Online travel agency Webjet has been ordered to pay a staggering £9 million fine after regulators found it guilty of misleading customers with hidden booking fees. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) ruled that the company failed to disclose mandatory charges upfront, leaving travellers shocked at checkout.
Deceptive Practices Exposed
An investigation revealed that Webjet displayed artificially low prices on its website, only to add substantial fees later in the booking process. This practice, known as 'drip pricing', violates UK consumer protection laws designed to ensure transparency.
What This Means for Travellers
The CMA's action serves as a stark warning to the travel industry:
- All mandatory fees must be included in initial price displays
- Businesses cannot hide charges until the final booking stage
- Consumers have the right to clear pricing information
Webjet has stated it will review its pricing practices following the ruling. The fine represents one of the largest penalties ever imposed for pricing violations in the UK travel sector.
How to Protect Yourself
When booking travel online, consumers should:
- Look for the total price, not just the headline figure
- Check for any small print about additional fees
- Compare prices across multiple platforms
- Report any suspicious pricing to the CMA
The case highlights the importance of regulatory oversight in protecting consumers from misleading business practices in the digital age.
