New crackdown on airline's hidden costs

Amid the Conservative's infighting and the adoption of my parliamentary rule change on groups, I haven't had time to mention the new regulations governing how air-fair prices are advertised, which was adopted by the European Parliament in Strasbourg this week.

Many people will have come across airline advertisements promising bargain flights only to find the price rising substantially as they go through their booking. The final cost then bears little resemblance to the price which encouraged you to travel with them in the first place. The European Commission's investigation into the phenomenon found that well over a quarter of air travel websites indulged in such practices.

The new rules will put an end to these false prices by ensuring that advertised prices include all airport taxes, fees and charges. In a further attempt to improve transparency, airlines must also make clear the cost of any optional extras (luggage, booking a particular seat etc) at the start of the booking process. This is of course good news for consumers who can now feel confident they are getting the best value for money and can make an informed choice without having to sift out hidden costs and extra charges.

The rules will come into force by the end of the year.