DOT proposal could let airlines show partial fares, sparking consumer-price concerns

The Transportation Department has floated a rule change that would permit airlines to display base fares without clearly separating taxes and fees, prompting industry analysts to warn of greater consumer confusion.

A Department of Transportation initiative seeks to revise the way airlines disclose ticket pricing, potentially allowing carriers to show only the base fare while still listing the total price elsewhere. Present regulations require the full cost—including taxes and fees—to be highlighted more than the individual line items, a practice intended to prevent surprise charges at checkout. The proposed amendment would let airlines present the component amounts without a smaller font and could also lift the restriction that prevents advertising those components more prominently than the overall price.

Aviation analysts, including Sean Cudahy of The Points Guy and Bryan Terry of Alton Aviation Consultancy, argue the change would make price comparison harder and could lead to consumers being misled by low-base-fare headlines. Southwest Airlines filed a comment opposing the rule, noting that long-time travelers rely on the current all-in pricing model. The DOT is accepting public feedback through Aug. 21, after which it will issue a final rule.