US Transportation Department Proposes Rule Change That Could Complicate Flight Price Transparency

The US Department of Transportation, under the Trump administration, is considering a new regulation that would allow airlines to initially display only the base fare of flights without including taxes and fees. Currently, airlines are required by law to show the full, all-inclusive ticket price upfront to consumers. This change aims to provide airlines with more flexibility in how they present prices, as long as the total cost is disclosed somewhere during the booking process.

Experts and some airlines have expressed concern that this could lead to confusion and make price comparisons more difficult for consumers. They warn that airlines might use low "bait" prices that significantly increase at the final payment stage due to added fees. The Department of Transportation argues that the full price will still be available to consumers and that the proposal is intended to help businesses.

The public comment period for this proposal is open until August 21, after which a final decision will be made. If approved, the change could make online flight booking more complicated and potentially less transparent for travelers.

Summary: The US Department of Transportation is proposing to allow airlines to show only base fares initially, potentially obscuring total flight costs until later in the booking process, raising concerns about price transparency and consumer confusion.

Points: - US DOT proposes allowing airlines to display only base fares before taxes and fees. - Current law requires showing full, all-inclusive ticket prices upfront. - Experts warn this could lead to misleading "bait" pricing and harder price comparisons. - DOT says full prices will still be disclosed and aims to increase business flexibility. - Public comments are open until August 21 before a final decision. - The change could complicate online flight booking and reduce price transparency.

Topic: economy israel_relevant: false entities: {"people":[],"organizations":["US Department of Transportation","Trump administration"],"places":["United States"]}