WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation said it fined Spirit Airlines $50,000 for failing to comply with pricing policies related to advertising.
The department said Spirit, in June, did not properly disclose with an online promotion that "$9 each-way fares" for flights from Los Angeles were contingent upon passengers buying a round-trip ticket. It also failed to notify passengers of government fees and taxes on handbills advertising the service.
Billboards advertising the service had an asterisk next to the fare, which was proper. But the asterisk guided consumers to a spot on the billboard that said taxes and fees would apply without specifying the cost of the taxes and fees.
"Consumers have a right to know the full price they will be paying when they buy an airline ticket. We expect airlines to treat their passengers fairly, and we will take enforcement action when they violate our price advertising rules," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in a statement.
