[Travelandtourism] DOT Fines AirTran

[cheryl echevarria]

This information comes from Travel Agent Weekly

AirTran Airways was fined $60,000 by the Department of Transportation (DOT) for violating DOT rules prohibiting deceptive price advertising in air travel. DOT rules require any advertising that includes a price for air transportation to state the full price to be paid by the consumer, including all carrier-imposed surcharges. 
The DOT said that for a period of time in the fall of 2011, AirTran displayed an advertisement on a number of websites advertising $59 one-way fares. The advertisement noted that additional taxes, fees and exclusions would apply, but with no information on the type or amount of taxes or fees. 
A consumer clicking on the advertisement was taken to a page on AirTran’s website where a list of routes and prices were displayed.
Consumers were not provided details about the taxes and fees until they scrolled to the bottom of the page where the information appeared in fine print, DOT said.
Under DOT’s recently adopted consumer rule that enhances protections for air travelers, carriers will be required, among other things, to include all government taxes and fees in every advertised fare beginning Jan. 26, 2012.
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