TORONTO – The federal government announced Tuesday that all-inclusive airfare advertising is now mandated under the Air Transportation Regulations.
This means the price online, in newspapers, or on billboards – all advertisements in any media for travel within or originating in Canada – must be the total price of an airline ticket, including fees and taxes.
Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, said in a release offenders can be fined up to $25,000.
“In addition to benefitting consumers by ensuring transparent advertising, these regulations will promote fair competition between all advertisers,” he said.
Package travel deals, loyalty reward programs and services that originate outside Canada will not be subject to the new rule.
In addition, optional services such as checked or unchecked baggage, food, drinks and in-flight entertainment, don’t have to be included in the total advertised price. (Though the price of individual optional services “must be displayed as a total price, including taxes, etc.” according to the Canadian Transportation Agency.
So with this announcement, what other services might be next?
• Car rentals
• Moving truck rentals
• Phone contracts
• Cable/Internet services
• Bank fees
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