Baffled and bewildered travelers are getting a break this month, but airlines want to take it away. A welcome federal rule for more disclosure of fares faces industry opposition and a challenge from airline allies in Congress.
The subject is a familiar one for frazzled ticket buyers: What is this trip really going to cost? Airlines and travel websites often list teaser rates to lure consumers. Left out are hefty federal taxes and fees that can add $20 to $40 to the final price of a typical ticket. These extra charges are tacked on to the bill, often after a traveler has arranged a trip that’s hard to reschedule.
Beginning this month, federal transportation authorities are cracking down on the deceptive practice. Airlines and ticket-selling websites are required to include the federal fees and taxes in the basic ticket price. This way a traveler gets a better idea about the true price of a ticket at the start.
The rule by the Department of Transportation was meant to level the competitive playing field and give consumers fairer price quotes. But several airlines — Spirit, Allegiant and Southwest — sued to stop the move. Also, Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ga., has filed legislation to repeal the federal rule.
Making ticket prices fair and understandable shouldn’t be controversial. The move isn’t designed to punish the airline industry, which suffered through price wars, fuel increases and a travel drop-off during the economic downturn. This rule is all about full disclosure to a consumer in the maze of airline ticket prices.
Washington is doing its job by protecting travelers from unfair airline pricing. Giving consumers more information in a confusing marketplace is a goal worth supporting.
San Francisco Chronicle (Feb. 14)
Hey its the American way to shaft the customer, they want to be able to do it too !
Are you an OWS loser?
I’m pretty sure he is right. The practices are very deceitful.
Sounds like the government doesn’t want people to know how high their taxes are. This is right up their with payroll withholdings. Maybe we won’t notice.
The Airlines can still list Taxes separately, or spell them out exactly.
Why single out the airlines? Why not make everyone list their prices with taxes included? If I have something to sell, I want people to know what I’m charging for it, then they’ll know what their government is costing them as well.
The problem people had was not with the taxes, The example I found was the USA taxes were about 20% of the advertised price, were the Airlines fees were just over 200% of the advertised price. I’m sure if you were selling something you wouldn’t tell the guy that his price more than doubled when he got there because of fuel surcharge, and a handling fee would you? If they are mandatory then they should be included in the ticket. They can still list out what makes up the price of the ticket very clearly, taxes included. The old way was to show you a cheap price then on the next screen, show you the actual price. The new way is show you the actual price and on the next screen they can clearly lay out what was included in that ticket. There is nothing in the law that says they can’t tell you what the taxes are.
I have no Idea why they single out the airline industry. Could be because that is were they heard most complaints