If you have your eyes on the skies thinking about a holiday getaway... your first thought might be finding the cheapest flight. When you finally find one that fits your budget, you click through to checkout, ready to book. That's when you realize the price has crept up because of extra charges you never picked.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a simple piece of advice for holiday travelers: scroll down. Some charges can sit below the booking button, where they're easy to miss when you're rushing to lock in a reservation. So even if the screen shows a "total," take a second look to see if there are more options further down the page.
Here's what the FTC is warning about, and a quick checkout routine that keeps you in control of the final price.
Key Takeaways
- Scroll below the booking button before you pay. Optional charges may be hiding below the part of the screen you see first.
- Check every box and toggle. Uncheck anything you don't want and make sure the total goes down.
- Different rules apply to hotels and flights. The FTC's fee rule covers hotels and vacation rentals. Airfare falls under separate federal rules.
- Compare the full price, not the starting price, and make sure you're comparing the same terms, like refund policies and included services.
- Save your checkout records and report hidden or unwanted fees to the FTC. Just know that a report doesn't guarantee a refund.
What Is the FTC Warning About Extra Travel Fees?
In its holiday travel consumer alert, the FTC describes allegations involving travel apps run by Hopper, Inc.
According to the FTC's account of its complaint, a booking screen showed a "total" price and a big continue button. But Hopper allegedly preselected two extra charges, a Tip and VIP Support, and placed them below the "Swipe to Book Flight" button.
The FTC's advice boils down to two words: "Scroll down."
How Preselected Add-Ons Can Raise Your Total
When a company checks the box for an optional service ahead of time, you may end up paying for it unless you notice and uncheck it. Where those charges sit on the page matters, too. A big, eye-catching booking button can pull your attention before you've looked at everything below it.
The alert's specific examples are the Tip and VIP Support charges described in the Hopper allegations. It doesn't name other travel companies or list specific hotel or airline fees. So don't assume every travel surcharge works the same way or raises the same legal questions.
Allegations Aren't the Same as Proven Findings
The practices described in the alert are allegations in the FTC's case, not proven findings established by the alert itself.
But you don't need to decide whether a company broke the law to protect yourself at checkout. The questions that matter right then are simple:
- Did you choose each service?
- Do you understand what it costs?
- Do you agree to the final amount before you pay?
How to Avoid Hidden Travel Fees: A 5-Step Checkout Routine
Before you commit, make sure you know what you're buying, the terms of the offer and the full price. (It's the same approach we recommend in our guide to avoiding scams.)
Run through this quick checklist every time you book:
- Scroll all the way down, past the Book, Pay or Confirm button.
- Check every checkbox, toggle and expandable charge.
- Uncheck any optional services you didn't choose or don't want.
- Compare the final amount to the price you saw earlier.
- Stop if anything changed without a clear explanation.
Compare the Full Price, Not the First Price
Put the final checkout amount side by side with the first price you saw, and figure out what explains any difference. Whether it's taxes, a service you picked or some other charge, a higher total should come with a clear explanation.
Make sure you're comparing apples to apples, too. A different room type, cancellation policy or set of included services can change what you're actually getting.
Pro tip: Take a screenshot showing the price and the options you selected before you pay, then save your confirmation.
Watch for Boxes You Didn't Check
A checked box doesn't mean a service is required. Read the description and look for a way to decline it.
After you uncheck something, make sure the price actually goes down before you pay. If the charge is still there, stop and ask the booking company what it covers.
Judge the deal by its full price and terms, not the low starting price that caught your eye.
Which Travel Fee Rules Apply to Your Booking?
Hotels and flights fall under different federal rules. Here's the quick version:
| Hotels and vacation rentals | Airfare | |
|---|---|---|
| Which agency | Federal Trade Commission (FTC) | Department of Transportation (DOT) |
| Which rule | Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, in effect since May 12, 2025 | Full-fare advertising requirements |
| What it requires | Known, mandatory fees generally included in the upfront price | Total airfare displayed, including government taxes, fees and carrier charges |
| What to watch for | Excluded charges, like government fees and optional services | Optional services you select separately at checkout |
What the FTC Fee Rule Means for Hotels and Rentals
The FTC's Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect May 12, 2025. According to the agency's guidance, it covers short-term lodging and live-event tickets, including offers made through online platforms and other third-party sites.
That includes hotels, motels and short-term or vacation rentals. When a covered business shows you a price, mandatory fees that are known and can be calculated generally have to be included in that upfront total, even if you won't pay them until check-in.
Government charges and optional services may be left out of the upfront total. But before asking you to pay, the business has to clearly explain any excluded charges, including what they are, what they're for and how much they cost. It also has to prominently show the final amount you'll pay.
One more thing to know: according to the FTC's announcement, the rule targets how prices are shown. It doesn't ban any particular type of fee.
Why Airfare Follows Different Rules
Airfare isn't covered by the FTC's fee rule. Instead, the Department of Transportation has its own full-fare advertising rules, explained in its airfare price advertising materials.
Those rules address showing the total airfare, including government taxes, fees and carrier-imposed charges. Optional services you pick separately during checkout still deserve a careful look.
Booking a flight and hotel together? Keep the two separate in your mind. The FTC's hotel pricing rules don't automatically apply to the flight just because you booked both on the same site.
Charged a Fee You Didn't Agree To? Here's What to Do
Step 1: Save the Evidence
Hold on to the booking page, itemized receipt, confirmation email and any messages about the charge. Include screenshots that show the options that were selected and any explanation of the fee.
Step 2: Contact the Company That Charged You
Ask:
- What does this fee cover?
- Where did it appear before I paid?
- What record shows I agreed to it?
If you didn't authorize the charge, ask them to remove it or refund it.
Be specific. Give them your reservation number, the transaction date, the amount you're disputing and the name of the service. Point to the exact charge you're contesting instead of calling the whole booking a scam. Ask for their response in writing, and keep the case number.
Step 3: Contact Your Card Issuer
If the company won't fix it, contact your card issuer quickly about its dispute process. Describe the transaction accurately and share your records. Keep in mind that a dispute won't automatically cancel your reservation or guarantee you'll get your money back.
Step 4: Report It to the FTC
You can report hidden fees or charges for things you didn't want through the FTC's reporting system. Stick to the facts, and attach or keep your records as the system directs.
Don't Cancel Without Reading the Fine Print
Disputing a fee doesn't change your booking's cancellation terms. Before you cancel, read those terms so you don't accidentally rack up another charge. Keep your first request focused on the specific add-on you're disputing and what you want done about it.
Hidden Travel Fees: FAQs
Does the FTC fee rule cover airline tickets?
No. The FTC rule covers short-term lodging and live-event tickets, not airfare. Airfare falls under separate Department of Transportation disclosure rules. If you book a hotel and flight together, look at the hotel charges and the airfare separately when you review the price.
Are tips and VIP support charges always optional?
Don't assume every service with those names works the same way. The FTC alert describes Tip and VIP Support as preselected charges in its allegations against Hopper. Read the service description and the checkbox or toggle to see whether you can decline it and what changes if you do.
What should I do if the price changes at checkout?
Stop before you pay and look at the itemized charges. If the page doesn't explain the increase, ask the booking company. You can always walk away if the price or terms are still unclear. You don't have to finish just because you already typed in your traveler information.
Can I report a travel fee I didn't agree to?
Yes. The FTC directs consumers to its fraud reporting site for hidden fees or charges for things they didn't agree to. Include the company's name, the charge and what happened at checkout. Filing a report doesn't guarantee you'll get your money back, and it doesn't replace asking the company for a refund.
Should I keep proof of the price I was shown?
Yes. Save screenshots, receipts and booking messages that show the advertised price, the options selected and the final charge. Capture enough of the screen to show what the charge description and checkboxes looked like. Those records back you up when you contact the company, dispute a charge or file a report.
Should I buy travel insurance?
Travel insurance deserves consideration when a trip involves a substantial prepaid cost. The expense paid at booking may be a fraction of a rental deposit, airfare, or other nonrefundable costs that could be lost if plans change.
Travel insurance comes in two basic flavors: per-trip and multi-trip (or annual) policies.
- Per-trip insurance is exactly what it sounds like: you purchase coverage tailored to the specifics of each trip.
- Annual or multi-trip insurance offers coverage for an unlimited number of trips within a 12-month window, usually with some limits on trip duration (often 30-90 days per trip).
If you’re only traveling once or twice a year, a per-trip policy may still be your best bet. But for those who hit the road (or skies) frequently, the benefits of an annual plan quickly add up.
Make the Final Total Your Decision
Before you pay for holiday travel, scroll past the booking button and check the final total against every service that's selected. That quick pause lets you remove unwanted charges before they turn into a refund fight.
If the price or add-ons still aren't clear, don't book until you understand exactly what you're paying for. And if a charge shows up that you didn't agree to, save your records, ask the company to fix it and report it to the FTC.