Aussies get full-price disclosure

By Phil Reimer

After lengthy debate, the Australian government passed legislation last month making it compulsory for travel-service providers to include the full price of their services in their advertising.

In Canada, where travel agencies fall under provincial jurisdiction, only Quebec and Ontario require them to include fees and surcharges in their advertised prices.

A federal move to enact "all-in" advertising rules in the airline industry has been stalled, with the government citing lack of national consensus.

Full-price advertising is not mandatory in British Columbia, but the B.C. Automobile Association (BCAA) took it upon itself last year to advertise full prices for its services.

Dale Urquhart, BCAA's director of travel services, said it's too early to say whether or not it's boosted sales. "We do know, however, that it meets the needs of our clients. We have had nothing but positive response from members of BCAA."

Travel providers must now advertise their full prices in Australia and they even have to add any mandatory gratuities in the final prices that are displayed in their ads.

I blogged on portsandbows.com about Australia's new law and many readers posted their comments on the subject. Here are some examples:

- "I completely agree with the legislation proposed. It's about time companies and advertisers spell out the exact cost of their 'special', without having to read the small print."

- "Why would such wonderful legislation be hotly debated? I think it should be mandatory, if only to cut down on the wasted time (mine and the travel agent's) because I'm always asking for the final price before I get excited about travel ads."

- "I agree. My husband and I are going on our first cruise, and I tell you, that final total has added up to quite a bit along the way since first booking. What with prepaid tipping, paying to reserve actual seats on the flights, etc. If they showed the total it would save everyone involved a lot of time just with inquiries."

BOW SHOTS

MSC, the Italian cruise line that bases some of its ships in Florida for the winter to cruise the Caribbean, is expanding its number of home ports.

Beginning in 2010, MSC will sail several trips out of Quebec City and New York City. MSC Magnifica, a new ship that has yet to be launched, will be the ship that sails from these ports.

The first trip is a 10-night round trip from New York City departing on Sept. 22, 2010, with stops in Sydney, N.S., Charlottetown, Quebec, Halifax and Newport, R.I. After that, the ship will embark on a series of seven-day trips out of Quebec and New York.

PHIL'S PICK OF THE WEEK

This week's pick is a South American cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line where the base price for an inside cabin works out to be less than $40 Cdn per day. The ship leaves Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 1 and March 29 and finishes in Santiago, Chile (Valparaiso), 14 days later. The prices quoted here do not include taxes and fees and were available at time of writing.

The price for inside cabins start at $561 while balcony cabins begin at $1,000. Prices are per person and are based on double occupancy. You can get more details on NCL's website at ncl.com.

Some of the ports of call for this trip include Montevideo, Puerto Madryn and the Falkland Islands, it then sails around Cape Horn and on to Punta Arenas, Ushuaia, the Chilean fiords and ends the trip in Santiago.

http://www.canada.com/topics/travel/story.html?id=1184587