Consumer Protection and Online Travel Platforms

Online platforms have transformed the travel sector by enhancing the availability of travel services and lowering transaction costs; however, they have also posed new challenges for consumer protection. The book studies this transformation, assesses the relevant EU acquis, and explores how the legal framework could be improved to better protect consumer interests in a platform-driven market. The book examines the private governance mechanisms employed by leading platform operators and identifies their strengths and weaknesses. Building upon these insights, it then delves into the EU legal framework, including the Digital Services Act and the Package Travel Directive. It identifies gaps in the protection of consumers concluding contracts through online travel platforms and proposes strategies for addressing these gaps through horizontal and sectoral rules. In this context, the book reflects on key notions of consumer law such as information, safety and performance, as well as the associated role of platform providers. Focusing on stand-alone contracts for individual travel services, this study offers new perspectives on consumer protection, the digital economy, and EU law. It will appeal to both legal researchers and practitioners seeking to navigate digital markets and the complexities of their regulation. By showing how EU law can better protect consumers in connection with online travel platforms, the book offers a valuable resource for legal interpretation and future policy evolution.