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CNN Live At Daybreak
Misleading Ads: Government Cracks Down on Airline Ads
Aired December 19, 2003 - 06:46 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Time now for a little 'Business Buzz.' Do some airfares just seem too good to be true? Well the government is saying yes.
Carrie Lee has that story from the Nasdaq.
Carrie, what's up?
CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well it's a buyer beware story, basically, Carol. "The Wall Street Journal" reporting today that the Department of Transportation has resumed its crackdown on misleading airline ads. Now at issue are ads in online displays that promise free tickets or low fares, only to have travelers learn that when the bill is totaled, taxes, airport charges, other fees can add $100 or more to the cost.
Now the law requires fair displays to disclose purchase conditions in a readable type size. So far this year, the agency has issued five consent orders against airlines, including $145,000 in fines. That's up from just one last year. Some of the airlines included this year, Iceland Air, British Airways, Air Jamaica and America West. America West, in fact, was fined $20,000. So buyer beware. Read the fine print, Carol. Always a good idea for consumers, especially now in the airline sector.
LIN: Yes, could be too good to be true. Thanks -- Carrie.
LEE: Sure.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 19, 2003 - 06:46 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Time now for a little 'Business Buzz.' Do some airfares just seem too good to be true? Well the government is saying yes.
Carrie Lee has that story from the Nasdaq.
Carrie, what's up?
CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well it's a buyer beware story, basically, Carol. "The Wall Street Journal" reporting today that the Department of Transportation has resumed its crackdown on misleading airline ads. Now at issue are ads in online displays that promise free tickets or low fares, only to have travelers learn that when the bill is totaled, taxes, airport charges, other fees can add $100 or more to the cost.
Now the law requires fair displays to disclose purchase conditions in a readable type size. So far this year, the agency has issued five consent orders against airlines, including $145,000 in fines. That's up from just one last year. Some of the airlines included this year, Iceland Air, British Airways, Air Jamaica and America West. America West, in fact, was fined $20,000. So buyer beware. Read the fine print, Carol. Always a good idea for consumers, especially now in the airline sector.
LIN: Yes, could be too good to be true. Thanks -- Carrie.
LEE: Sure.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
