FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - legality of airlines labeling fuel surcharges as "tax"
Old Dec 19, 2011 | 5:28 am
  #11  
florin
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Originally Posted by bedelman
I see many grounds to criticize fuel surcharges. But when a fuel surcharge is mislabeled as a "tax", I think the critique is particularly compelling. My current plan is to send a demand letter to the US general counsel of the carrier at issue, then to follow up with a letter to the US Department of Transportation's Aviation Consumer Protection and Enforcement division. But I would like to offer a specific legal theory here, more specific than the general problem of mislabeling and misrepresentation
I applaud your effort and hope it works out.

Originally Posted by turtleisland
Canadians have fought against Air Canada's fuel surcharges as deceptive marketing/bait and switch for years. "Montreal to Paris, round trip, for $199*!" when the final price for the ticket is actually $900.
A few years ago EU passed a law that made it illegal for airlines to advertise anything other than the all in price. No more "$149.99" that ends up actually being "$558.63". Very cool!:-: Airlines will clearly not do this voluntarily; they have to be forced by the law. Hopefully this kind of initiative takes place in the US and Canada as well.
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