U.K.’s CAA to Scrutinize the Murky World of Passenger Fees

CF7AXK A BA (British Airways) airplane passes an A30 road sign beside Heathrow Airport, London, UK (close to Hatton Cross station).

In a drive for greater transparency, this summer, the organization in charge of regulating the U.K’s civil aviation industry will review the fine print associated with carrier fees.

The U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the body responsible for overseeing the nation’s civil airline industry, is set to carry out a full-scale investigation of airline fees later this summer. The CAA will be examining the policy of multiple carriers on fees relating to checking in, the processing of changes to travelers’ names on documentation and the re-issuance of boarding passes.

TravelMole reports that the body will be looking to take action against any operators that are found to be in violation of the U.K.’s Consumer Rights Act, legislation that is intended to protect British consumers upon the purchase of goods or services across a variety of industries.

Member of Parliament (MP) Robert Goodwill, Minister of State for the U.K.’s Department for Transport, told the website that, “The Government and the CAA continue to emphasize to the airlines the importance of compliance with ticket transparency obligations, ensuring that terms and conditions — including any administration fees and charges — are clear to passengers when they choose between airlines.”

He added that the upcoming scrutiny, “will include a review of the airlines’ terms and conditions with the aim of ensuring the rights and obligations of the consumers and businesses are fair and balanced and consumers are not being penalized by unfair contract terms.”

A spokesman for the CAA explained that the investigation is about clarity in terms of the fees and charges levied by airlines. “You’ve got the headline price of the ticket, but are there any additional things that people have to be aware of that they will have to pay for?”

He added that this will help to ensure that carriers, “are open and clear so that people understand what they are actually paying for.”

[Photo: Alamy]