Consumer Alert for Air Travel and Parcel Delivery During Seol Holiday

Delivery workers are sorting holiday parcel boxes at the Dong Seoul Mail Logistics Center in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on the 1st, ahead of Seollal, the biggest traditional Korean holiday. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The Fair Trade Commission and the Korea Consumer Agency have urged consumers to be cautious of potential damages related to airline tickets, gift certificates, and parcel delivery services, which are expected to see increased demand ahead of the Seollal holiday.

According to the Consumer Agency on the 4th, the number of damage relief requests received around the Lunar New Year holidays from January to February during 2021 to 2023 were 467 cases for airline tickets, 260 cases for gift certificates, and 160 cases for parcel delivery, respectively.

These figures represent 14.1%, 17.5%, and 19.4% of the total requests during the period, which is a significant proportion. Due to the high frequency of use, complaints have been continuously reported.

Regarding damage cases, airline tickets often involved excessive cancellation penalties, damage to checked baggage, and refusal of compensation after contract breaches such as flight delays or cancellations.

For gift certificates, many cases involved refusal of 90% refunds or usage on the grounds that the validity period set by the business had expired, even though the statute of limitations (5 years) had not passed.

Ahead of the 2020 Lunar New Year holiday, Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport is bustling with passengers. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, parcel delivery issues mostly involved damaged or spoiled goods, delivery delays, or incorrect deliveries. Especially around the holidays, there were frequent disputes due to sellers refusing compensation for damage or delayed delivery of perishable food items.

The Fair Trade Commission and the Consumer Agency anticipate similar damage cases to occur frequently this year as well, issuing consumer advisories and providing precautions to keep in mind.

First, for airline tickets, consumers are advised to check in advance for possible natural disasters at travel destinations and social issues, and to carefully review cancellation fees and refund policies of airlines and travel agencies.

For parcel delivery, it is recommended to order goods well in advance before demand surges, and when purchasing gift certificates in bulk or with cash, consumers should be cautious of fraud.

If damage occurs, consumers can seek consultation or apply for damage relief through 'Consumer24' or the '1372 Consumer Counseling Center' by preparing transaction details and supporting documents.

The consumer dispute resolution standards required for consultation or damage relief applications by item can be found on the Consumer Agency’s website.