U.S. airlines are suing to block the Biden administration from requiring greater transparency over fees that the carriers charge their passengers, saying that a new rule would confuse consumers by giving them too much information during the ticket-buying process.

The U.S. Transportation Department said Monday it will vigorously defend the ruleagainst what it called “hidden junk fees.”

American, Delta, United and three other carriers, along with their industry trade group, sued the Transportation Department in a federal appeals court on Friday, asking the court to overturn the rule.

  • shyguyblue@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Are these “customers” the same group that retail managers always use as an excuse to not give people chairs?

    “Our customers don’t like it when register workers sit down”

    “Fucking name one…”

  • rockSlayer@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Easy W for Southwest. They’ve had enough bad pr over the years.

    Edit for those that didn’t read, Southwest is the only major airline that isn’t suing

    • restingboredface@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      One of the reasons I’ve stood by them- they are generally already pretty transparent in their pricing. It’s a no frills airline to be sure, but it’s nice to fly with people who seem to be genuinely happy to be working where they are.

  • The Pantser@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Wasn’t this already covered under the false advertising laws? Like just beef up that law to cover hidden fees better. You shouldn’t be able to add any fees except tax on a advertised price.

    • manucode@infosec.pub
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      2 months ago

      Why should you be allowed to advertise the price without the tax. Companies should already knock the applicable tax rate when they write these ads and could easily advertise “$x.99, $y.99 with tax”.

      • Bone@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Maybe your comment is meant to cover what I’m about to say, too, or already does, but not even brick and mortar stores list prices on a shelf with tax included. I’m somewhat OK with this because I know the tax hasn’t been figured in yet. But that’s all. Maybe those shelf prices should also be adjusted, but at least they don’t seem as bad as having to account for them PLUS other hidden fees.

          • dogslayeggs@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            I’m ignorant on how sales taxes work in other countries, but do they have variable rates based on not just what state but also what city you are in? The sales tax in Santa Monica (10.25%) is different from the sales tax in Beverly Hills (9.50%), and they are both within the city of Los Angeles.

            • tal@lemmy.today
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              2 months ago

              I think that they could do it in the US without trouble as long as it’s a brick-and-mortar retailer and someone is buying in person, but it’s also fair to point out that US sales taxes are considerably lower then VAT in Europe, so it’s less of a factor.

              For online stuff, they’d have to know location in order to provide a post-tax price, since the state of the purchaser is a factor. I don’t want to have to hand out my location while anonymously browsing online retailers, so I’d rather not have them give a post-tax price (or at least have the option to browse with pre-tax prices).

            • SeaJ@lemm.ee
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              2 months ago

              Other countries do have VATs that differ in regions. Having different rates in different areas is not a reason to not have the end price after tax. It turns out that calculators exist and are pretty easy to use before printing off the sale sticker.

              The real reason is that the tax is on the sale itself and not on the product. It’s a silly distinction. Many states do not actually allow you to display the post sales price.

  • VodkaSolution @feddit.it
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    2 months ago

    The courage it takes to say something like that.
    The courage it takes from lawyers to fight for something like that.
    If I’d believe, I’d wish them to rot in hell.

  • tal@lemmy.today
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    2 months ago

    It would require airlines and travel agents to disclose upfront any charges for baggage and canceling or changing a reservation.

    The degree to which I care about this has a lot to do with whether it’s a fee that affects all my options equally. Usually, when I’m planning to take a flight, I’m going to take it regardless. So a bag charge isn’t going to affect whether I fly or not.

    But airlines charge different rates for checked baggage, and right now, comparison-shopping websites don’t incorporate that, which is obnoxious, as I might change the airline I take.

  • WindyRebel@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    It would be sad if we all brought lawsuits against each airline for lying about their prices saying we will pay one thing and then getting charged a bunch more for things we weren’t told about up front. How sad that would be.

  • Fedizen@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    A market is where prices are hidden from the buyer?

    Like Joe Biden is trying to make capitalism the least bit functional and all these companies shitting their pants.

  • painfulasterisk1@lemmy.ml
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    2 months ago

    Well, I guess I can proceed with my legal draft of suing all U.S. airlines that would not allow me to obtain a $2000 boarding pass with my prepaid debit card, which has a balance of $2.53.