Domestic flights in the US will appear more expensive from Thursday following the introduction of new rules forcing airlines to include all mandatory taxes, fees and charges in advertised fares.
The fixed charges add about £14 to a non-stop domestic flight or twice that to a one-stop flight. Until this week, airlines had been permitted to advertise fares without the additional fees and charges, making them seem cheaper than they actually were.
New rules introduced by the US Department of Transportation (DoT), which kick in tomorrow, will also allow passengers booking at least a week before departure to cancel their reservation within 24 hours, without any financial penalty.
Some airlines are challenging the DoT’s new rules and a lawsuit is pending in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
By Linsey McNeill
