The Polish competition authority, UOKiK, has fined Travelplanet.pl almost 650,000 PLN for misleading consumers regarding the prices of holiday packages listed on their website. The company, which acts as a travel agent, presented attractive prices that were often not accurate upon further inspection.

UOKiK's President, Tomasz Chróstny, highlighted that consumers were misled by the displayed prices, which were significantly higher when details were revealed. For instance, in a three-week study, 47 out of 100 checked holiday packages showed an average price increase of 329 PLN per person compared to the initial search results. One notable case involved a trip to Dubai, where the price discrepancy reached 4,730 PLN.

Additionally, some prices did not include mandatory contributions to the tourist guarantee fund. Travelplanet.pl has since amended its practices to ensure that all prices now reflect these contributions.

Chróstny emphasized the importance of accurate pricing information for consumers when selecting travel services. The misleading practices hindered consumers' ability to compare offers effectively and find suitable trips.

As a result of these violations, UOKiK has mandated Travelplanet.pl to change its pricing practices and inform consumers about the decision on its website and social media profiles. The decision is not yet final, as the company has the right to appeal to the court.

This is not the first instance of penalties for false pricing in the travel sector, as UOKiK previously fined the owner of wakacje.pl over one million PLN for similar practices in December 2023.