Major airlines claim that the fares they charge haven’t increased in r

Major airlines claim that the fares they charge haven’t increased in recent years. However, the various fees that used to be included in the quoted fare are now charged separately. The fees added to the quoted fare now include the 9/11 security fee, the fuel surcharge, and the airport departure fee. The airlines are just following the example of other travel-related industries that have added on fees and taxes for years. The rental car and hotel industries usually quote a rate that is 20 percent less than the actual bill. In major cities, restaurants and bars usually have an additional tax rate that is included on the bill with the sales tax. In fact, there isn’t one aspect of traveling where the quoted price is the final price.

If true, which of the following facts concerning the costs of travel would most weaken the above conclusion?

(A) Many items ordered through the mail include shipping and handling fees that are more than the cost of the actual item.

(B) The price of a gallon of gasoline that is quoted at the pump and on the gas station signs already includes all the fuel taxes and is the actual, final price.

(C) When traveling outside of the United States and Canada, Americans should remember that the quoted price is often just the starting point for negotiations
and that the final price is usually much lower.

(D) The quoted price for travel on most cruise ships doesn’t include a variety of fees, including fees for excursions, beverages charges, and gratuities for the staff.

(E) The price quoted for a new car usually doesn’t even include the destination charge, which is the cost of getting the car to the dealership.