Major US Airlines Face Federal Probe Over Loyalty Program Practices

The loyalty programs of each carrier were valued at more than $20 billion last year. (Credit: AFP)

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Thursday that it will investigate the country's four major airlines regarding their rewards and frequent flyer programs to ensure that consumers are getting fair deals and are not facing any deceptive practices.

The four largest U.S. air carriers — Delta Air Lines Inc., American Airlines Group Inc., United Airlines Holdings Inc. and Southwest Airlines Co.— have to submit detailed reports on their loyalty programs within 90 days, reported Reuters.