US Airways - July 2014 - (Page 6)

Perspective embark Thank You for Flying with US In Support of Transparent Airfares # Did you know that nearly one quarter of the price you paid for your ticket today went to the U.S. government? While the average cost of airfare has actually declined since 2000, government taxes and fees have increased, and the result is higher prices to the consumer. Working with Congress, American Airlines is trying to change this lack of transparency so our customers can see the real cost of the ticket, including how much goes to taxes and fees. This legislation is necessary because two years ago, the U.S. Department of Transportation enacted a regulation that requires airlines to include mandatory government taxes and fees in all advertised fares. As a result, when you see an advertised airfare - on aa.com or elsewhere - taxes and fees are included in the total price of the ticket. There is no breakdown of the base airfare versus the taxes and fees collected by the federal government. The current law has allowed the government to increase taxes invisibly on airline passengers, causing fares to appear signiﬁcantly higher than they really FULL DISCLOSURE: Federal aviation taxes and fees make up more than 20 percent of an advertised fare, but airlines aren't able to clearly present this to consumers. Visit airfaretransparency.com to tell the Administration, members of Congress, and the DOT that you support a policy that does not require airlines to hide tax and fee increases from consumers. 6 JULY 2014 usairwaysmag.com are. In fact, the base price of an airline ticket has actually decreased in recent years. Since 2000, the average base airfare has gone down 8 percent while government-imposed taxes and fees have increased 49 percent. Today, nearly one-fourth of the price of a roundtrip domestic airline ticket goes to the federal government, but we are only allowed to tell you that in the ﬁne print. The DOT's fare-advertising rule also makes the cost of your airline ticket appear to be priced less competitively than other forms of transportation such as buses, rail, and rental cars, where no such rule exists. In fact, this approach differs from any other consumer product from food and clothing to entertainment and hotels. The Transparent Airfares Act, which was recently introduced with strong bipartisan support in the U.S. House of Representatives, seeks to unbundle the advertised price of airfares and allow customers to better see what they're paying and where their money is going. The Transparent Airfares Act would allow airlines to show base airfares in advertisements, while clearly and separately disclosing governmentimposed taxes and fees as well as the total cost of the ticket. I can assure you that at American Airlines, you will never be asked to ﬁnalize a purchase without knowing the full price of the ticket, including all federal taxes and fees. But with this legislation, you will be better informed to know exactly what you are paying for in advance. And by disclosing the taxes and fees we hope to keep the increases in check. Visit airfaretransparency.com today to tell the Administration, members of Congress, and the DOT that you support a policy that does not require airlines to hide tax and fee increases from consumers. On behalf of American's more than 100,000 employees worldwide, thank you for ﬂying with us today. We look forward to seeing you again soon. Doug Parker Chairman and CEO American Airlines http://www.aa.com http://www.airfaretransparency.com http://www.airfaretransparency.com http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - July 2014

Table of Contents
Perspective: CEO Letter
From the Editor
Making It Happen?
Hot Spots: Best Wellness Retreats
Great Escapes: Sea Pines Resort, South Carolina
Great Escapes: Barceló Hotels and Resorts
Wine & Dine: Edible Spirits
Style Spotlight: Patriotic Pride
Gear Up: Summer Play
Getaway: Sugar Mountain, North Carolina
Adventure: Surf School
Connections: Everybody's Business
Travel Feature: Athens, Greece
Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail
Chefs Tell
Down to Business
Special Section: Vibrant San Diego
To Your Health: Joint Revitalization
Special Section: North Carolina's High Country
Best of Health: Miami Foot & Ankle Surgery
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Audio Entertainment
Video Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
oneworld alliance
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - July 2014