Airline fined $130,000 for failing to disclose baggage fees

By Rebecca Ruiz

The Department of Transportation fined the Mexican airline Volaris $130,000 on Friday for failing to inform customers about applicable baggage fees.?

According to documents released by DOT, the airline violated regulations beginning in January by "advertising fares on its website without providing a link to potentially applicable baggage fees" on the same screen where the ticket price appeared. The airline told DOT that the omission was "inadvertent" and related to difficulties with making changes to its website.

Related: U.S. airlines see decline in revenue from baggage fees

The fine is the first time DOT has enforced a new rule that took effect in January. That regulation requires airlines to clearly disclose baggage fees on the first screen in which a fare quote is presented, and it applies to foreign carriers when they sell tickets in the U.S.

Volaris is the third-largest Mexican airline. It flies to more than 20 cities in Mexico and has flights to California, Las Vegas, Chicago and Orlando, Fla., as well.

?We adopted our rule on baggage fees to make sure that consumers have complete and accurate information about how much they will have to pay when they book a flight,? U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.? ?We will continue to take enforcement action when carriers fail to comply with our rules.?

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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