The consumer protection agency blames airlines for hiding costs with online ticket prices, deeming their communication illegal and misleading. It stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic should not be a reason.
During an event on the development of the tourism sector organized by the Mexican ministry of Economy on October 14, the head of PROFECO, the Federal Consumer Prosecutor’s Office, sighed that airlin0es companies gave him severe “headache”.
He considers airlines companies deceive consumers by making them to believe flights are cheap with false advertising. “The pandemic and trying recover from their losses is not a reason” for such behaviors, he explained about the aerial transportation industry.
In 2020, Mexico lost 44% of its international tourists, in a year when international tourism returned to an activity close to the ’80s. But by keeping its open air and airports open during 2020, Mexico was less impacted than other popular touristic destinations like Italy, France, Spain or the United States.
“In the last 60 or 90 days, all airlines unilaterally and illegally decided that the standard rate does not include your hand luggage, whereas the law specifically mentions it. […] Flying is not cheap,” he further added.
Along with the costs for hand luggage, not including the airport fees, paying extra to be able to sit next to your under-age child are all targeted by the agency as unlawful and deceitful operations.
On September 6, the agency gave Viva Aerobus, a Mexican low-cost airline company, “24 hours to suspend its misleading advertising.”
