Airlines' bid to cheat consumers is foiled

Josh Roberts believes the best trips involve long hikes and muddy boots. His life goals haven't changed much since he was a kid: He still wants to be Indiana Jones when he grows up.

Follow him on Twitter (@joshwhowrites) and Instagram (@joshwhowrites), and visit his website (joshrobertsbooks.com) or Goodreads page to learn more about his forthcoming novel.

Josh joined SmarterTravel in 2001, and is an active member in both the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

In addition to SmarterTravel, he has written for USA Today, The Boston Globe, Yahoo! Travel, The Huffington Post, Airfarewatchdog, TripAdvisor, Jetsetter, ABC News, Oyster, and Business Insider. His travel photography can be seen in Britain and Ireland's Best Wild Places, published by Penguin UK.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A lacrosse ball. It's small, lightweight, and works wonders on loosening up tight muscles."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Being the first to discover an ancient lost city. Failing that, visiting as many of the already-discovered ancient ruins as possible."

Travel Motto: "Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle."

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The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has rejected a bid by the major airlines to relax advertising rules related to the pricing of airline tickets.

Under the proposed changes, airlines would have had the legal discretion to essentially hide (in the fine print) the airline-imposed “fuel surcharges” that were all the rage during the busy summer travel season. Fortunately, says Michael Reynolds, the DOT’s acting assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs, “The department decided that including the costs in fares protects consumers and fosters price comparison and fare competition.”

Gee, you think?

Not that the news is all good. The DOT already ignores some of its own rules on advertising, as noted in this brief from the DOT’s own website: “As a matter of prosecutorial discretion, the Department does not take enforcement action against any advertisement that omits [certain taxes, fees, and other charges that are imposed by a government entity] from the quoted fare.”

So in summary: We appear to have avoided any further erosion of consumer protections, but don’t hold your breath waiting for the DOT to enforce the rest of its own rules.

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