US Airways Feels DOT’s Displeasure
The Department of Transportation is serious about price advertising rules. Just ask US Airways. The airline must pay a $40,000 civil fine because it failed to disclose the total amount consumers would have to pay for one-way fares.
According to DOT rules, if additional fees and taxes apply to airfare, that information must be available to consumers on the first screen that quotes prices or post a hyperlink taking users to a page listing the additional charge. US Airways neglected to post this information on their website during a window of time when their one-way rates were available on the carrier’s website.
All taxes and charges were included on the final ticket price and the total revealed before consumers entered their credit card information to purchase a fare. DOT and US Airways negotiated a settlement in order to avoid court proceedings. News of the fine was announced March 8; the settlement agreement requires the carrier to pay the fine within 15 days.
Earlier this year, United Airlines was fined $30,000 for the same disclosure error. This was the airline’s second violation in less than a year; in 2009, the airline received a $75,000 fine for the same mistake. The airline paid half of the original fine and with the agreement that the second half would be forgiven if no further errors occurred for 12 months.
