A bill to allow airlines to hide taxes when quoting airfares has made it back to consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives, which has passed similar bills before. The airlines favor the bill because it makes fares look more affordable at first glance.
The measure has died in the Senate before, but has a much better chance of getting through the present Republican-majority Senate. It would overturn a Transportation Department rule requiring full cost be disclosed upfront. The airlines claim that regulation hides the cost of taxes by including it in the total.
Consumer groups have repeatedly fought the bill, with some support from travel agent groups. The airlines claim that they are the only industry required to include taxes in price quotes. However, unlike retail, where the sales tax is known, airfares may include different taxes imposed by different states, cities and countries, depending on routes, and are difficult for passengers to anticipate.
