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Summary
- A new FTC rule mandates companies like TicketMaster display pricing upfront without hidden fees.
- In a bit of a twist, companies previously implementing hidden fees are now celebrating the change.
- Going forward, consumers booking accommodations online will also benefit from pricing transparency.
We’ve all been there when purchasing tickets for a concert or booking a hotel for the night. The price at the beginning of the process may not be the same as the price you see when checking out. For most, this type of tactic is nothing new, and for the most part, we all just kind of got used to it.
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And while there has been pressure to make things clearer for consumers in the past, nothing really ever materialized — until now. A new FTC rule has gone into effect, prompting brands like TicketMaster and AXS to change their ways. From this moment forward, companies will be required to put pricing upfront, without any type of hidden fees. The same applies to apps and services that provide hotel rooms and rental spaces.
While this is a huge day for consumers, the strange twist in all of this, as highlighted by Engadget, is that the companies that were implementing the hidden fees are now also celebrating the moment (via 9to5Mac). TicketMaster states in its own blog post that “we’re all in on putting fans first. We’ve long advocated for all-in pricing laws worldwide, and support a consistent ticket-buying experience for fans.”
Although it’s not a big deal, it is a bit of a head scratcher, considering that the brands could have made these changes voluntarily at any time, but instead waited for the new rules from the FTC to kick in to make things happen. So although ticket prices for concerts won’t be getting any cheaper in 2025, at least you’ll have a little more transparency before starting the process.
As mentioned before, the same applies for any accommodations that you may book online. So, when you’re planning your summer vacation stays, you’ll now get a clearer picture of what you’ll expect to pay at the start of the process, and won’t be hit with any hidden resort fees right before check out. For the most part, this is all good news. Let’s just hope pricing doesn’t get out of hand.
