There are reports of low-cost airlines wanting to blame travelers for rising fuel prices by increasing the cost of tickets already purchased. Experts warn that the practice violates the law.
Passengers with flights scheduled in the coming months are protected against price increases after purchasing tickets, despite the sharp rise in fuel costs in the aviation sector.
The alert is left by Pedro Miguel Madalenospecialist in air passenger rights and representative in Portugal of AirHelp, who claims to have heard reports of some companies, especially low-cost, that are trying to increase the price of tickets already purchased.
In testimony to , the expert guarantees that the practice “It’s completely illegal and must be immediately reported to the authorities”, given that “the price fixed at the time of purchase is always the final price”, except when additional fees are previously identified.
Despite the concerns, AirHelp indicates that it has not yet received formal complaints regarding abusive practices or cancellations associated with the current international crisis, including the effects on the Middle East. Still, the recommendation requires vigilance on the part of consumers.
Portuguese legislation provides, however, for a specific exception. Under the terms of decree-law nº 17/2018, which regulates the activity of travel agencies and transposes European directives, price revisions may occur on organized group trips. In these cases, it is possible to adjust the previously agreed value if there are significant changes in costs, including the price of fuel or other energy sources. Still, it is a limited and clearly defined situation in law.
This alert comes at a time when the European Airports Council International warns of the risk of a “systemic crisis” in European air traffic if constraints on fuel supply persist, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz.
