DALLAS – It comes as no surprise for experienced travelers, but novices are sometimes shocked to find that the final cost of airline trip can be much higher than the price touted on the airline’s website or advertising.
Recently, Southwest’s website quoted prices starting at $99 to fly from Dallas to Los Angeles. Come Jan. 26, Southwest could have to show a fare of $120.60.
New rules from the U.S. Transportation Department will require that advertised prices include taxes and mandatory fees. Currently, airlines just have to note that other charges apply, and provide a link or footnote to the details.
The new rules will make fares easier to understand. Government and airport charges can add 20 percent or more to the price of an airline ticket.
“It’s truth in advertising, right?” said Angie Toriggino of Austin, who travels frequently in her job training salespeople for a pharmaceutical company. “Some people probably budget a certain amount for their trip and then spend more than they expected.”
Airlines protest that other industries don’t have to include taxes in advertised prices. And they worry about the effect on ticket sales.
“We’re not raising our fares, but it will look to the consumer like we’ve had a big price
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