Spain has imposed fines on five budget airlines for “abusive practices” including charging for hand luggage.
The fines totalling €179m (£149m) were doled out to Ryanair, who got the biggest fine of €108m (£90m), followed by EasyJet’s penalty of €29m (£24m).
Vueling, the budget arm of British Airways owner IAG, has been fined €39m (£32m), while Norwegian Airlines and Volotea have been fined €1.6m (£1.3m) and €1.2m (£1m) respectively.
Irish carrier Ryanair was singled out for a controversial check-in charge where passengers pay a “disproportionate amount” to print their boarding pass at the terminal.
The Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs issued sanctions against airlines that had made “very serious” violations of consumer regulations adding that they provided misleading information and were not transparent with prices, “which hinders consumers’ ability to compare offers” and make informed decisions.
The ministry is prohibiting charges for hand luggage and reserving adjacent seats for children. Further complaints revolved around not allowing cash payments at Spanish airports and lack of price clarity on their websites.
Ryanair, easyJet and Norwegian said that they had filed administrative appeals against the fines.
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair CEO, called the fines “illegal” and “baseless”. He said:
“These illegal and baseless fines, have been invented by Spain’s Consumer Affairs Ministry for political reasons, are clearly in breach of EU law. Ryanair has for many years used bag fees and airport check-in fees to change passenger behaviour and we pass on these cost savings in the form of lower fares to consumers.
“Today’s illegal fines in Spain are in breach of EU law (Reg 1008/2008) and will be overturned by the EU Courts, which have repeatedly defended the right of all EU airlines to set prices and policies, free from Government interference.”
The Spanish Airlines Association (ALA) called the fines “nonsense” that “turns its back on the EU and undermines the free market”. The president of ALA, Javier Gándara said:
“If implemented, the resolution of the Ministry of Consumption would cause irreparable harm to passengers, as it would violate their freedom to tailor their trip to their needs and force them to pay for services they may not need. Currently, nearly 50 million passengers travel without cabin luggage and, with the decision of the Ministry of Consumption, they will be forced to subsidize this service for the rest of passengers,”
A spokesperson for easyJet said:
“We completely disagree with the decision of the Spanish Consumer Ministry and find the proposed sanctions outrageous. We will be formally appealing this through the courts and will vigorously defend our position. All of our customers can bring a small cabin bag for free which gives them the flexibility to only pay for what they want to. We consider our bag policy to be in line with all applicable laws and as such there is no change to our current cabin bag policy.”
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A stark warning from Booking.com highlights a dramatic 900% increase in travel scams over the past 18 months, with artificial intelligence (AI) playing a key role. Victims of holiday scams are losing £765 on average – up 4% from the previous year – as AI-wielding fraudsters deceive travellers with more sophisticated tactics.
With searches for “last minute holiday deals” surging by a whopping 250% over the past months as we approach Christmas, the experts at AIPRM compiled a list of the top AI-driven threats travellers should watch out for this holiday season.
Thanks to AI, scammers no longer need to be tech experts to create convincing websites that mimic legitimate travel booking platforms. Often advertising irresistible prices for flights and accommodations, these sites lure travellers with offers that seem too good to miss.
Fraudsters also often play on urgency, using phrases like “limited-time sale” or “only 1 left” to push consumers into making quick decisions. Once you input your details, scammers can steal your personal and financial information, leaving you with a ticket to nowhere and out of pocket.
Protect yourself this holiday by being extra vigilant when booking travel online. Watch out for suspicious URLs, small spelling errors or anything that feels off about the website’s design or offers. Double-check through official channels and read verified reviews before submitting your personal information. As a rule of thumb, if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
AI-powered chatbots can be used by scammers to impersonate customer service representatives, offering huge discounts on flights, hotels, or holiday packages. These bots may ask for sensitive personal information or prompt users to pay upfront for non-existent trips.
To avoid falling victim, verify any deals or offers you find online through official travel websites and avoid providing payment information through unfamiliar channels. If something feels too rushed, it’s a red flag. Double-check all details and confirm through official customer service numbers or emails before finalising any travel booking.
One in five people click on AI-generated phishing emails, with a shocking 65% tricked into revealing personal information through input fields on websites linked in those emails. Scammers are using AI to craft highly convincing phishing content disguised as legitimate companies. Imagine receiving a text or email claiming your flight is cancelled, and to avoid losing your reservation, you must click a link and enter your payment details immediately. The pressure to act quickly could lead you to inadvertently put your financial information into the hands of fraudsters.
To stay safe this holiday season, never click on suspicious links or provide sensitive information through unsolicited emails or texts. Always check the sender’s email address, and be cautious of any communication that asks for personal details. If in doubt, contact the airline, hotel, or travel agency directly.
Fake AI-generated airline reviews have skyrocketed by an eye-popping 189%, while Tripadvisor alone flagged a record 2 million reviews as fake on its platform last year. With the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, scammers can now generate hundreds of seemingly genuine, glowing reviews in minutes, making it harder for travellers to distinguish between real and fraudulent content.
To avoid being duped, cross-check reviews across multiple sources and don’t rely solely on reviews from travel booking websites. Instead, check independent review platforms and social media for additional feedback. Pay attention to patterns – if a place has an unusually high number of extremely positive reviews posted in a short period of time, it’s likely a red flag that they’ve been generated by AI or planted by scammers. Authentic reviews tend to be more balanced, including both positive and constructive feedback.
While many travellers nowadays use AI to help plan their trips, scammers are also taking advantage of this technology to create professional-looking itineraries designed to deceive. These fake itineraries often feature attractive holiday packages that promise an unforgettable vacation at an unbeatable price, with AI-generated images used to promote false activities, making everything seem enticing. Once you send a deposit or full payment, you might find that your dream holiday doesn’t exist at all!
To steer clear of sneaky fraudsters, stay alert when presented with offers that seem too good to be true and verify the source. AI-generated itineraries may appear polished, but they often contain subtle inconsistencies. Check for missing or mismatched details and examine the photos closely – AI-generated images can have imperfections like unnatural lighting or blurry areas.
Christoph C. Cemper, founder of AIPRM says:
“I believe that a (false sense) of urgency, no matter how well explained (using Generative AI) is the top red flag for any kind of scams, including those for booking trips and holidays. Nowadays, nearly anything can be faked with AI so if it is ‘too’ well written, ‘too’ good to be true in the offer, or ‘too nice’ in pictures, then I would be especially careful.”
Study by AIPRM
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