Taylor Pollack

It happens to many while booking flights: you see one price, and by the time you purchase your ticket, the number has increased significantly after lots of fees are tacked on at the end.

However, a final rule from the U.S. Department of Transportation requires airline companies to do away with what it calls “surprise junk fees.” Some travel experts say these new changes are going to ease a lot of frequent flyer frustrations.

“It’s always been sort of frustrating and confusing to book a flight and get charged these extra fees and to not know what some of those things are for,” says Clay Ingram with AAA Alabama.

The new ruling requires airlines to be upfront about extra fees, as well as explain what they’re for before a ticket is purchased.

“It’s always kind of a muddled mess and this should really help move things in the right direction make it a lot easier and a lot less frustrating to flyers,” Ingram said.

Ingram says this new rule will also make it easier for flyers to get refunds.

“It’s been very difficult to get a refund of any kind, they typically try to force you to take travel vouchers instead and those have an expiration date as well,” said Ingram. “Now, if they need to issue you a refund, it has to be within 7 days if you use a credit card. The baggage fees have to be refunded too if there’s a delay in your baggage and that’s a new item as part of this too.”

Overbooked flights are a constant headache for frequent flyers, but now airlines are also required to guarantee a seat to anyone who purchases a ticket.

“Because there are fewer flights, that means there’s fewer empty seats on those flights,” said Ingram. “This will be a good thing too to make people a little more confident about being able to get their seat on their flight and not have to worry about getting bumped basically because the airlines have oversold.”

Ingram always recommends talking to an agent understand what you’re agreeing to when you book a trip, as well as finding the plan that’s best for you.