Transparent Airfares Act of 2014: A proposal based on lies

[frunk]

Pretty soon we'll have free air travel plus $500 taxes and fees.

[garbon]

They already do that sometimes for "free" rewards tickets.

[alfred russel]

They already do that sometimes for "free" rewards tickets.

Actually, this is a great place to hammer the Euros. In flights originating in the US, reward flights are mostly free. But in Europe? The flights are almost as much as a full ticket.

[Valmy]

does it really matter?

It's a matter of citizenship. So it matters in that sense yes.

Do you tally the total sales taxes you pay?  Do you pull out your calculator to make sure you are paying exactly 8.25%?  What sort of grand duties of citizenship am I to do to make up for never knowing exactly how much something costs?

[MadImmortalMan]

Do you tally the total sales taxes you pay?  Do you pull out your calculator to make sure you are paying exactly 8.25%?  What sort of grand duties of citizenship am I to do to make up for never knowing exactly how much something costs?

I don't have to. It's right on the receipt. 

I know exactly how much the thing costs and I know exactly what the tax was on it.

[Valmy]

Taxes are a given.  The only time I expect to see taxes included in an advertised price is at the gas pump, so I see that as a non-issue.

But they vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.  It is just so they can advertise their products at less than you will actually pay.  There is no reason why they cannot list the taxes on an advertisement except to mislead and obscure.  It is not like they change every day.

[Valmy]

I don't have to. It's right on the receipt. 

I know exactly how much the thing costs and I know exactly what the tax was on it.

Ok so what is gained from not advertising it or listing the price plus tax?  It could still be on the receipt so we could all be good citizens.

[Zanza]

Actually, this is a great place to hammer the Euros. In flights originating in the US, reward flights are mostly free. But in Europe? The flights are almost as much as a full ticket.

Yes. Makes more sense to buy an economy ticket and an upgrade to business class as otherwise you still have to pay like half the price or more of an economy ticket anyway.

[MadImmortalMan]

Ok so what is gained from not advertising it or listing the price plus tax?  It could still be on the receipt so we could all be good citizens.

Nothing I can think of. Obviously, it would be best if it was advertised as actual price and price after tax, but hey.

[Zanza]

I don't have to. It's right on the receipt. 

I know exactly how much the thing costs and I know exactly what the tax was on it.

Except for all the other taxes that go into the price but aren't shown?

[alfred russel]

Do you tally the total sales taxes you pay?  Do you pull out your calculator to make sure you are paying exactly 8.25%?  What sort of grand duties of citizenship am I to do to make up for never knowing exactly how much something costs?

I don't have to. It's right on the receipt. 

I know exactly how much the thing costs and I know exactly what the tax was on it.

It is one thing to not list sales taxes. They typically aren't much, and it might be a pain to have to label with prices inclusive of tax based on the zillion tax jurisdiction in this country.

Plane tickets are a bit different. Before carriers had to advertise inclusive prices, the advertised headline price often had little connection to the actual price. FLY TO BERLIN FOR $199!!! (Price with taxes and fees $1200. Add an additional $100 each way for Friday or Sunday departure).

[LaCroix]

I thought you had budget airlines too that would put a lot of pressure on prices. Like Southwest, Jetblue, Spirit or so.

frontier is amazingly cheap. plus, there's all sorts of different animals painted on the fins of its planes. that's the sign of a professional airline

[MadImmortalMan]

Southwest was the last professional airline before they got rid of the hot pants and go-go boots.

[grumbler]

But they vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.  It is just so they can advertise their products at less than you will actually pay.  There is no reason why they cannot list the taxes on an advertisement except to mislead and obscure.  It is not like they change every day.

  If the taxes "from jurisdiction to jurisdiction", how can "they" just "list the taxes on an advertisement?"  The taxes depend on where you are reading the advertisement!

[alfred russel]

But they vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.  It is just so they can advertise their products at less than you will actually pay.  There is no reason why they cannot list the taxes on an advertisement except to mislead and obscure.  It is not like they change every day.

  If the taxes "from jurisdiction to jurisdiction", how can "they" just "list the taxes on an advertisement?"  The taxes depend on where you are reading the advertisement!

I think the taxes and fees relate to where the service is provided. If I buy a ticket from Washington to New York, the airport in Atlanta doesn't collect the fees just because that is where I bought the ticket.