NEW advertising rules requiring airlines and travel agents to disclose charges in full may have kicked in on Saturday, but advertisements promoting zero-dollar fares can still be found online.
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Such ads normally do not include airport taxes, administrative fees, insurance and fuel surcharges, which could easily add up to at least $200.
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While budget airlines such as Jetstar Asia and Tiger Airways have said they will follow the guidelines, both have been tight-lipped about their new marketing strategies going forward.
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An ad featuring zero-dollar fares for selected destinations was still up on Jetstar’s website yesterday. The budget airline said preparations for this promotion were done before the new ruling was implemented.
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Tiger Airways, on the other hand, may be absorbing taxes. It has a promotion on its website for tax-free flights to Kuala Lumpur. The carrier’s cheap fares are subjectto availability, so customers may still end up paying higher fares if the discounted seats are sold out.
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The new advertising guidelines extend to the Web, according to the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case). “I suppose the Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore (Asas) council, which is set up under Case, will write to (those who don’t follow the guidelines),” Case executive director Seah Seng Choon told Today.
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“Actually, the grace period is over. We highlighted the change a couple of months ago. If we write a letter and they don’t follow (the guidelines), we’ll follow-up with a stronger letter.”
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The new guidelines are meant to help travellers in their buying decisions among companies with an office here.
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If an airline or travel agent fails to comply with the new ruling, Asas can ask media owners not to accept ads from these companies, or name the offenders publicly.
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Not surprisingly, consumers welcome the move to publish air fares in full, inclusive of taxes and surcharges.
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One customer said: “You don’t have to go down to the travel agency and be told that you need to pay a lot more. It’s a waste of your time.” CHANNEL NEWSASIA
