Eurostar Faces Criticism for Misleading Ticket Sale Ads on Social Media
Eurostar has again been called out by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for misleadingly advertising £39 fares with limited availability. In June, Eurostar promoted one-way fares from London to Amsterdam and Brussels for £39 on Instagram and Facebook, with a note that “T&Cs apply.” However, some consumers reported difficulty finding tickets at the advertised price, leading one reader to file a complaint about exaggerated availability and a lack of information on the promotion’s dates.
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Eurostar defended its ads, stating that ticket availability as a percentage of total seats would not reflect actual availability, as some are reserved for business sales. They also noted that by July 21, 11.6% of tickets on the two routes had been sold at the £39 rate, excluding blackout dates, which they claimed showed the promotional seats were available as advertised.
The company added that travel dates were specified in terms and conditions accessible with one click from the ad, though the ASA ruled this information was not prominently displayed.