Mrs. Ivy’s case is not unique. Travel agencies have the right to increase the price by law, they can demand additional fuel surcharge even from a client who has already paid for the trip. And as fuel prices rise, airlines pass this into current prices.
“If what is happening to the fuel is happening, it is absolutely right and fair that passengers must also be involved in the increase. It is definitely not arbitrary on the part of travel agencies, “said Jan Papež, vice-president of the Association of Travel Agencies. According to him, at present, such a step will be taken mainly by small travel agencies.
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On the other hand, the largest players on the market are not yet considering increasing the prices of already purchased tours or introducing fuel surcharges. “Costs are rising, but we are insured against fluctuations in fuel prices or exchange rates. In addition, we have long-term contracts and we will certainly not raise prices, even for tours already purchased, “said Čedok spokeswoman Kateřina Pavlíková. The addressed representatives of Alexandria and CK Fischer also reacted in the same way.
The law allows travel agencies to increase the final price by up to eight percent. Of course, much more. “In this case, however, the customer can withdraw from the contract without the obligation to pay severance pay. If the increase is less than eight percent, then it is only possible to cancel the trip in the classic way and pay any severance pay, “said Jaroslav Švehla, spokesman for the dTest consumer organization.
Increased surcharges have also been introduced abroad
Increased surcharges respond to the price of oil and in practice the airlines have already introduced them abroad. Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, ANA Holdings and Emirates, for example, Smartwings and Czech Airlines (CSA) in the Czech Republic did so.
“Due to the extreme increase in the price of aviation fuel on world markets, Smartwings and Czech Airlines began to increase fuel surcharges in March, which corresponds to the development of fuel prices on world markets,” said Smartwings and CSA spokeswoman Vladimíra Dufková. By 2020, aviation fuel cost an average of $ 183 per tonne. “Now this price is around $ 1,200,” Dufkova added.
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People who buy it directly from the airline must also prepare for the increased cost of the ticket. Especially those who decide to travel longer distances. “This is not very noticeable on flights around Europe, but it is more pronounced on transatlantic flights, for example,” said Nina Černá, spokeswoman for the Kiwi internet search engine. However, she did not rule out that tickets could become even more expensive in the future. And this, for example, with regard to the development of the war in Ukraine.
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