The obfuscatory practices around the fees are bad enough, but, what is also bad is that these fees are typically non-refundable, even if the airline fails to provide the service they are charging for. For example, if they mishandle your baggage, they do not refund the fee. This rule should include a requirement that fees are refundable for non-performance on the airline’s part. Also, there should be a minimum level of service defined in the rules … maybe one checked bag and one carryon bag included in the ticket price. And, yes, very clear information on fees is an absolute … travelers should not need to be confused or misdirected regarding the bottom line price of a flight.
My only question really is, “why are there compensation caps at all”? Make the compensation based on the value of the flight and remove the caps. And, it should also include fare and fees, since, things seem to be going the way of fees being the larger part of the cost of flying.
The obfuscatory practices around the fees are bad enough, but, what is also bad is that these fees are typically non-refundable, even if the airline fails to provide the service they are charging for. For example, if they mishandle your baggage, they do not refund the fee. This rule should include a requirement that fees are refundable for non-performance on the airline’s part. Also, there should be a minimum level of service defined in the rules … maybe one checked bag and one carryon bag included in the ticket price. And, yes, very clear information on fees is an absolute … travelers should not need to be confused or misdirected regarding the bottom line price of a flight.
My only question really is, “why are there compensation caps at all”? Make the compensation based on the value of the flight and remove the caps. And, it should also include fare and fees, since, things seem to be going the way of fees being the larger part of the cost of flying.