Jetstar, Virgin stung over booking fees

Jetstar, Virgin stung over booking fees

Jetstar and Virgin Australia misled customers about ticket prices on their mobile sites in 2014, according to a court ruling.

The Federal Court has found the airlines’ use of “drip pricing” was misleading, deceptive and contravened Australian consumer law.

“The ACCC’s concern with drip pricing has always been to ensure that consumers are not misled and that businesses are not unfairly disadvantaged by misleading practices,” Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims said on Tuesday.

Drip pricing is where an advertised price becomes unavoidably higher as the online transaction progresses.

The ACCC said Jetstar and Virgin failed to adequately disclose an additional “booking and service fee”, which was charged on bookings paid using most credit cards or PayPal.

A Jetstar statement said the company wanted customers to understand all fees and charges associated with bookings.

“That’s why we have progressively made changes to make it clearer at every step of the booking process what charges may apply,” the company said.

Jetstar said millions of flights were booked without fees each year, using direct payments, the POLi system and Jetstar’s own credit cards.

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]