San Francisco sues OTAs over hidden fees
San Francisco City attorney Dennis Herrera filed a lawsuit alleging hidden fees and misleading practices against two online travel sites.
The suit takes aim at JustFly and FlightHub over undisclosed fees including ‘unconscionable’ charges of up to $200 for flights cancelled within 24 hours that airlines don’t generally charge for.
The sites also charge for seat assignment fees on top of the fees charged by the airline.
The two websites share the same management and together make up the fourth-largest online travel agency in the US market.
California alleges the OTAs push inadequate travel insurance, advertise low fares that are not available and don’t properly disclose bag fees and the refund policy.
"JustFly is not in the travel business. They’re in the hidden fee business," Herrera said in a statement.
The lawsuit is seeking an injunction to stop the alleged illegal practices under California state law and wants restitution for customers and a fine of $2,500 for every violation committed.
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