Responsibility for serious online flight offers the tourist providers and not consumers Munich, 26 April 2012 (w & p) of Internet travel distribution Association (VIR) reacts with incomprehension on the opinion of University Service GmbH in the ZDF WISO”by last Monday. The business magazine had reported fluege.de is the flight Portal associated with Unister and described specific cases where an advance not displaying service charge was calculated in addition customers in the final booking. Unister spokesman Konstantin Korosides insisted in the television report that transparency rule on the above portal and all costs to see. At the same time, he recommended the consumer centres to train senior citizens with regard to Internet bookings, because according to Unister especially older customers would get the prices wrong. VIR Board Michael Buller shows puzzled about this proposal: to portray seniors as seemingly naive and simple-minded Internet users, is in no way of our Experience.
As Saxony was determined by the Consumer Council also in the WISO post, there are complaints of all ages regarding the mentioned booking problems. The television report also called an EU regulation, according to which the total price including taxes and charges at the first mention of the offer must be displayed. We deem this arrangement reasonable and justified, because consumers here can make a unique purchase decision due to a price and for this there must be fair competition.” The seven biggest online travel companies in Germany – by the booking method described in the report of the WISO Buller Michael distanced on behalf of members affiliated in the VIR. The VIR Executive Board stressed: the responsibility for a reputable online flight booking is not at consumers, but at the respective tourist providers. The way of booking the WISO post criticized differs fundamentally from those of VIR members. All our members receive certificate the TuV Sud safer shopping from neutral point and dedicated to binding quality standards. Give certainty, to be on the VIR Member portals consult reputable, competent and customer-friendly and serves consumers.” Michael Buller continued: the exemplary impulses, which we use in the context of the VIR for the entire travel industry, suffer from alarmingly through methods such as the operations described in the WISO post. The entire online travel industry suffers this.” The VIR: The Internet travel distribution Association (VIR) is the Trade Association for the tourist economy of the Internet.
Its members include tourism, lastminute.de, opodo.de Expedia.de, ebookers.de, HolidayCheck, JT and weg.de seven of the largest online travel companies in Germany, who generate revenues of around two billion euros. All VIR member companies have themselves and their services TuV certified and thus occupy a role model for the entire travel industry. Supporting members of the VIR are Alliance global assistance, Amadeus Germany, BPCS consulting services, CEWE COLOR, DB Sales, DERTOUR, DMC Digital Media Center, fact-finder, FTI Touristik, GIATA, HanseMerkur, Pisano holding, Sabre Travel network, sunny cars, traffic, travel IT, Travelport, arranged, Travelzoo (Europe) Ltd., TrustYou, TUI interactive and @Leisure BR BV. Further information about the Association, visit. “” Branch: Internet travel distribution Association, Celtic ring 9, 82041 Oberhaching, phone: 089-610667-29, E-Mail:,, Internet: press releases on the Internet: the latest press releases are on the Internet under in the press area “to the download” available. The inclusion in the press distribution via the Internet is also possible. Take advantage of our service and subscribe to the RSS-feeds of VIR.