Why flight tickets in France can increase in price even after purchase
New policy allows fares to be adjusted days before departure
Spanish low-cost airline Volotea has introduced a new policy under which customers may see the price of their flight tickets increase even after purchase.
The ‘Fair Travel Promise’ policy gives the airline the option to apply an additional charge of up to €14 per customer per flight, if fuel prices rise above a reference level. This means that a passenger could face a potential increase of up to €28 for a round trip.
However, the airline also states that if fuel prices drop after the additional amount has been applied, it will be reimbursed.
The policy also sees the introduction of a flexible service with all bookings, allowing passengers to change or cancel their flights free of charge up to four hours before departure.
A statement from the airline said that “this adjustment to the fuel price does not generate any profit for Volotea. It is only applied if fuel prices reach certain levels compared to the base amount.”
The new policy has opened up a broader debate, as airlines have traditionally not increased ticket prices after booking.
According to Article 23 of Regulation 1008/2008/EC, airlines must be transparent about the full and final price – including all unavoidable charges – before a purchase is made.
Once payment is completed, a contract is formed. In principle, the agreed price cannot be changed. However, price adjustments may be permitted if they are clearly included as a contractual clause at the time of booking.
Passengers may also encounter other changes if their flight is cancelled due to rising kerosene costs. In such cases, they are typically offered a refund or an alternative flight, although no additional compensation is due if the cancellation is considered outside of the airline’s control.
If rebooked onto a different flight, passengers may also face higher fares depending on availability and pricing at the time.
