By Bart Jansen, USA TODAY
The cheap fares that some airlines advertise — $29 to here or $59 to there — may look more expensive later this month. The government is forcing airlines to be more upfront about what your flight will really cost.
The
Transportation Department, as part of a new set of consumer-protection rules, is requiring airlines in two weeks to:
- Make sure that advertised fares include all government taxes and other fees that now are hidden behind asterisks or stuck in footnotes, but which can add 30% to 50% to a ticket price.
- Include any fees for checking bags when you book and pay for a ticket online. The goal is to prevent passengers who are checking bags from being surprised by the fees and having to pay them at the airport.
- Give customers 24 hours to change their reservations without having to pay rebooking fees. This would save passengers money in case they make a mistake. ...
