From RNZ · RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa · · 1m
Labour airline policy details
Labour's airline pricing rules could stop hidden fees but airlines say they already follow some rules.
In brief
Labour's airline pricing rules could stop hidden fees but airlines say they already follow some rules. Labour's proposed airline policy would require full prices upfront and automatic refunds for cancellations, but Air New Zealand says it already meets some requirements. Originally reported by RNZ.
Labour's airline policy
Labour promised if elected it would force airlines to show full prices with fees included upfront and automatically refund customers for cancelled or significantly delayed flights.
Consumer NZ's view
Consumer NZ chief executive Jon Duffy said Labour's policy would prevent drip pricing where businesses attract you with a headline price then add fees at checkout.
“Where businesses attract you in with a headline price and then add fees and taxes and levies and all sorts of things along the purchasing journey, so that what you end up paying is much higher than what you originally thought you'd be paying.”
Air New Zealand's stance
Air New Zealand said it already follows some proposed rules, including showing full prices on websites and automatically rebooking customers for cancellations within their control.
“We don't use search history to determine fares”
Refund policy clarification
Duffy wanted clarification on whether Labour's policy would cover all cancellations or only those within the airline's control, as current rules require compensation for costs incurred if a flight is cancelled or delayed for reasons within the airline's control.
The key point
Labour's proposed airline policy would require full prices upfront and automatic refunds for cancellations, but Air New Zealand says it already meets some requirements.
