Spirit blasts DOT, adds $2 'unintended consequence fee' 
 
 - Updated at1:35 a.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 3. 
 
 Spirit Airlines has added a $2 "unintended consequence" fee to all of its tickets. 
 
 The move comes as the self-described "ultra-low-cost carrier" continues to push back against new federal rules that the government says are meant to protect consumers. 
 
 IN TODAY'S NEWSPAPER: Spirit adds $2 fee, blames new regulations 
 
 Among the new rules imposed by the Department of Transportation is a regulation that requires airlines to refund airfares – with no additional fees – within 24 hours after a customer's initial purchase. 
 
 Spirit is blasting that rule, which took effect last week. 
 
 ARCHIVES: New rules require airlines to show fees with fares (Jan. 11, 2012) 
 
 ALSO ONLINE: Is Spirit over-reacting to new federal regulations? (AirlineReporter.com) 
 
 The carrier says in a release the "regulation requiring airlines to hold fares for 24 hours after booking without penalty comes with unintended consequences and is costing consumers millions. To cover the costs of this misguided and expensive regulation, Spirit is introducing the $2 DOTUC (DOT unintended consequence) fee." 
 
 The carrier added the fee to tickets on Tuesday. 
 
 "While this may appear to be a consumer-friendly rule at first, the USDOT has ignored the cost impact to consumers," Spirit says in its release. "Spirit believes that consumers have a right to know that this misguided regulation is expensive and is hitting consumers directly in their pocketbooks. Spirit believes low fares are what help consumers most." 
 
 "People love the idea of not having to commit to a reservation, but this regulation, like most, imposes costs on consumers," Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza adds in the airline's statement. "Wouldn't we all like to eat all we want and not get fat? Regulators like to try to sell the idea of this rule, but have ignored the cost impact to consumers. You simply can't eat all you want without consequences." 
 
 Spirit explains its claim that the rule will lead to higher costs. The company says in its release: 
 
 This rule mandates that we take out seat inventory for those who may or may not decide to pay for it. This prevents us from selling these seats to someone who definitively wants to book their reservation and leads to seats not being filled. The consequence is that we must spread costs over fewer customers, thus raising the cost for all passengers. This 'tax' on consumers ripples through all aspects of the economy and costs Americans jobs. Spirit is urging Americans to take action and hold our elected officials and their appointees accountable to their promise to reduce regulations. 
 
 But DOT chief Ray LaHood doesn't agree. In a statement, he chastised Spirit on the new fee. 
 
 "This is just another example of the disrespect with which too many airlines treat their passengers," LaHood is quoted as saying by the International Business Times. "Rather than coming up with new and unnecessary fees to charge their customers, airlines should focus on providing fair and transparent service - that's what our common sense rules are designed to ensure." 
 
 CNN notes the "unintended consequence fee comes just a week after "Spirit publicly lashed out against another part of the DOT regulation that required them to include taxes and fees when advertising the price of a ticket." 
 
 The airline's website still prominently displays a message that reads: "Warning. New government regulations require us to HIDE taxes in your fares … ." 
 
 "Spirit has embarked on a misguided and disingenuous project," Spirit is quoted by CNN as saying in a letter of complaint to the DOT. "The rule does not prevent carriers from disclosing the amount, type, and nature of government taxes and fees." 
 
 Other airlines, including Southwest, have echoed Spirit's concerns about the new DOT rules, though most have done so less publicly. 
 
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 February 2, 2012 1:03 PM EST 
 
 Spirit Airlines announced this week that it would add a $2 "unintended consequences fee" to all tickets due to new federal regulation aimed at protecting consumers. The "Department of Transportation Unintended Consequences Fee" was added to each ticket effective immediately and is a direct response to new DOT rules put in place Jan. 26 to offer travelers better "passenger protections." 
 
 The most visible of the new rules was a law that required airlines to include mandatory government taxes and fees in all advertised fares. Other rules pertained to ticket cancellation policies and baggage fees. Spirit says it's the DOT regulation allowing passengers to change flights within 24 hours of booking without paying a penalty that's forced them to add the fee. "Spirit believes that consumers have a right to know that this misguided regulation is expensive and is hitting consumers directly in their pocket books," the company stated on its website. "People love the idea of not having to commit to a reservation, but this regulation, like most, imposes costs on consumers," CEO Ben Baldanza added in the airline's statement. "Wouldn't we all like to eat all we want and not get fat? Regulators like to try to sell the idea of this rule, but have ignored the cost impact to consumers. You simply can't eat all you want without consequences."
– Spirit Airlines is angry over a new Department of Transportation rule—and it's making sure customers know it, by slapping a $2 "Department of Transportation Unintended Consequence Fee" on all tickets. The new rule, which went into effect last week, requires airlines to give customers a full refund, without additional fees, if the customer requests one within 24 hours of booking a flight, USA Today explains. That may sound innocent, but Spirit insists that it's "costing customers millions," arguing that it will lead to unfilled seats on flights, forcing the airline to spread the resulting costs to other customers. But DOT chief Ray LaHood isn't buying it. "This is just another example of the disrespect with which too many airlines treat their passengers," he said. Spirit has also railed against a rule requiring it to include taxes and fees in advertised ticket prices.