The Government Now Requires Airlines to Hide Federal Fees and Taxes in Their Fares

From Spirit Airlines, who is warning their customers about new government regulations that requires them to hid government fees and taxes in their air fares.  This pop-up is now appearing on the Spirit Airlines website:

Why would the government make such a requirement of airlines? If you can't see the taxes and fees you won't know that's what's increasing your fares when your next trip is suddenly more expensive. Instead of being angry at the government you'll get angry at the airlines. And when people get angry at the airlines the government can respond with new regulations to control prices. It's a vicious cycle.

Here's the full message from Spirit:

This is not consumer-friendly or in your best interest. It's wrong and you shouldn't stand for it.

Starting January 24, 2012, fares are distorted.

Why?

Thanks to the U.S. Department of Transportation's latest fare rules, Spirit must now HIDE the government's taxes and fees in your fares.

If the government can hide taxes in your airfares, then they can carry out their hidden agenda and quietly increase their taxes. (Yes, such talks are already underway.)

And if they can do it to the airline industry, what's next?

As the transparency leader and most consumer-friendly airline, Spirit DOES NOT support this new USDOT mandate. We believe the better form of transparency is to break out costs so customers know exactly what they're buying.

What can you do to help stop this injustice?

Join us in keeping government taxes and fees low and transparent by contacting your elected officials.

I fly Southwest most of the time and just checked their website, but I don't see a similar warning over there.  Apparently Spirit is the only one willing to challenge the government on these new regulations.