President Joe Biden plans to announce new rules on Monday that require airlines and online travel agencies to disclose fees for seat selection, checked baggage, and other add-ons along with fares, the administration's latest effort to bolster passenger protections after a rocky summer travel season.
Airlines charge travelers for a number of additional perks, which used to come with the cost of a ticket, including a fee for advanced selection for many seats on board, even those with extra legroom.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a news release that airline passengers deserve to know the full, true cost of their flights before they can buy a ticket. This 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. Carriers and online travel agencies have updated their websites in recent years to call out basic economy tickets, airlines most restrictive but cheaper fares. Airline executives said they wanted passengers to avoid the tickets in favor of more flexible standard economy tickets.
Airlines for America, representing most major U.S. airlines, didn't immediately make a statement on the proposed changes.
The proposal comes less than two months after the Transportation DepartmentTransportation Department imposed stricter standards for refunds for passengers who are late in the day.