In the last year, the US has moved hard against “junk fees” and hidden charges across travel, rentals, and live‑event ticketing. For ticket buyers, the key shift is that the price you see first is supposed to be the real total price, not a teaser that jumps right before checkout.
The centerpiece for ticketing is the Federal Trade Commission’s Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, often called the FTC Junk Fees Rule. You can read the official text here:
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Federal Register rule text:
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FTC overview and business guidance:
Key laws ticket buyers should know
Here are a few important rules and policy moves that affect how ticket prices and fees can be shown.
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FTC Junk Fees Rule – total price must be upfront
- It is considered an unfair or deceptive practice to advertise or display a ticket price that hides mandatory fees until late in the checkout.
- Ticket sites and marketplaces must clearly and prominently show the total price, including mandatory service and platform fees, wherever they show prices, not just on the final screen.
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Ban on misleading fee labels
- Sites cannot use confusing labels that make mandatory fees look optional or smaller than they are.
- If a fee is required to buy the ticket, it must be treated as part of the total price, not a surprise add-on.
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Junk fee crackdown across sectors
- The FTC’s work on junk fees in tickets aligns with broader efforts against hidden fees in hotels, rentals, and travel.
- Some separate rules, such as certain airline fee disclosures, have faced court challenges, which shows how actively this space is evolving.
The bottom line: regulators want the first price you see for a ticket to be honest, all‑in, and not a lowball number that explodes with fees at the end.
How Hunt Tickets is implementing all‑in pricing
Hunt Tickets is updating its experience so the new laws are not just a compliance box but a better way to buy tickets. These standards apply across sports, concerts, and theater.
Total price first on event pages
When you browse events on Hunt Tickets, the goal is that the main price you see is the all‑in price that already includes mandatory marketplace and service fees.
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For sports, you can see events and pricing from the Sports hub at:
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For concerts, browse live music and festivals at:
- For theater, explore shows at:
https://www.hunttickets.us/theater
Any itemized breakdown of base price plus fees is there to explain the total, not to distract from it or to hide anything until later.
Clear, simple fee explanations
Hunt Tickets uses straightforward language so you know what each fee is doing.
- Mandatory fees are labeled and explained in plain English, instead of vague terms that hide their purpose.
- Optional extras like insurance or parking are kept separate and are not baked into the main ticket price unless you choose them.
This lines up with the FTC’s push against misleading fee labels and helps you quickly decide if an add‑on is worth it.
Consistent pricing through the whole journey
On Hunt Tickets, the total price you see on an event card, seat selection, and checkout is intended to stay consistent so you are not surprised at the last step.
- The search and category pages (for example, Sports, Concerts, and Theater) are designed so ticket buyers can compare true costs, not teaser prices.
- Any government taxes or delivery options are disclosed before payment, in line with what the FTC allows to be separated out.
You should not need a calculator or a surprise refresh at checkout to know what you will actually pay.
Marketplace‑wide standards
Because Hunt Tickets is a resale marketplace, multiple partners may list inventory through the platform.
- Hunt Tickets expects partners to follow the same all‑in pricing standards required by the FTC Junk Fees Rule.
- Internal checks help catch inconsistent or non‑compliant listings so they can be corrected or removed.
This is important because the rule applies not only to venues but also to marketplaces and intermediaries involved in live‑event sales.
Things for ticket buyers to remember
Here are practical points to keep in mind every time you shop for tickets, on Hunt Tickets or anywhere else.
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Look for the all‑in price, not just the base price.
The main number you focus on should already include mandatory fees, which is what the FTC expects under the Junk Fees Rule.
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Check whether fees are mandatory or optional.
Mandatory fees must be part of the total price, while optional add‑ons should be clearly marked as optional.
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Compare final totals across sites, not just starting prices.
Two sites can show similar base prices but very different all‑in totals once fees are included.
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Read the refund and cancellation policies.
For high‑demand sports, concerts, and theater events, make sure you know how refunds, postponements, or rescheduling are handled before you buy.
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Use promo codes smartly instead of chasing teaser prices.
On Hunt Tickets, you can look for current offers on the Deals & Promo Codes page: https://www.hunttickets.us/page/promo-codes
When you keep these points in mind, you not only benefit from the new legal protections but also make better buying decisions in general.
FAQs: FTC Junk Fees Rule and Hunt Tickets
1. What is the FTC Junk Fees Rule in simple terms?
The FTC Junk Fees Rule is a federal regulation that makes it illegal to hide mandatory fees until late in the checkout process and requires businesses, including live‑event ticket marketplaces, to clearly show the total price upfront.
2. Does Hunt Tickets follow the FTC Junk Fees Rule?
Yes, Hunt Tickets is updating its pricing displays and fee descriptions so that total prices and mandatory fees are clearly visible across sports, concerts, and theater sections on the site.
3. Where can I see these changes in action?
You can browse upcoming events and ticket options here:
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Sports:
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Concerts:
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Theater:
4. Are all fees included in the first price I see?
The goal under the FTC rule is that all mandatory marketplace and service fees are reflected in the most prominent price, with any remaining taxes or delivery charges clearly explained before you pay.
5. What about promo codes and discounts?
Promo codes reduce what you actually pay but should not be used to hide fees or make prices look artificially low. You can check current offers on the Hunt Tickets promo page at
https://www.hunttickets.us/page/promo-codes
6. Where can I read the official law text myself?
You can read the official rule on the Federal Register:
- Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/12/federal-trade-commission-announces-bipartisan-rule-banning-junk-ticket-hotel-fees