The Department of Transportation (DOT) fined online ticket agent Orbitz $50,000 for failing to clearly and prominently inform consumers that they may have to pay baggage fees, and directed the company to cease and desist from further violations.

Under a new DOT rule which took effect January 24, carriers and ticket agents must disclose to consumers booking a flight that they may have to pay baggage fees in addition to the basic ticket price.

When consumers book a flight on-line, carriers must clearly and prominently disclose on the first screen that offers a specific itinerary that additional baggage fees may apply and tell the consumer where they can view the fees.

The rule applies to all airlines selling air transportation in the United States, including foreign carriers.

For a short period of time after January 24, Orbitz’s website disclosed on the first webpage in which it offered fare quotations for specific itineraries that additional fees for baggage may apply and where consumers could see those fees.

However, the location of the disclosure may have required consumers to scroll to the bottom of the first webpage, and therefore was not clear and prominent as required by DOT’s rule, the Department said.