Federal Register #DOT-OST-2026-0199

DOT Reinstates 2011 Airline Ancillary Fee Disclosure Standards

This regulatory action from the Department of Transportation (DOT) reinstates previous standards for airline ancillary fee disclosures: - Government buyer: - Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the Secretary - No OEMs or commercial vendors are involved, as this is not a procurement - No products or services are being purchased - Key regulatory requirements: - Airlines and ticket agents must disclose baggage fee increases or allowance changes on their homepages for at least three months - Notices about additional baggage fees must be provided on the first screen with fare quotations - All ancillary fees must be disclosed on airline and ticket agent websites - Removes requirements from the 2024 rule for integrated display of fees during initial search results and other vacated provisions - The rule is economically significant and impacts consumer protection, air rates and fares, and reporting requirements for airlines and ticket agents

Description

The Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a final rule to implement the Fifth Circuit's vacatur of the Department's 2024 Final Rule on Enhancing Transparency of Airline Ancillary Service Fees. This action reinstates the regulations on the disclosure of ancillary service fees as they existed before the 2024 Rule, returning to the standards established in 2011. The rule requires airlines to disclose baggage fee increases or allowance changes on their homepages for at least three months, provide notices on the first screen with fare quotations about additional baggage fees, and disclose all ancillary fees on their websites. The rule removes the 2024 Rule's requirements for integrated display of fees during initial search results and other provisions that were vacated by the court.

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