By Nicholas Yong

NEW rules designed to make air travel advertisements transparent have killed off those '$1' flights to Bangkok, but the actual prices of package holidays still remain anyone's guess.

A scan of travel advertisements shows that most travel agents and airlines now include other fees such as fuel surcharges and airport taxes in the cost of a ticket.

Online, budget carriers Tiger and Jetstar Asia are including taxes and surcharges in their one-way fares.

But the word 'from' is also used extensively, as these fares are subject to availability, the date of booking and a host of other terms and conditions.

While consumers checking air fares are now better informed, those wanting packages would do better than to depend on the ads.

A Straits Times check of between 100 and 200 travel ads since Nov 1 has turned up many using other strategies to publicise promisingly low prices for trips to places such as Bangkok and Taipei.

Some advertise group prices that are much lower than for an individual trip. Others use the word 'from' when listing the price of a ticket, so the traveller is almost assured of having to pay more.

Of 10 travel packages followed up on, only six were available at their advertised prices - and even these were subject to terms and conditions.

One agency advertised on Nov 5 a 'Taiwan Thrill' holiday at $738 plus $310 in taxes. Upon enquiry, it was found that the rate was only for those travelling in pairs - and before Nov 14, to boot.

Another agency's advertised price of $1,199 plus $350 in taxes turned out to be for the second person in a travelling pair; the first person will have to pay $1,499.

Yet another ad stated that all its fares included airport taxes and surcharges, but still prefaced these with 'from'.

Upon further inquiry, it emerged that the prices advertised were based on the cheapest airline and hotel.

Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) executive director Seah Seng Choon said advertising based on the lowest possible price is acceptable, provided the package is actually available.

'The only variable is whether the consumer is agreeable to it. If consumers want more, then they must negotiate with the agencies,' he said.

Case has so far written to three companies for clarifications on their advertisements and has handled one complaint.

Consumers interviewed think the Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore (ASAS), which drew up the new rules effective on Nov 1, should go beyond stipulating that advertised air fares make clear to the consumer all hidden fees and charges.

Civil servant Raj Joshua Thomas, 29, who travels for leisure up to six times a year, said advertisements should include a proper disclaimer about additional costs.

'I don't know if they are being intentionally misleading, but sometimes they do not provide the entirety of information for consumers to make an informed choice,' he said.

ASAS chairman Eleanor Wong said, however, that it was impractical to require advertisers to list every single option available to the consumer.

'Advertising regulations can't control every single variable. It is up to educated consumers to punish advertisers who don't give full information or who offer unacceptable options.'

She added that ASAS operated on the basis of goodwill:

'We don't really have a stick to go out and enforce regulation. It's not perfect, but it's a way that works out and takes everyone's views into account.'

nicy@sph.com.sg

Top photo: A travel agency at People's Park Centre advertising an air ticket to Melbourne for just $284. When approached, a staff member clarified that the printed cost is just for the land tour and does not include taxes or even the airfare.

Examples of travel advertisements before and after the new rules came into effect on Nov 1, with those 'after' ads noting extra fees and surcharges consumers have to pay on top of the stated airfare. [Photos: ST]

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Nov 11, 2008.

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