Government fines United $30,000 for fare flub

MINNEAPOLIS -- The U.S. Transportation Department said on Friday that United Airlines must pay a $30,000 fine for failing to include a federal tax when it quoted some airfares on its Web site.

The government said United left a 7.5 percent federal excise tax out of some fare quotes for two-and-a-half days.

United spokesman Rahsaan Johnson says a programming error moved the tax from the base fare, where government rules require it. Instead, the tax was part of the final price a customer sees later.

In August, the Department of Transportation hit United with a $75,000 civil penalty for other advertising violations. United only had to pay half, as long as it had no more violations. Now, the agency says United will have to pay the other half, or $37,500.

United is a unit of Chicago-based UAL Corp.