Airlines Soon to Advertise "the real price"

Airlines Soon to Advertise "the real price"

Postby jon » Fri Dec 16, 2011 11:38 am

Airlines must advertise full cost of flights by next Christmas
By Sarah Schmidt, Postmedia News
December 16, 2011 10:36 AM

OTTAWA — Airlines will be required to advertise the full price of airfares by next Christmas, the Conservative government announced Friday.

The announcement comes 1,639 days after a law received royal assent requiring airlines to include all the extra fees, surcharges and taxes in airfare ads, so consumers aren't shocked when they see a total tally for their travel plans that exceeds the advertised airfare price.

A last-minute amendment in the Senate proposed by Liberal Senator Dennis Dawson stipulated that the new advertising rules were to come into effect on a date set by the federal cabinet. Consultations with airlines, who objected to the provisions, were to follow.

Junior cabinet minister Steven Fletcher announced Friday the coming into force of the clause at a news conference at the Ottawa International Airport. Pierre Poilievre, parliamentary secretary to Transport Minister Denis Lebel, was also on hand.

"Our government is committed to enhancing consumer protection while promoting fair competition by ensuring greater transparency of advertised airfares for Canadian travellers," Fletcher said. "This will allow consumers to easily determine the full cost of airfares in order to make informed choices."

Regulations will now be drafted, including consultations with stakeholders. The government expects the regulatory process to take about one year.

Consumer groups have repeatedly complained to the government about the delay in implementing the "all-in-one'' airfare advertising clause of the Canada Transportation Act, which passed Parilament in June 2007.

But Canada's airlines have maintained that it would be unfair to require them to advertise the final cost of a ticket because some foreign carriers could continue to advertise base fares on their websites, from which Canadian travellers can make purchases. And while Ontario and Quebec require agencies to include all fees and surcharges in their advertised prices, most provinces — which regulate how travel agents advertise — require no such provision for travel agencies.

ref. - http://www.edmontonjournal.com/travel/A ... story.html
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Re: Airlines Soon to Advertise "the real price"

Postby jon » Fri Dec 16, 2011 11:47 am

What was your favourite airline ad ever? For whatever reason.

For pure intelligence, I would say Wardair's "Second Fare for $19.95" from that short period when they were a scheduled national carrier. Main concept was to get business travellers to take their significant other. The genius behind it was that, at the time, business travellers could expense account "full fare" without causing any negative attention, and would gladly pay a small fee out of their pocket to take along someone else. What I can't remember is whether they restricted the second fare to a family member, to avoid two business travellers from the same company flying for the price of one.

There are, of course, a ton of 1960s airline TV and radio ads from the U.S. that were very popular in their day. Nearly 10 years ago, a Bellingham airline even tried to bring back the old Mr. Magoo "The Only Way to Fly" line from Western Airlines. And, of course, there were the sexual innuendo ads coupled with very short skirts on stewardesses.
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Re: Airlines Soon to Advertise "the real price"

Postby Big Voice » Fri Dec 16, 2011 1:21 pm

Pricing example:
Flight Centre advertises Jamaica for New Year's Eve, from $149.00.
Small print reads, plus taxes and fees $337.00.
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