There is absolutely nothing that President Barack Obama did or tried to do for the people of this country that Donald Trump doesn’t want to undo. No matter how petty, no matter how painful. The Obama administration had proposed a rule requiring that as soon you start to buy a plane ticket, you’d be notified of how much in baggage fees the airline would charge, a measure that would help consumers compare prices and might, just might, make airlines hesitate to get out front with higher fees than their competitors. But no.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) posted a notice on the Federal Register this week that it is withdrawing the proposed rule, along with another plan to force air carriers to disclose how much revenue they make from charging other ancillary fees.
The administration, which has made easing regulatory burdens for businesses a top priority, said the rules would have “limited public benefit.”
Limited public benefit for an administration of billionaires and multimillionaires who’ve gone from flying in private jets to flying in government planes, maybe. But for us peons, it’s not hard to see the benefit.
“Unbelievable. Pulling the plug on rules that would ensure airlines are open and honest about bag fees and other charges is about as anti-consumer as it gets,” [Sen. Richard] Blumenthal tweeted. “The Trump Admin’s reckless reversal is a gift for the airlines’ bottom line — and a slap in the face for travelers who deserve clarity when buying a ticket.
That’s about the size of it. But never forget how much motivation the words “Obama proposal” provided Trump to give airlines this gift at the expense of consumers.