Thu, Jan 05, 2012
Slaps Budget Airline With $60,000 Penalty
The U.S. DOT has fined AirTran Airways $60,000 for violating
federal aviation laws and the Department’s rules prohibiting
deceptive price advertising in air travel. “Consumers have a
right to know the full price they will be paying when they buy an
airline ticket,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray
LaHood. “We will continue to take enforcement action
when our airline price advertising rules are violated.”
DOT rules require any advertising that includes a price for air
transportation to state the full price to be paid by the consumer,
including all carrier-imposed surcharges. The only exceptions
currently allowed are government-imposed taxes and fees that are
assessed on a per-passenger basis, such as passenger facility
charges, which may be stated separately from the advertised fare
but must be clearly disclosed in the advertisement so that
passengers can easily determine the full price they must pay.
Internet fare listings may disclose these separate taxes and fees
through a prominent link next to the fare stating that government
taxes and fees are extra, and the link must take the viewer
directly to information where the type and amount of taxes and fees
are displayed.
For a period of time in the fall of 2011, AirTran displayed an
advertisement on a number of websites advertising $59 one-way
fares. The advertisement noted that additional taxes, fees
and exclusions would apply, but with no information on the type or
amount of taxes or fees. A consumer clicking on the
advertisement was taken to a page on AirTran’s website where
a list of routes and prices were displayed. Consumers were
not provided details about the taxes and fees until they scrolled
to the bottom of the page where the information appeared in fine
print.
Under DOT’s recently adopted consumer rule that enhances
protections for air travelers, carriers will be required, among
other things, to include all government taxes and fees in every
advertised fare beginning Jan. 26, 2012.
More News
Runway Lead-in Light System Runway Lead-in Light System Consists of one or more series of flashing lights installed at or near ground level that provides positive visual guidance a>[...]
Aero Linx: Aviation Without Borders Aviation Without Borders uses its aviation expertise, contacts and partnerships to enable support for children and their families – at hom>[...]
Dave Juwel's Aviation Marketing Stories ITBOA BNITBOB ... what does that mean? It's not gibberish, it's a lengthy acronym for "In The Business Of Aviation ... But Not In The Busine>[...]
From 2010 (YouTube Version): Yeah.... This IS A Really Cool Job When ANN's Nathan Cremisino took over the lead of our Aero-TV teams, he knew he was in for some extra work and a lot>[...]
Also: Junkers A50 Heritage, Montaer Grows, Dynon-Advance Flight Systems, Vans' Latest Officially, the Carbon Cub UL and Rotax 916 iS is now in its 'market survey development phase'>[...]