The federal government recently introduced new regulations that require airlines to disclose all fees upfront, including those for checked bags, carry-on bags, and change or cancellation fees. This move has sparked legal action from major carriers such as Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, and United, along with Airlines For America.
The Department of Transportation announced the new rule on April 24 with the goal of promoting healthy competition and enabling consumers to make informed decisions by knowing the complete cost of their trip upfront. However, the rule change has been met with criticism from Airlines For America, which believes that it will only confuse consumers and complicate the purchasing process.
The lobby group argues that the Department of Transportation is overreaching by attempting to regulate private business operations in a competitive market. The debate over these regulations continues between airlines and the federal government as airlines seek to challenge the legality of the new rule.
