On a not completely unrelated note, today Airbus confirmed that Spirit Airlines has signed an agreement to purchase 75 brand new A320's....
Spirit's business model is making them the most profitable (as a proportion to revenue) and fastest growing commercial airline in the US. Spirit opposes the new DOT regulations and is fighting it in court with Southwest Airlines and Allegiant also as co plaintiffs. Airlines are no longer allowed to quote fares exclusive of taxes and fees, therefore hiding how mch of the airfare is actual revenue for the airline and how much is gong to the feds. (and other foreign governments too, when applicable.). This action will facilitate drastic increases in taxes on air travel in the US, including doubling the security tax, which has already been proposed several times, and if the taxes are hidden these increases will be unknown or more acceptable to the public, and before you know it we'll be paying like $300 in taxes for flights to the DR just like they do coming from Canada (but at least in Canada the airlines are allowed to tell you just how much of your airfare is tax)
As for this newest fee, which will be included in the quoted fares as now required, Spirit is making a point that it will be losing money from another new regulation in effect that states that when a passenger purchases a ticket ( any class of fare ) , the passenger may cancel up to 24 hours after he ticket is purchased wihout penalty and with a full refund. (in practice, this means that the airlines will not charge the customer's card until 24 hours afterthe purchase is made, in case they cancel. ). Spirit rightfully claims that this costs them money, since if a passenger purchases a seat, they are unable to sell it to someone else for 24 hours, then if the passenger cancels without penalty, Spirit has lost the opportunity for additional revenue fom another and the seat may go empty. Expect more aggressive overbooking from all airlines due to this new rule. Since Spirit estimates this new rule will cost them money, they hav no choice but to pass it on to he customer, just like any other business. The only difference is that at least Spirit is telling you why they need to add this fee, instead of other airlines who will simply just quietly raise their fares to compensate.
