ryanair have technical issues preventing them making changes to their website booking process immediately, but it is satisfied the changes will be made shortly.

In a co-ordinated move, ABTA, The Travel Association, has fined and reprimanded several members for the same type of misleading pricing.

Sean Williams, OFT executive director, says: “Misleading pricing not only undermines consumer confidence but also distorts competition and we will enforce the law enthusiastically where we find that consumers have been misled.”