This week, the Department of Transportation hit Southwest Airlines with a $200,000 fine for touting a fare that did not exist. The carrier had said in a TV ad that customers in Atlanta could fly to New York, Chicago or Los Angeles for just $59. But the bargain fare turned out to be too good to be true.
Southwest, which paid a fine for a similar problem last year, says the ad was a mistake. The airline pulled it as soon as the error was discovered.
Still, Southwest's fine won't settle questions about air fare advertising.
DOT is now pushing to do more. This summer, it will be collecting comments from the public on a proposal to change how fares can be advertised. The goal is to force airlines to clearly display both the fares and fees.
"Knowledge is power, and our latest proposal helps ensure consumers have clear and accurate information when choosing among air transportation options," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement.
At the same time, airlines are lobbying Congress to pass a House bill that would overrule DOT. They want to display fares in a way that would make them appear even lower by not including the taxes.
Fuel Costs And Baggage Fees
Let's sort out the controversy. First, some background:
Until the summer of 2008, buying a plane ticket was fairly simple: A passenger could assume that the price would include an assigned seat, along with permission to bring along a carry-on bag and two pieces of luggage.
But luggage is heavy, and that weight forces planes to use more fuel. In the summer of 2008, jet fuel prices were shooting up and hurting airline profits. To offset rising costs, nearly all carriers began charging baggage fees.
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Baggage Fees Turn Five Years Old; Passengers Turn Blase