Nick Mercer, Eurostar commercial director, said: ‘With the public searching for business and institutions that they can trust, it’s vital the travel industry is honest in its pricing – and that what you see is what you pay.
‘Consumers wouldn’t tolerate paying extra to park in a supermarket’s own car park, extra for a trolley, or extra for using a staffed check-out as opposed to a self-service scanning machine – and travel should be the same.’
Mercer’s comments echo those of London City Airport chief executive, Richard Gooding, who told a travel forum in London that the way airlines present their fares was ‘astonishing’.
He cited an advertised fare of £2.49 that came to £93 when taxes and other charges were added.
However, the European Commission last week praised several airlines for improving the way they present fares online, following a Europe-wide crack down on misleading prices.
Eurostar’s call for greater transparency in short-haul European travel fares came as it launched its summer campaign ‘Little Break, Big Difference’, offering £59 return fares to Paris, Brussels and any Belgian station with no 'airline-style extra charges'.
It has also launched a new facility on its website enabling consumers to search for £59 return fare availability on every train up to four months ahead.
The new campaign starts today (18 May) and will run until August.
Travellers can also buy through-fares to the Continent from 150 towns and cities across the UK, from only £71 return from Brighton to just £92 return from Edinburgh.
See also:
Commission praises airlines for website clarity (15/05/2009)
Eurostar’s ‘honest pricing’ boosts leisure sales (16/04/2009)
Eurostar back up to speed (23/02/2009)
Record year for Eurostar despite tunnel fire (13/01/2009)
Greater transparency promised for passengers (31/10/2008)