123milhas will be investigated for suspension in issuing tickets

The Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Justice, through the National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon), announced that they will investigate the decision of the digital travel agency 123milhas to suspend the issuance of thousands of tickets and packages of its promotional line, with a date of departure between September and December.

The announcement was made by the company on Friday night. It argues that due to adverse market conditions it was forced to discontinue the promotional line for the remainder of the year. One of the hypotheses for the problem, according to “O Globo”, is that there would have been a financial mismatch.

the company’s position

The company informed, on its website, that it will not be affected only if it has already received a ticket, locator or e-ticket. It also highlighted that promotional line orders for shipment from January 2024 onwards will be honored.

According to 123milhas, the amounts paid by customers plus monetary restatement of 150% of the CDI – an index above inflation and market interest rates – will be reimbursed through vouchers that can be used to purchase any tickets, hotels and packages in company. They will be valid for up to 36 months after you request a refund.

“We understand that this change is unexpected and regret the inconvenience this may cause. Therefore, we are doing our best to minimize the consequences of this unforeseen event”, says a note from 123milhas.

Procon-SP will also investigate

A note from the Ministry of Tourism highlights that the bodies are “committed to finding mechanisms that prevent similar situations from happening again and to hold companies accountable that may have acted in bad faith.”

An agency that will notify the company is the Procon-SP. According to “Folha de S.Paulo”, the consumer protection entity wants to know the reasons for the suspension. The question must be sent this Monday. The agency’s orientation is that consumers contact the company and register complaints against 123milhas;

Case is the second since April

It is the second tourism startup that sold tickets or packages with prices well below those practiced by the market and flexible boarding dates to register a problem this year.

The first was Hurb, whose founder, José Ricardo Mendes, resigned as CEO at the end of April, after becoming involved in a controversy with a customer who was no longer served by the company.

According to the portal “Market & Eventos”, specialized in tourism, since then, Hurb has been questioned administratively and judicially for not serving its customers. On April 24, the Ministry of Justice ordered the opening of a lawsuit against the company for “disrespecting the rights of consumers who purchased trips with the platform.”

In May, Senacon decided to suspend sales of new Hurb packages and last month, the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro (MP-RJ) opened an investigation to investigate possible crimes committed by the company.