Airfare is rarely what it seems. As any flyer knows, the cost of a flight entails far more than ticket price. Fuel surcharges, 9/11 fees, taxes, payment processing charges, baggage fees, ticket change fees, booking fees, seat selection fees, security fees, paper ticket fees—all require extensive knowledge and unrealistic foresight on the part of passengers. New legislation is working to untangle the costly, convoluted clutter of half-hidden charges, demanding fair and upfront disclosure of baggage fees. The new regulations are a small but satisfying victory for travelers, a vital step toward coherent airfare.

Getting baggage fees under control

No more nasty baggage fee surprises. Starting January 24, e-ticket confirmations will be required to divulge fees and allowances for carry-on items and the first and second checked bags. While less ideal than disclosing fee information prior to ticket purchase, the change should allow passengers to mentally prepare for extortion and plan accordingly. To avoid baggage fees altogether, check out our baggage fee infographic.

The legislation also requires fee and allowance consistency throughout an itinerary. Trips that begin or end in the United States will be required to maintain the same pricing over the course of the journey. You don’t have to worry about incurring higher charges on connecting flights. If baggage fees vary throughout your trip, carriers are responsible for reimbursing overcharges.

Fair fare advertising

Along with baggage fee disclosures, truthful advertising regulations will take effect. Advertised fares will now include mandatory taxes and fees. This doesn’t include charges like baggage fees or meal costs, which will vary from passenger to passenger, but rather the actual minimum price of flying. No more straining your eyes to read the fine print. The big number will represent the real cost of your ticket.

Additionally, the new regulations create a 24-hour grace period for flight cancellations. If you realize your spontaneous trip to Sri Lanka probably wasn’t a fiscally sound decision, you have a little time to reassess the situation and put those pennies back in the piggybank.

Resistance from airlines

The Department of Transportation is moving forward with these changes despite protests from airlines. Though implementation has already been delayed 5 months, global airline associations petitioned for another year of unregulated freedom. The DOT said no way. “Carriers have known of the requirements since April 2011 and have already received a five-month extension. Consumers will continue to be confused about their baggage fees until the carriers comply with these new bag rules,” the DOT stated.

Airlines claim to lack the technological capabilities to comply under such a restrictive timeline. There is no singular database for bag allowances and fees and no infrastructure in place to sufficiently facilitate communication between airlines. The DOT says too bad. Get it together, guys.

While there may be some validity to the airlines’ technological shortcomings, it’s worth noting how very lucrative incomprehensible baggage fees can be. In the first half of 2011, airlines garnered $1.7 billion in checked bags. That number might not have reached such staggering heights were passengers able to compare baggage fees prior to booking. The new regulations won’t quite achieve simple side-by-side evaluation, but they are certainly a step in the right direction.