Cineplex has filed an appeal against a record $38.9-million fine imposed by the Competition Tribunal for deceptive marketing practices related to its online ticket pricing.
The company has submitted a notice of appeal to the Federal Court of Appeal and, with the Competition Bureau’s consent, is seeking a stay of the fine until the appeal is resolved. Cineplex has already been granted an interim stay pending a full hearing by the Appeal Court.
The fine stems from a September ruling in which the tribunal sided with the Competition Bureau, accusing Cineplex of misleading customers by not displaying the full price of movie tickets upfront when purchasing seats online. The practice, known as “drip pricing,” includes additional fees like the $1.50 online booking charge Cineplex began applying in June 2022. The fee is waived for CineClub subscribers and Scene Plus members.
Cineplex denies the allegations, claiming that customers are promptly informed of any fees and can avoid them by buying tickets in-person at the theatre.
