Trade group Airlines for America filed the lawsuit alongside Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways Corp., Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines.
The lawsuit was filed against the Department of Transportation after it finalized a fee disclosure rule last month in the Biden administration’s latest crackdown on so-called junk fees.
The rule requires airlines to disclose extra fees before customers make their final purchase. These extra fees can include fees for checked bags, carry-on bags, and changing or canceling reservations.
In a statement to The Hill, the Transportation Department doubled down on its crackdown on junk fees, vowing to “vigorously defend” the rule they say protects people “from hidden junk fees and ensuring travelers can see the full price of a flight before they purchase a ticket.”
“Many air travelers will be disappointed to learn that the airline lobby is suing to stop these common-sense protections,” the statement continued.
However, Airlines for America argued in a statement that the rule “will greatly confuse consumers who will be inundated with information that will only serve to complicate the buying process.”
“Airlines go to great lengths to make their customers knowledgeable about these fees. In addition to the disclosures required by existing DOT (Department of Transportation) regulations, airlines engage in competitive advertising and emphasize ancillary fee discounts and benefits when they promote their loyalty programs,” the group wrote.
The Hill’s Lauren Sforza has the latest here.
