DOT Fines AirTran $60,000 for Violating Advertising Rules

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has fined AirTran Airways $60,000 for violating advertising rules. The DOT now requires airlines to state the full price of a fare, including all carrier-imposed surcharges.

The only exceptions currently allowed are government-imposed taxes and fees that are assessed on a per-passenger basis, such as passenger facility charges. These may be state separately, but still have to be clearly disclosed in the advertisement so that passengers can easily determine the full price they must pay.

Internet fare listings may disclose these separate taxes and fees through a prominent link next to the fare stating that government taxes and fees are extra, and the link must take the viewer directly to information where the type and amount of taxes and fees are displayed.

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.