The Civil Aviation Authority says most airlines flying out of the UK are now displaying final fares clearly, giving consumers a better picture and allowing them to compare prices easily.
The organisation has been working with airlines to ensure their websites list prices that include taxes and fees and says British Airways, Virgin, Bmi and other traditional airlines now comply with this procedure.
It added that Easyjet had complied early on and Monarch, Bmibaby and Flybe had all taken steps to make their pricing more transparent.
The CAA said Ryanair and Jet2.com had also formally agreed to display full prices up front on their sites by April 28 and June 1 this year respectively.
In addition to ensuring airlines comply with clear pricing, the CAA has also published Top Tips for Tickets, in which it guides consumers on getting the best air fare.
CAA Group Director of Regulatory Policy Iain Osborne said: “The difference between the price holidaymakers might see when they first search for a flight and the lowest price actually available can be £100 or more for a family of four.
“Consumers should be presented with clear information about the price of their flight throughout the booking process, so they can make fair comparisons between different airlines.
“Most airlines have changed their websites and adverts to include all unavoidable charges, and Ryanair and Jet2.com are committed to doing so by summer.
“In the meantime holidaymakers should follow our Top Tips for Tickets and be aware that headline prices may not include unavoidable costs in some cases.”
Charges for changing passenger details, the clarity of optional extras pricing and credit card fees are next on the CAA’s hit, according to a statement.
by Dinah Hatch
