Trading Standards warn on hidden flight charges
Perth & Kinross Trading Standards are warning local residents to be aware of hidden charges that are increasing the costs of flights abroad.
The warning comes in the wake of a national investigation by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) which has identified that some online flight operators are not making baggage charges and other fees clear to holidaymakers when they book via the web.
Checks by Trading Standards officers at one airport in the UK also found that many sets of check-in scales were faulty, leading to customers being wrongly charged for 'excess' baggage weight.
Community Safety Convener, Councillor Willie Robertson said: "More and more people are now taking advantage of low-cost flights. This nationwide investigation has shown that the information available online during the booking process is not clear enough, leading to uncertainty and unexpected additional charges for holidaymakers. We would encourage anyone travelling to contact their flight provider first if they are not sure about what they may be charged for, and to ensure that when checking in, the airport scales are set at zero before they put their bags on for weighing. Any concerns they have can be reported to Trading Standards."
Perth & Kinross Trading Standards can be contacted by phoning 01738 476476.
