BY THE WAY ( A PSA )
BYE , BYE JUNK FEES ?
The fight against hidden charges has travelers wondering what their ticket actually includes .
WORDS / JENNA BUEGE
SEAN PAVONE / SHUTTERSTOCK . COM
Anyone who ’ s purchased a ticket online knows the pain of watching their cart total suddenly skyrocket upon hitting the checkout screen . While the advertised price seemed reasonable enough at first , second thoughts start to creep in as additional charges like facility fees , sales tax and convenience fees are silently tacked onto the bill . After a reluctant apology to your wallet , you bite the bullet and fork over the extra cash .
Hidden fees are the bane of the modern event-goer ’ s existence , but the entertainment industry isn ’ t the only one that ’ s guilty of charging its customers more than advertised ; travel is a huge offender too . From airlines charging extra for assigned seats and carry-ons to hotels and resorts adding to the bill for pool towels , phone calls and tips , so-called “ junk fees ” are a big part of the industry , and travelers are fed up . In fact , the pesky charges are causing such a stir that the White House is buzzing with talk about how to banish them for good .
A RULE TO BAN JUNK FEES ? The battle with junk fees first made headlines in the fall of 2022 when President Biden urged agencies to focus on reducing them after a meeting with the Competition Council . Then , in his 2023 State of the Union Address , Biden pledged to target extra costs citing the Junk Fee Prevention Act , a proposed rule that would crack down on four specific types of junk fees — excessive online entertainment ticket fees ; airline fees for family members to sit with young children ; early termination fees for TV , phone and internet service ; and surprise resort and destination fees .
“ I know how unfair it feels when a company overcharges you and gets away with it ,” said Biden . “ Not anymore .” The President went on to call out airlines stating , “ We ’ re making airlines show you the full ticket price upfront and refund your money if your flight is canceled or delayed . And we ’ ll prohibit airlines from charging up to $ 50 roundtrip for families just to sit together . Baggage fees are bad enough — they can ’ t just treat your child like a piece of luggage .”
20 / THE COMPASS / SUMMER 2023 vaxvacationaccess . com / thecompass