AirTran Airways is fined $60,000 for deceptive advertising of prices

The U.S. Transportation Department has fined AirTranAirways $60,000 for violating a federal rule that prohibits advertising fares without clearly disclosing additional fees and taxes. Under federal rules, airlines that advertise airfares in the U.S. can disclose government-imposed taxes and fees separately on the same page or an Internet link so long as it is easy for passengers determine the full price. An investigation by Transportation Department found that AirTran advertised $59 one-way fares last fall on several websites. But the ads did not disclose the types or amounts of taxes and fees until consumers clicked on the ads and scrolled to the fine print at the bottom of the subsequent page. Read More