Consumer groups put pressure on DOT over hidden airline fees
Two pro-consumer advocacy groups, FlyersRights.org and the Business Travel Coalition (BTC), along with other corporations and national consumer groups, have demanded that the Department of Transportation (DOT) support restoring what they call "true comparison shopping" for airline consumers.
The two groups announced a 30-day public awareness campaign, demanding transparency in airline ticketing and revealing all hidden fees.
"At a time of slow economic recovery, the flying public is being financially damaged by the airlines’ refusal to post the hidden ancillary fees next to the base fares so that flyers can compare apples to apples when comparison shopping for air fares," said Kate Hanni, Director Flyersrights.org.
By December 25, FlyersRights and BTC aim to have 25,000 signatures on a petition to pressure the White House to formally review this request and provide a public response.
The groups are urging the traveling public to sign this petition and join the campaign for greater price transparency.
"It’s outrageous," said Hanni, "these are deceptive pricing tactics that the airlines use to give the flyer the illusion of a lower fare. Airlines use hidden ancillary charges as an indirect way to raise fares in a manner which makes it impossible to predict the total price of a ticket." Ms. Hanni continued, "Business travelers who have to account for their travel costs have to aggregate all of their receipts in order to get reimbursed, and it’s just impossible for them to handle. The hidden fees can raise the cost of a ticket by up to 40%!"
SOURCE FlyersRights.org
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