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Ran across this article about airlines making it more difficult for consumers to compare airfares. One issue is that some airlines are
Lots of other info in this article.
"Global distribution systems that supply flight and fare data to travel agents and online ticketing services like Orbitz and Expedia, accounting for half of all U.S. airline tickets, complain that airlines won't provide fee information in a way that lets them make it handy for consumers trying to find the best deal."
"Meanwhile, Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Air and Southwest Airlines -- with backing from industry trade associations -- are asking the Supreme Court to reverse an appeals court ruling forcing them to include taxes in their advertised fares. The appeals court upheld a Transportation Department rule that went in effect nearly a year ago that ended airlines' leeway to advertise a base airfare and show the taxes separately, often in smaller print. Airlines say the regulations violate their free-speech rights."
So now free speech includes the right to bury taxes in the fine print and not show the total cost of the airfare as the advertised price?
And here's the best part:
"If airlines have their way, passengers looking for ticket prices may have to reveal a lot more information about themselves, such as their age, marital status, gender, nationality, travel history and whether they're flying for business or leisure. The International Air Transport Association, whose 240 member airlines cover 84 percent of global airline traffic, adopted standards at a meeting earlier this month in Geneva for such information gathering by airlines as well as by travel agents and ticketing services that would relay the data to airlines and receive customized fares in return."
"Customized" is code for differential pricing based on personal and demographic data.....
"Consumer advocates question how airlines would safeguard the personal information they gather, and they worry that comparison shopping for the cheapest air fares will no longer be feasible."
Sounds like air travel is going to get harder to navigate in terms of finding the lowest prices.
Personally, I would like to see ALL fees posted clearly on websites - including baggage fees, bookings fees, change fees, food and beverage fees, entertainment fees - so that you can do an "apples to apples" comparison when choosing between the various airlines. It is difficult to find a lot of that information.
Personally, I would like to see ALL fees posted clearly on websites - including baggage fees, bookings fees, change fees, food and beverage fees, entertainment fees - so that you can do an "apples to apples" comparison when choosing between the various airlines. It is difficult to find a lot of that information.
Personally, I would like to see ALL fees posted clearly on websites - including baggage fees, bookings fees, change fees, food and beverage fees, entertainment fees - so that you can do an "apples to apples" comparison when choosing between the various airlines. It is difficult to find a lot of that information.
I don't check a bag, I don't pay for food or beverage, I've never paid a booking fee, and I don't buy IFE. So how are they going to include all of those ala carte items when they will be different for each passenger?
Unless it's something that EVERYONE flying that carrier needs to pay for (ie airfare, taxes, and if the web site you are buying from requires it, a booking fee) then it shouldn't be included.
Personally, I would like to see ALL fees posted clearly on websites - including baggage fees, bookings fees, change fees, food and beverage fees, entertainment fees - so that you can do an "apples to apples" comparison when choosing between the various airlines. It is difficult to find a lot of that information.
Totally agree. It should not be a guessing game or treasure hunt to find the costs of all those items you listed. It should be spelled out clearly on every airline website. Unfortunately, if airlines have their way, all these fees and taxes will be buried in fine print. They don't want consumers to see the total cost before they agree to pay, which is ludicrous. What other product would you purchase without knowing the total cost before buying it?
Most important, is the right of consumers to see all fees, taxes and a la carte costs posted in a clear fashion on each website, in plain, large lettering, in a list, not buried in some minuscule text somewhere. Otherwise, it's difficult, if not impossible, to compare costs between airlines, which, of course, is their goal.
I don't check a bag, I don't pay for food or beverage, I've never paid a booking fee, and I don't buy IFE. So how are they going to include all of those ala carte items when they will be different for each passenger?
Unless it's something that EVERYONE flying that carrier needs to pay for (ie airfare, taxes, and if the web site you are buying from requires it, a booking fee) then it shouldn't be included.
You go to any number of restaurants that have an ala carte menu that list prices of all items served in teh restaurant. Why should air travel be any different?
You go to any number of restaurants that have an ala carte menu that list prices of all items served in teh restaurant. Why should air travel be any different?
Car rental companies do it
Banks do it.
You can find all those prices listed on any carriers web site--and they aren't "buried in fine print."
I don't want them all bundled into a ticket price.
I don't mind if they are not all added up for me. Even with the poor quality of education in this country, I can still total up a bill. But I do think that the various charges should be listed right there with the price. With computers doing the work, that should be very easy to have it set up that way.
Perhaps airport fees and taxes could be added into the price listed, since those are the same for everyone and everyone has to pay them.
I don't mind if they are not all added up for me. Even with the poor quality of education in this country, I can still total up a bill. But I do think that the various charges should be listed right there with the price. With computers doing the work, that should be very easy to have it set up that way.
Perhaps airport fees and taxes could be added into the price listed, since those are the same for everyone and everyone has to pay them.
I don't know what sites you people are using, but all of the legacy carriers have taxes and security fees listed in the price and a disclaimer that luggage fees may apply--usually with a link to the page that talks about those.
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