For example, airlines promote low one way fares but will not actually sell the one way fare. The consumer must, in fact, purchase a round trip ticket to obtain the low rate. Under principles of truth in advertising, the advertised fare should be totaled and the round-trip fare should be advertised or the other applicable restrictions should be clearly and conspicuously disclosed. Another common practice is the promotion of very low fares when in fact only a few seats are available. Such advertisements should at a bare minimum be required to indicate the restrictive seat availability and advertise the next lowest available fare if the lower cost seats are not available.
Some airlines also promote schedules with many daily flights to and from a particular city.
Many of those flights are canceled or combined with later scheduled flights so that only full aircrafts are flown between those cities. Under truth in advertising laws, the airlines would be required to clearly and conspicuously disclose that fact to consumers who could then decide whether to purchase tickets under those conditions. Airlines also routinely oversell flights. It is critical that consumers be fully informed whether they are purchasing a direct flight or one requiring a connection. This information is important because many consumers consider such information material when deciding which flight to take.