Changes Proposed to Disclose Hidden Airline Ticket Fees
We’ve got some good news if you’re an LGBTQ+ traveler tired of booking cheap flights only to realize that the airfare is much more than you anticipated. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is about to put airlines, third-party sellers, and metasearch sites on blast for those hidden costs.
The DOT will propose a rule requiring sellers of airline tickets to disclose baggage fees, change fees, cancellation fees, and family-seating fees to consumers whenever fare and schedule information is provided for flights to, within, and from the U.S.
In addition to those proposed changes to ticket fees, the Department of Transportation also wants to require carriers and ticket agents to enable consumers traveling with a young child to purchase seats with the fare at all points of sale.
“Airline passengers deserve to know the full, true cost of their flights before they buy a ticket,” said Pete Buttigieg, U.S. transportation secretary. “The proposed rule would require airlines to be transparent with customers about the fees they charge, which will help travelers make informed decisions and save money.”
Earlier this month, the DOT launched an Airline Customer Service Dashboard that displays what airlines offer when they are responsible for flight delays and cancellations. The new dashboard lit a fire under some airlines to improve their services to flyers – such as free rebookings, meal vouchers, and complimentary hotel stays – when an airline issue causes a cancellation.
There’s also good news for passengers who pay for inflight Wi-Fi that doesn’t work! The Department has proposed a rule to refund passengers for services they paid for that aren’t provided. Yep, that includes that much-needed inflight entertainment that’s not working on a long-haul flight.
No word yet on when all these proposed changes will happen including the disclosure in ticket fees, but we’ll keep you posted. Looking for travel tips to plan your dream vacation? Click here for trip-planning advice including the best times to book your airfare.
