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U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says airlines need to disclose fees

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Published  May 15, 2024 6:09pm MST
Air and Space
FOX 10 Phoenix

PHOENIX - Airlines are fighting back against major transparency orders from the federal government.

Six of them have teamed up to file a lawsuit against the requirements.

Buttigieg vows to defend airline transparency law

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says that despite airlines pushing back against a law to prevent hidden fees, his department will vigorously defend the law saying, "transparency is the opposite of confusing." FOX 10's Steve Nielsen has the story.

We spoke with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg about the issue.

"I was disappointed to see the airline industry lobby suing us over this rule," Buttigieg said. "They basically said, ‘if we make sure the passengers have that information it will be confusing.’ I think transparency is the opposite of confusing, so we will vigorously defend this requirement that airlines keep the passenger informed about those costs before you buy."

What do the airlines say?

American Airlines said in a statement the new law will be confusing.

Travel expert Katy Nastro says its about how many clicks you have to make to see the price.

"The airlines are putting out fees. It's not like they are hiding their fees necessarily, but it definitely is a process to go through before you see that real total of how much you're expected to pay," she says.

Consumers are making their opinions heard as well

Traveler Bill Burns just landed in Phoenix from Boston. He thinks the government needs to "step back."

"I agree with the airlines," he said. "I think the government needs to step back and that will actually help with making the airlines cheaper."

6 airlines sue federal government over junk fee law

Junk fee restrictions put in place by the Biden administration to prohibit airlines from adding unwanted charges have prompted a lawsuit by six major airline carriers.

Mike Lineberry from Memphis has other thoughts.

"That's the get you in the door price, you know? You click on it and it shoots up 100, 200 bucks and why do they do that?" he said.

Similar thoughts came from Peggy Fiedler who shared her experience with hidden fees.

"It [hidden fees] caught me by surprise when I went to Italy. I was like, ‘what?!’" she said.

When does this law take effect?

The earliest the new disclosure would take effect would be the fall of 2024. That estimate, however, depends on the outcome of the lawsuit.