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Want an all-inclusive airline ticket price? Then sign this petition now

If you’re angry about deceptive airline ticket prices — and let’s be honest, who isn’t? — here’s some good news. A travel site largely responsible for Europe’s new price transparency rule is taking aim at the U.S., and it needs your help.
Lessno, as you’ll recall from a previous blog post, was frustrated with sites that offered a low “base” fare, only to have fees, taxes and surcharges tacked on to it. So it lobbied Meglena Kuneva, the European Union Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, to change its fare rules. And it did.
Today on its site, Lessno launched a campaign to persuade U.S. lawmakers to make similar changes. Here’s the text of the letter it wants you to sign.

We, the undersigned, urge members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives to immediately and without delay hold hearings on the practice of advertising misleading airfare prices by those in the travel industry.
- For too long, airlines, travel agents, and airfare resellers have been tricking American travelers into purchasing air tickets for a price that does not accurately reflect the true cost to the customer.


- For too long, airlines, travel agents, and airfare resellers have been arbitrarily creating extra fees including gas surcharges, security fees, ticket issuing fees, etc. that raise the cost of airfare dramatically over the advertised price.
- For too long, airlines, travel agents, and airfare resellers have gone without oversight from governmental authorities that has enabled them to abuse and mislead American travelers.
- For too long, airlines, travel agents, and airfare resellers have used their lobbyists and significant economic clout to keep legislators at bay and break truth in advertising laws at federal, state, and local levels.
We petition the government to stop these abuses and guarantee transparency in airfare.
We urge the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs; the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation Operation; the House Committee on Transportation; the House Subcommittee on Aviation; the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; and the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection to all hold independent hearings into this dangerous and deceptive practice.
We ask that the government follows the lead of the European Commission, which requires that advertised airfare prices include all taxes and fees so that America consumers can make informed travel decisions.