The Hidden Charges in Airline Bookings
Retired nurse Carolyn DiDonato had a startling revelation when she attempted to book a flight from Trenton, New Jersey, to Fort Myers, Florida. She stumbled upon a concealed $23 carrier interface charge imposed by Frontier Airlines while purchasing her ticket online. This hidden fee served to underscore the lack of transparency in the airline industry, a fact that DiDonato felt should have been revealed more clearly at the start of the booking process to facilitate better purchasing decisions. The ordeal she went through is indicative of a prevailing issue within the travel industry that warrants more investigation.
An Industry-Wide Problem
This isn’t just about Frontier Airlines. A multitude of airlines around the globe obscure the actual cost of air travel. From Europe to Australia and Southeast Asia, it is particularly prominent among discount airlines, which often advertise significantly low base fares. They conveniently exclude the additional charges for checking bags, which, when included, could lead to the fare even doubling in some cases.
The situation could worsen if the FAA Reauthorization Bill, which funds the Federal Aviation Administration, is passed by Congress in its current form. It contains a clause that may annul the full-fare advertising rule, which stipulates that airlines provide airfare quotes inclusive of all necessary taxes and fees. Eric Chaffee, a business law professor at Case Western University, cautioned against such a move, suggesting that it could encourage exploitative behavior within the airline industry.
Airline Hidden Fees Unveiled
In an in-depth analysis, British deals platform NetVoucherCodes discovered that several U.S. airlines are obscuring the authentic cost of flying even while under the full-fare advertising rule. Their study, which incorporated realistically simulated bookings inclusive of options such as seat selections, carry-on baggage, and checked bags, provided intriguing results.
It was found that Spirit Airlines concealed the cost of flying the most, marking up the average flight cost by a staggering 736%. Frontier Airlines and Delta Air Lines were next, ranking third and fifth, respectively, with average increases of 158%. American Airlines emerged as the most transparent, with an average increase of just 95%.
Most airlines stow away the real cost of air travel in diverse ways, usually by removing fundamental aspects such as seat assignments and luggage fees. This presents the illusion of offering cheaper flights than the actual prices.
Analyzing the Passenger’s Flight Journey
Reflecting on Carolyn DiDonato’s flight to Florida paints a clear picture of how these tactics are implemented. From Trenton to Fort Myers, the lowest fare quoted was $78 roundtrip. However, to avail of this price, passengers need to enroll in Frontier’s Discount Den, a “low fare” club that comes with a $59.99 yearly membership fee plus a $40 enrollment fee. If not, the price of the flight ascends by $10.
Additionally, Frontier promotes an array of upselling tactics, such as $31 seat assignments, and a whopping $58 for a carry-on bag. These charges are only revealed after a series of screens, consequently revealing the full fare breakdown inclusive of the carrier interface charge, sometimes going up to $46. The portrayal of this fee appears like a government tax, but in actuality, it is a fee intended to cover the technological and infrastructural expenses associated with the development of online booking and check-in tools, as revealed by Frontier spokesperson, Jennifer De La Cruz.
DiDonato’s flight, when the average traveler’s amenities like a carry-on, a checked bag, a seat assignment, and agent assistance were included, ended up costing $428. This is a staggering 448% higher than the initially stated fare.
The Path to Fair Pricing
It is imperative that airlines like Frontier provide upfront information about the potential total fare, $428, in DiDonato’s case, while giving the passengers the freedom to deselect services like checked luggage or assigned seats if they want to reduce their fare. This is a step towards transparency that the travel industry needs to maintain trust with their customers.
