Gallego Applauds Companies for Eliminating Hidden, Junk Fees

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the White House announced Live Nation, AirBnB, SeatGeek, and other companies will voluntarily provide upfront, no hidden fee pricing on their platforms. Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03), the sponsor of the Junk Fee Prevention Act, applauded the move.

“Arizonans should never be stuck with hidden fees, and today’s announcement that major companies are stepping up to increase price transparency is a big win for consumers. Lowering costs for working families is one of my top priorities. That’s why we’re pushing Congress to pass my Junk Fee Prevention Act so all companies provide consumers upfront pricing and Arizonans know exactly how much their concert tickets, flights, and hotel reservations cost—no surprises,” said Rep. Gallego.

At the White House today, President Biden will meet with private sector companies committed to ending surprise fees who are voluntarily adopting upfront pricing.

Gallego’s Junk Fee Prevention Act would codify the upfront pricing model into law. The bill seeks to eliminate burdensome and oftentimes hidden fees imposed on consumers when purchasing tickets, hotel rooms, and other forms of entertainment by requiring the total prices of services be provided upfront and eliminate the excessive fees that cost American billions of dollars each year.

Today’s meeting comes after President Biden specifically called out these junk fees during his State of the Union address in February. The President urged congressional action to eliminate these fees and save consumers money. The Junk Fee Prevention Act does just that by requiring total prices to be shown upfront, ending unnecessary and excessive fees, and empowering the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission to step in and issue new rules and enforcement guidelines.

In April, Gallego visited Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to tout his bill. In addition to requiring fees to be shown upfront, the Junk Fee Prevention Act would prohibit airlines from charging extra for an accompanying adult to be able to sit with their child during a flight.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Senate companion of the bill.