Ministry warns airlines over fares

BANGKOK  Budget airlines have been told to declare how many seats apply on a promotional fare campaign and update on how many remain as the campaign gets underway.
According Thai PBS a local TV news channel Thailand’s permanent secretary for transport, Soithip Trisuddhi, made the statement following a meeting with low-cost airlines Wednesday.
Since October last year to June this year, the ministry received 50 complaints from customers under the subjects of failure to refund after flight delays, lost property and exaggerations in advertisements particularly in promotional campaigns.
inside no 6Low-cost airlines fares are capped at THB13 per kilometre, but the airlines find ways to dump fares to grab business during the low season or when a competition gets too hot for comfort.

The ministry said it is monitoring promotional campaigns after complaints that despite advertisement promises the fares were not available, or had been sold by the time they were actually announced. Insiders, often relatives of airline staff or those working at airports, usually know in advance and can easily grab all the fares within minutes of the fare launch.
The ministry said it is monitoring the situation to ensure fair competition.
Airlines privately complain that the ministry is crossing the line into commercial interference. They argue that promotional fares encourage travel and introduce air travel to people who normally take the bus.
The ministry is under pressure from various lobby groups including tour bus companies as many of the fare are now quite close to what bus companies charge.

sourced:ttrweekly.com