Airlines waged a battle Saturday over whether expiring federal aviation taxes should go to consumers via lower ticket prices or into their own coffers.
Most airlines decided to keep the money.
United/Continental and Frontier airlines, the largest and third-largest carriers at Denver International Airport, initially passed the savings on to consumers, according to Tom Parsons, who runs the travel website.
But United joined rivals US Airways and American in raising base fares by Saturday night, as did Delta.
Southwest Airlines, DIA’s second-largest carrier, raised prices $8 per round trip, according to spokeswoman Marilee McInnis.
Frontier was among a handful of carriers trying to hold out with lower fares. Others included Virgin Airways and Alaska Airlines.
Congress failed to pass the operating budget for the Federal Aviation Administration, which caused a 7.5 percent tax and a separate excise tax of $3.70 per takeoff and landing to expire at midnight Saturday.
Consumers had the potential to save $32 on a round trip with a base fare of $240 and one stop in each direction.
But the situation was fluid throughout the day.
On a nonstop DIA to Los Angeles International flight departing Aug. 21, some airlines were charging double or triple the taxes that Frontier was, according to .
But on a flight from DIA to LaGuardia in New York on the same day, Frontier appeared to be lifting its fares to match other competitors.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Aldo Svaldi: 303-954-1410 or asvaldi@denverpost.com
