Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg strongly criticized a recent lawsuit filed by major airlines regarding a new rule mandating transparency on additional fees charged during purchases.
In a recent post on the social platform X, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed his frustration with the airline industry’s response to a newly issued rule. The rule, which requires airlines to disclose fees to passengers before they purchase a ticket, has been met with resistance from the airline lobby. Buttigieg voiced his disbelief at the airline lobby’s argument that providing this information to consumers would only serve to confuse them. He concluded his statement by admitting that, for once, he was left speechless.
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A group of major airlines, including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways Corp., Hawaiian Airlines, and Alaska Airlines, filed a lawsuit last Friday against the new rule introduced by the trade group Airlines for America. The airlines argued that the rule would only confuse consumers and complicate the buying process, as they would be overwhelmed with excessive information.
The group emphasized that airlines put in a lot of effort to ensure that their customers are well-informed about these fees. They not only comply with the existing regulations set by the Department of Transportation (DOT), but also engage in competitive advertising to highlight the various discounts and benefits associated with ancillary fees when promoting their loyalty programs.
The Department of Transportation expressed their commitment to defending their rule that safeguards consumers from hidden fees and ensures transparency in airfare pricing. They affirmed their determination to protect travelers by allowing them to see the complete cost of a flight before making a ticket purchase.
The airline lobby, much to the disappointment of many air travelers, has taken legal action to prevent the implementation of these reasonable safety measures, the statement explains.
In the final weeks of last month, the Biden administration officially implemented a rule that aimed to address the issue of surprise fees charged by airlines. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed his belief that airlines should focus on competing for passengers’ business rather than trying to outdo each other with excessive fees. Buttigieg made this statement in response to the finalized rule.
According to him, the new rule by DOT will result in significant savings for passengers, amounting to over half a billion dollars annually. The rule aims to ensure that airlines are held accountable for their transparency with customers, thereby preventing the occurrence of unnecessary or unexpected fees.
