Cineplex Fined $38.9M for Deceptive Online Booking Fees

The Competition Tribunal ruled that Cineplex's $1.50 online booking fee misled consumers, prompting a record penalty.

Cineplex Inc. plans to appeal the $38.9 million fine imposed by the Competition Tribunal for deceptive marketing practices.
The tribunal found Cineplex guilty of 'drip pricing,' where additional fees were not disclosed upfront to consumers.
The $1.50 online booking fee was introduced in June 2022 and affected customers not enrolled in Cineplex's loyalty programs.
The fine is equivalent to the total amount collected from consumers through the online booking fee between June 2022 and December 2023.
Experts predict the ruling will lead to increased scrutiny and potential actions against other companies using similar pricing tactics.