Should FTC mandate including fees in ads?
Apr 13, 2005, 8:25 pm
#1
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Original Poster
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Should FTC mandate including fees in ads?
Not that long ago, an advertisement for a $359 roundtrip was just that. $359. Period. Then came the airport facility charges, which varied from one place to the next. On a roundtrip with 2 nonstop segments, that could add a few dollars to the fare, but nothing to scare anyone off.
Now, I found a fare for $330. But when I went to actually complete the booking, it's $375!!! $45 in assorted fees. And, this is a pair of nonstop legs on a roundtrip. No multple connections. Is it time to push for legislation that would require airlines to advertise the full one way fare with taxes and fees included? They could certainly add a stipulation that "fees may vary up to $5 for connections" or something similar. But, at least then the public will pay the price that attracted them to begin with...... Now, before anyone says that will hurt an already bleeding industry and lower bookings, consider which is worse - baiting travellers in with one price, only to jack it up 10% in assorted fees - or - levelling the playing field, requiring all airlines to put the fees in the published fare.
One could argue hotels and rental car companies should do that too, and maybe they should. The fees and taxes that pop up on those bills is nothing short of a well organized racket.
Now, I found a fare for $330. But when I went to actually complete the booking, it's $375!!! $45 in assorted fees. And, this is a pair of nonstop legs on a roundtrip. No multple connections. Is it time to push for legislation that would require airlines to advertise the full one way fare with taxes and fees included? They could certainly add a stipulation that "fees may vary up to $5 for connections" or something similar. But, at least then the public will pay the price that attracted them to begin with...... Now, before anyone says that will hurt an already bleeding industry and lower bookings, consider which is worse - baiting travellers in with one price, only to jack it up 10% in assorted fees - or - levelling the playing field, requiring all airlines to put the fees in the published fare.
One could argue hotels and rental car companies should do that too, and maybe they should. The fees and taxes that pop up on those bills is nothing short of a well organized racket.
Apr 13, 2005, 9:29 pm
#2
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
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I don't think they should. By breaking it out, people get some idea what the airline is getting and what the government is getting. They took the break down of gas prices off the pumps and just put the final price up now at home because everybody was going nuts at the prices they had to pay in taxes.
We need to be aware we pay this and that and the rest or they just keep raising it over and over again. Nobody would even know we pay a security fee if it was all in one price.
We need to be aware we pay this and that and the rest or they just keep raising it over and over again. Nobody would even know we pay a security fee if it was all in one price.
Apr 13, 2005, 10:04 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: LAX
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Because if airlines had to post the fare including fees, it would be an impossible mess. The fees are based upon which airports you go through. The total fare for BOS-LAX would not be the same as BOS-IAD-LAX or BOS-ORD-LAX or BOS-ORD-DEN-LAX. How would the airlines advertise that? It would have to look like this!
FARE SALE!!!!!
Boston to Los Angeles nonstop: $350
Boston to Los Angeles (change planes in Washington): $375
Boston to Los Angeles (change planes in Chicago): $380
Boston to Los Angeles (change planes in Chicago and Denver): $395
FARE SALE!!!!!
Boston to Los Angeles nonstop: $350
Boston to Los Angeles (change planes in Washington): $375
Boston to Los Angeles (change planes in Chicago): $380
Boston to Los Angeles (change planes in Chicago and Denver): $395
Apr 14, 2005, 5:46 am
#4
Moderator: Avianca, Travel Photography, Travel Technology & USA
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As this is not about "mile and points", I am moving the thread to TravelBuzz.
Craig6z
Moderator - MilesBuzz
Craig6z
Moderator - MilesBuzz
