The Feds are looking at Resort Fees
Started by NeverJustJ on Wednesday, 28th November 2012 10:45 am
http://www.ftc.gov/os/2012/11/121128hoteloperatorsletter.pdf
Thanks Steve Friess for the link!
Chuckmonster responded on Wednesday, 28th November 2012
Thank you President Romney!
joelowe2 responded on Wednesday, 28th November 2012
This could open a whole can of worms (aka class action suits) for retroactive refunds of said fees...
donnymac66 replied on Wednesday, 28th November 2012
Did that happen when they made the airlines change the way they advertise their fees??
joelowe2 replied on Wednesday, 28th November 2012
That's kind of apples and oranges. I've never been charged a boarding fee at the gate after I bought and paid for my ticket.
Skywise replied on Wednesday, 28th November 2012
Only if you want to take your luggage with you.
donnymac66 replied on Thursday, 29th November 2012
No but I have showed up at the airport with luggage and been told its $XX to bring it with me.
Diablo responded on Wednesday, 28th November 2012
apparently Cosmo is going to start charging a $25 resort fee too starting Jan. 1...at least that was it says when i was looking up rates on expedia.
sbpewsaw replied on Wednesday, 28th November 2012
sob... what are they going to do? give back the free wifi they took away when the place opened?
levans responded on Thursday, 29th November 2012
so what happens if resort fees are found illegal? do they contact everyone who has been charged them and give them their money back or do the hotels look at their records and take them off the bill the next time you stay there?
nullzero00 replied on Thursday, 29th November 2012
"do they contact everyone who has been charged them and give them their money back"
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Best laugh i had all day!
as Chip Chipperson would say, "Home run levans, home run!"
HillBilly replied on Thursday, 29th November 2012
The resort fees themselves aren't being challenged. The FTC is taking issue with them being buried in fine print or not disclosed at all in advance. Most likely they would require them to be clearly displayed and included in the total price upon booking.
As for bag fees, these are slightly different since you can choose not to check a bag so you don't have to pay for them at the time of booking.
vespajet replied on Sunday, 2nd December 2012
Not if you're flying on Spirit or Allegiant. If you check a bag, there's a fee like pretty much all airlines in the US now charge; if you wish to carry on a bag that will not fit under the seat, there's a charge to use the overhead bin. Since the majority of folks don't travel with just a bag that will fit under their seat (that's where their personal bag [purse, briefcase, laptop bag, messenger bag, etc.] goes and you cannot fit a small suitcase and that bag under a sear together.), passengers on those airlines have no choice regarding bag fees. Thankfully the major US airlines have not gone this path as they know that it's a pretty controversial fee.
Spirit hypes their cheap fares, but after factoring in all of their "optional" fees and stuff, your cheap ticket isn't so cheap.
Spirit Airlines' "Optional Fees"
They even charge for having an agent at the airport print out a boarding pass. That would be like a hotel charging guests to check-in at the check-in desk instead of using a self-service kiosk.
TwisterII responded on Friday, 30th November 2012
My guess is this could have been sent to Station Casinos. Try booking a room at Red Rock:
https://redrock.sclv.com/
A resort fee does is not included on the pricing in the left hand column. The fee is in the fine print, after clicking on a pop up link. MGM hotels have their resort fee in big, bold letters on the check out screen.
Just a hunch.
levans responded on Friday, 30th November 2012
well if you book somewhere like expedia the resort fee is spelled out so it isnt much of a secret
Stosh responded on Friday, 30th November 2012
While the fees themselves are arguably offensive, it's the attempts to mislead or even hide them from the consumer that is risky on the part of the hotel.
Rightly, everyone's top complaint was that they were not included in the advertised price of the room. While travel bugs or vegas fanatics have been well aware of them for years, the likelihood that less frequent travelers were getting surprised at check in is quite high.
Its deceptive, the feds are on it, and all is right in the world.
jmac37 replied on Wednesday, 5th December 2012
Stosh, I agree. But apparently, the reason they do this is - legally - they have the right to. So they can artificially advertise a lower rate, then hit you w/the resort fee, vs. wrapping it into the rate up front.
Deceptive, but not illegal. I say again, with all the public outcry, it seems worth it to ask up front if they'd be willing to waive it. I'd think it's at least worth a try.
jmac37 responded on Wednesday, 5th December 2012
I'm opposed to most legislation. Whether it's infringement on my rights, or upon private enterprise to conduct business as they deem fit, I don't want the govt. - federal or otherwise - telling me or the business community what to do.
Having said all that, these "resort fees" do seem to be getting out of hand. I'll say one thing, though: I recently got an offer for 3 comp'd nights at the Wynn. Called about it, and asked about the resort fee (which the letter w/offer did mention). Was told I could waive it, but would have no access to the spa or in-room wifi. Didn't say anything about the pool.
So, the Wynn is willing to waive up front, not on back end. Has anyone else tried to get other properties to waive up front? Seems worth asking, and since this problem does seem to be getting out of hand (and a LOT of people complaining) - with all the competition in Vegas (and elsewhere) seems they'd be willing to work with us.