Ctrip sorry for secretly charging extra during booking

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Chinese travel services provider Ctrip has announced it is canceling part of its "bundled charges" – a practice that sees the online platform including extra expenses by default in the booking process – following online furor.

Items such as hotel coupons, pick-up services and insurance are automatically selected by the company, leading to the user paying eventually a larger sum of money.

Un-checking such extras must be done manually, but as few people realize they are being charged for services beyond the basic flight or train ticket, plenty have fallen victims of the practice.

Earlier this week, Chinese actress Han Xue took to China's Twitter-like Weibo to express anger over the sneaky practice, after being charged an extra 38 yuan (around 6 US dollars) for a hotel coupon she did not even know she was purchasing. Han said it was not until she finished booking her flight ticket that she realized the irregularity.

Screenshot from Han Xue's post on Weibo account

“It seems it is not just me who has been into the situation. Ctrip should have done better. There is no excuse. As a responsible company, Ctrip should be honest with the matter and say sorry to the public,” Han wrote.

Her complaint received overwhelming support from online users, and soon a flurry of comments emerged of people sharing similar experiences.

Screenshot of comments on Weibo

“I had the same experience! One can never be too careful. Every time I would un-tick it one by one, but there was a time when I was in a rush, so I paid for a couple of extra services," wrote a use who goes by the name @morningcallmiao.

“Bundled sales are going too far. Ctrip should make a public apology. As a public platform, it should serve the people to gain support and trust,” stated @Susiehongweiranlu.

Screenshot from Ctrip App showing additional costs are checked by default on October 12, 2017.

Ctrip has revised its booking policy and removed some default services such as hotel coupons, pick-ups and insurance fees.

However, an additional cost for "super speedy ticketing” is applicable as the item is still selected by default. Ctrip claims it can guarantee a ticket at times of high demand and shortage in supply.

But according to Beijing Youth Daily, China’s railway authorities denied the existence of “prioritized tickets” to Ctrip users.

A screenshot showing an extra 38 yuan bundled with an airfare for "super speedy ticketing" on October 12, 2017.

Earlier this year, China's Civil Aviation Authority banned bundling practices for online ticketing sales.