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.

  • shyguyblue@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    2 months ago

    Are these “customers” the same group that retail managers always use as an excuse to not give people chairs?

    “Our customers don’t like it when register workers sit down”

    “Fucking name one…”

  • jaybone@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    edit-2
    2 months ago

    Wasn’t I just reading about how they are not paying flight attendants a living wage and are providing them with hardship letters they can use to file for government assistance?

    Where is all the money going huh??

  • MisterFrog@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    2 months ago

    In Australia all junk fees are expressly prohibited by Australian Consumer Law.

    Help, I’m so confused.

    (Not to say things are hunky-dory over here, just that their arguments, while already being ridiculous on first inspection, hold no water whatsoever because things work just fine here with hidden fees being illegal)

  • catloaf@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    2 months ago

    I just find it funny that for plane tickets it’s “show all the fees” and for ISPs it’s “stop nickel and diming us and just give us the bottom line price”. They’re both regulated industries with numerous fees being passed on to the consumer. Really it should always be the “you pay” price with itemization available, for fixed costs like regulatory fees and sales taxes.

    • RagingRobot@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      2 months ago

      Hidden fees are standard in the US. Even in the grocery store the price on the label isn’t what you pay. You have to do math in your head to figure out the real price. Everything is purposely misleading. It’s infuriating.

    • DarthChris@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      2 months ago

      They’re still the same thing though, a way for corps to charge you more without you noticing. If you red the article the fees they’re talking about are for baggage, changes or cancellations. Those things are technically optional so they shouldn’t be included in the “you pay” price as you say, but should still be disclosed so the consumer knows what other charges they might incur.

  • rockSlayer@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    2 months ago

    Easy W for Southwest. They’ve had enough bad pr over the years.

    Edit for those that didn’t read, Southwest is the only major airline that isn’t suing

  • Fedizen@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    2 months ago

    A market is where prices are hidden from the buyer?

    Like Joe Biden is trying to make capitalism the least bit functional and all these companies shitting their pants.

  • The Pantser@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    2 months ago

    Wasn’t this already covered under the false advertising laws? Like just beef up that law to cover hidden fees better. You shouldn’t be able to add any fees except tax on a advertised price.

    • MisterFrog@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      2 months ago

      In most places (in the world other than the US), tax is included in the price. Are you not tired of seeing a price and it not being the price you actually pay?