Government should force airlines to clearly disclose fees, report says

Americans are paying billions in additional fees to fly, and they deserve to know what we're paying for upfront and in an easy-to-read format, the Government Accountability Office declared in a report this week.

In a call for full disclosure from the airlines about how much that extra blanket or checked bag is actually adding to the final ticket price, the government watchdog echoed what the Department of Transportation proposed in June. Tacked-on fees for meals, early boarding, seat selection and other proliferating options "are not fully disclosed through all ticket distribution channels used by consumers, making it difficult for them to compare the total cost of flights offered by different carriers," the report said.