Fee Fighters campaign: How to avoid hidden cinema ticket charges

Cinema chains may be breaking the law by adding online booking fees to movie ticket prices, the nation’s top consumer advocacy group says. SEE HOW YOU CAN BEAT THE EXTRA FEES

Exclusive: Cinema chains may be breaking the law by adding online booking fees to movie ticket prices, the nation’s top consumer advocacy group says.

An investigation by News Corp Australia has led Choice to allege key players in the $1.7 billion industry are flouting “drip pricing provisions” in the Australian Consumer Law.

Section 48 of the ACL prohibits merchants from promoting a price only to then add on unavoidable extra costs.

Choice’s policy head Sarah Agar said there is an exception for delivery fees — but not booking fees, which is what all major chains call their online charges.

Brie Larson in Captain Marvel. Cinema chains may be breaking the law by adding online booking fees to movie ticket prices.

Using Hoyts as an example, the first price it shows consumers looking for tickets to Captain Marvel on its website is $20.

The $1.50 online booking fee is not disclosed at this stage.

When a consumer selects a ticket, the price automatically jumps to $21.50 and multiples thereof.

“I would say if it’s not a delivery charge, the law is quite clear,” said Choice’s policy head Sarah Agar. “My view is that it may breach section 48 of the ACL.”

News Corp Australia put this to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which said there was no problem.

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Cinema-goers are being slugged extra on movie tickets.

This was because the consumer who sees the $20 price could at that point decide to go to a cinema and purchase a ticket at the box office without paying the booking fee.

Told of the ACCC’s view, Choice’s Ms Agar said that wasn’t what consumers used cinemas’ online booking pages for.

“I still think there is an issue,” she said.

The online booking fee was unavoidable and applied per ticket, not per transaction, so the cinema knew what the total cost was for a purchaser. Therefore the booking fee should be in the first price shown to consumers, she said.

The National Association of Cinema Operators and Hoyts did not respond.

HOW TO FIGHT TICKETING FEES

* You CAN beat cinema chains’ gouging

* The simplest way is to just buy in person

* But you can avoid the fee — and ticket queue — in some cases

* Optus customers can join Optus Perks which lets them book fee-free at Hoyts self-serve terminals using a code displayed near the box office

* The tickets are also cheaper, just $12.50

* Telstra offers cut-price seats too

* Motoring clubs (RACV, NRMA, RACQ and RAA), health funds (Medibank, Bupa, NIB, HCF and HBF) and unions also offer members discounts that can more than cover booking fees.

* Choovie has discounted tickets to smaller cinemas and some Dendys. Popular movies and times can be $6 cheaper

* Nor are all chains equal. Brisbane and Gold Coast chain Cineplex charges adults just $8.50. The online booking fee is only 50c

* Concert ticket booking fees can’t be beaten, but we’re pressing them to bring them down