WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), unveiled legislation that would increase airfare transparency when the flying public searches for a ticket. The legislation would require airlines to post up front the amount of each tax and surcharge that accompanies a ticket as well as potential additional fees that may apply and would prohibit airlines from adding a fuel surcharge that does not correlate to the actual amount they paid for fuel.

“We are living in hard economic times, and Americans are being mindful of every penny they spend,” said Senator Menendez. “Airlines should be upfront with passengers. Extra costs and surcharges should be plain to see and easy to figure out. Whether we think these extra costs make sense or not, there is no debating that hiding them or obscuring them is simply unfair.

“This legislation represents a simple change and a simple concept, but it’s one that would mean a lot to the flying public, which too often feels like its being taken advantage of when they try to book a flight. Now more than ever, it’s time to give consumers a break.”

The legislation includes provisions to ensure that airlines:

•    Provide the amount and description of each tax and surcharge when they first display the airfare,

•    Provide information on additional fees – including checked baggage and seat assignment fees, and

•    Will not impose fuel surcharges that are not correlated to the actually price for fuel that the airline paid.

This is not Senator Menendez’s first action to protect airline passengers. In October, he wrote the CEOs of the major US airlines to call for a roll back of fuel surcharges and more transparency in airfares ( http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=304436). Also last month, he wrote a letter to Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, asking that the department investigate why surcharges continue to be based on high fuel prices that have since come down significantly, and why the airlines do not post total charges on their websites in a way the consumer can understand what the total price of their airfare will be. A copy of the letter sent to Secretary Peters can be accessed following this link:

http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=304765&

Senator Menendez will formally introduce the legislation the next time Congress is back in session, possibly in December.

                                                            # # #