Additional fees won't fly in airline ads
Southwest Airlines said Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011, that it will buy 208 new Boeing 737s for about $19 billion. Credit: AP, 2008
Fly from Albuquerque to Tucson on Southwest Airlines for $59. Fly from Boston to Chicago on Spirit Airlines for only $9.
If these fares seem too good to be true, it's because they are. An asterisk accompanies the online ads for the fares, signifying that additional fees and taxes apply. In some cases, the additional charges raise the ticket price 20 percent or more.
Starting Jan. 26, no more asterisks. A new U.S. Transportation Department rule requires that from then on, all advertised airfares include the nonoptional fees and taxes, including fuel charges and the Sept. 11 Security Fee.
"The price advertising provision was adopted to make sure passengers know the full amount they will have to pay for air transportation when they buy a ticket," agency spokesman Bill Mosley said.
The federal regulation does not require that airfares include optional bag fees or charges for food and onboard entertainment.
Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines are fighting the rule in a legal challenge filed in November.
Still, Mosley said his agency plans to start enforcing the rule Jan. 26.
