Flying to the US May Get Harder: Passengers Could See Hidden Fees Return

The US Department of Transportation is considering a rule change that would allow airlines to display base ticket prices without taxes and fees. Passengers would see an attractive low price, but the actual cost would be higher. Experts warn that comparing offers would become harder and that bait pricing could return. Public comments are open until August 21.

The US Department of Transportation is considering a rule change that could make it harder for passengers to find good deals on airfare. Currently, airlines are required to show the full price including taxes and fees upfront. The proposed change would allow carriers to initially show only the base fare, provided the final amount is also available. In practice, this means that in search results, passengers would see a low price, but at checkout they would discover the real cost is higher. Experts warn that this would make it harder to compare offers from different airlines, especially on booking sites. There are also concerns about the return of bait pricing. The DOT believes the change would give market participants more freedom, but hiding the final cost would not be allowed. The proposal has not yet taken effect: public comments are open until August 21, after which authorities will decide whether to approve the new rules.