UK Regulator Probes Trainline, Virgin Atlantic Over Hidden Fees

Britain's competition regulator has launched formal investigations into Trainline, Virgin Atlantic, and Red Driving School over concerns they may be using illegal "drip pricing" tactics that hide mandatory fees from consumers. The Competition and Markets Authority announced the probes on August 19, 2026, stating the companies were under scrutiny for not displaying total prices upfront for train and coach tickets, package holidays, and driving lessons respectively.

The CMA's action targets the practice of separating mandatory charges from headline prices or adding them later in the buying process. Such methods can leave shoppers facing unexpected costs and may distort competition by making a firm appear cheaper than it actually is. The regulator observed that for Trainline, additional fees ranging from 50 pence to £2.79 were added to transactions, including a £1.50 booking fee for coach journeys. The investigation into Virgin Atlantic will examine mandatory resort fees and local taxes for package holidays, which the CMA noted can run into hundreds of pounds. For Red Driving School, the probe focuses on the display of a mandatory booking fee and a digital fee, typically £7 per lesson.