Mark Pestronk
Q: The DOT has all of a sudden turn into a consumer-protection advocate, having already proposed that travel agencies be responsible for paying refunds on flights canceled by the airways. Now, the DOT is proposing that we make itinerary-specific and client-specific disclosures of ancillary fees on the time that we quote an airfare. Do you suppose that the fee-disclosure proposal will probably be adopted, and if that’s the case, are you able to please listing all of the disclosures that journey advisors will probably be anticipated to make if the brand new proposal goes into impact? Another query: May the federal authorities require related disclosures for the sale of resorts, automotive leases and cruises, the place there are much more charges?
A: I predict that the brand new fee-disclosure proposal will probably be adopted by the center of subsequent 12 months, however a number of low cost carriers will tie it up in court docket for an additional 12 months. If the courts uphold the rule, there will probably be a six-month transition interval for carriers and GDSs to program their techniques, so you may realistically count on the rule to enter impact in about two years from now.
As soon as the fee-disclosure rule goes into impact, journey advisors might want to present all the next info concurrently with the primary fare quote, in writing and orally:
- The complete value together with all taxes and obligatory charges, beneath a rule in impact for a decade.
- For codeshares, the title of the advertising and marketing provider, the commerce title of the working provider and the authorized title of the working provider if totally different from the commerce title, beneath a rule in impact for a decade, as effectively.
- The charges for a primary and second checked bag and a carry-on bag, if any, for every consumer, relying on frequent-flyer standing, navy standing, and so forth. Beforehand, the requirement had been restricted to offering a hyperlink to the provider’s web site in confirmations.
- The client-specific charges and insurance policies for modifications and cancellations, if any.
- The seat-assignment charges, if any, relevant for passengers 13 and youthful to be seated subsequent to an accompanying grownup in the identical class of service.
Along with these 5 disclosures on the level a fare is quoted, the DOT is proposing that journey brokers should allow household seating charges to be “transactable” in any respect factors of sale.
The quoted phrase signifies that, in contrast to the opposite charges, the consumer would have the precise to purchase youngsters’ and a mother or father’s seat assignments when the ticket is bought.
Clearly, making all these disclosures and promoting household seat assignments is a heavy burden for journey advisors. Though advisors will theoretically have the ability to receive all of the required info from the GDS, public OTAs or provider web sites, many advisors will undoubtedly quit attempting to promote airline tickets slightly than undertake all this analysis simply to promote a ticket.
The DOT has no jurisdiction over resorts, vehicles and cruises that aren’t offered as a part of a compulsory package deal.
Though the Federal Commerce Fee and the Federal Maritime Fee may undertake related guidelines, they haven’t performed so.
