DOT reinstates old airline baggage fee rules after court voids new ones

The Transportation Department has updated its regulations to remove a 2024 rule that required airlines to display fees for checked bags and other services upfront in search results. This change follows a February 2026 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which vacated the earlier rule because the department failed to allow public comment on a specific study it relied upon.

Why it matters: This action clarifies what airlines must display on their websites and third-party booking platforms today. Travelers will no longer see the detailed, upfront fee breakdowns mandated by the 2024 rule, though basic disclosures about baggage fees remain required under the older rules. For airlines, it removes the compliance burden of the vacated regulations without changing the fundamental requirement to disclose fees somewhere on their site.

Who it affects

• Airlines operating in the United States

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This final rule was issued by the Transportation Department’s Federal Register entry titled “Increasing Flexibility on Disclosure of Airline Ancillary Fees”; readers should verify the full text in the Federal Register before relying on these details.

Agency: Transportation Department,
Source: Federal Register — read the official document