Then came the rise of the discount airlines, where it tells you your ticket is $58, and it is, but if you want luggage you now enter the world of tiered add ons. $58 only covers you and a 10kg carry on. You want a piece of luggage? Additional money only added in at the add tier screen, because the base ticket price is 'correct' and there's no standard for how many pieces of luggage the advertised ticket should include, so they advertise the price with 0.
if they could advertise a 'standing room only' and force you to upgrade to a seat I bet they would. Maybe you need the first luggage tier for washroom access? The nickel and dime sort of approach is exactly what made the dishonest prices the first time around detestable.
Certainly not in the EU or in Switzerland. I can chose a flight based on certain criteria (i.e. no checked luggage, flexibility) and the price is stated clearly, including all fees, taxes and airport charges.
The costs will be itemized on the ticket, but within the booking process the total is always clearly stated.
What may happen with discount airlines (noticeably Ryan Air) is that the fleece you for a lot of "extras". From charging an arm and a leg because your hand luggage is 200gms too heavy up to charging you for printing a boarding pass at the airport.
Perhaps some OTAs are using pricing shenanigans, but the major airlines seem to not be doing that.