U.S. airlines are trying to kill a new rule requiring them to disclose fees more quickly when consumers shop for flights.
U.S. airlines are suing to block the Biden administration from requiring greater transparency over fees that the carriers charge their passengers, saying that a new rule would confuse consumers by giving them too much information during the ticket-buying process.
The U.S. Transportation Department said Monday it will vigorously defend the ruleagainst what it called “hidden junk fees.”
American, Delta, United and three other carriers, along with their industry trade group, sued the Transportation Department in a federal appeals court on Friday, asking the court to overturn the rule.
It would require airlines and travel agents to disclose upfront any charges for baggage and canceling or changing a reservation.
The degree to which I care about this has a lot to do with whether it's a fee that affects all my options equally. Usually, when I'm planning to take a flight, I'm going to take it regardless. So a bag charge isn't going to affect whether I fly or not.
But airlines charge different rates for checked baggage, and right now, comparison-shopping websites don't incorporate that, which is obnoxious, as I might change the airline I take.