Wed, Aug 31, 2011
Fares Posted On Websites Did Not Include Taxes Or Fees
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today fined JetBlue
Airways $50,000 for violating federal aviation laws and the
Department’s rules prohibiting deceptive price advertising in
air travel. “When passengers shop for an airline ticket, they
have a right to know the full price they will have to pay,”
said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We expect airlines
to treat their passengers fairly and will take enforcement action
when our rules are violated.”
DOT Secretary Ray LaHood
The Department’s Aviation Enforcement Office found that
for a period of time in early 2011, JetBlue displayed fare
advertisements on several websites that did not provide any
information on additional taxes and fees. Consumers clicking
on the advertisements were taken to a page where a list of routes
and prices were displayed, along with a statement that taxes and
fees would be added to the fare. However, the statement was
not a link, and consumers had to scroll to the bottom of the page
or click a link next to each of the listed fares to see, listed in
fine print, the amount of the additional taxes and fees they would
have to pay.
JetBlue’s website violated DOT rules requiring 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 exception currently
allowed is 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.
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. 24, 2012.
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