United, Delta, American among airlines suing Biden admin over fee disclosure rule

A coalition of major airlines is suing the Biden administration over new rules requiring airlines to disclose surcharges at the time of purchase.

The industry group Airlines for America filed the lawsuit Friday along with Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

Airlines for America said in a statement that the new rules “will greatly confuse consumers by overwhelming them with information that only complicates the purchasing process.” The group also noted that airline customers are already aware of the additional fees.

“Airlines go to great lengths to make sure their customers know about these fees. In addition to the disclosures required by existing DOT (Department of Transportation) regulations, airlines promote their loyalty programs. “We use competitive advertising to highlight discounts and benefits on ancillary charges,” the group wrote.

The group added that the rule is “a bad solution in search of a problem.”

The lawsuit was filed in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals against the Department of Transportation, which finalized fee disclosure rules last month in the Biden administration’s latest crackdown on so-called junk fees.

The ministry’s new rules require airlines to disclose additional charges to customers before they make their final purchase. These additional charges may include fees for checked baggage, carry-on baggage, and reservation change or cancellation fees.

The Department of Transportation has stepped up its crackdown on junk tolls in a statement to The Hill.

“We will vigorously defend rules that protect people from hidden junk fees and ensure that travelers can see the full price of their flight ticket before purchasing it. Many Air Travelers will be disappointed to learn that the airline lobby is suing to end these common-sense protections,” the statement said.