Executive Summary Purpose of the Regulatory Action The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to improve the air travel environment of consumers based on its statutory authority to prohibit unfair or deceptive practices in air transportation, 49 U.S.C. § 41712. The Department is taking action to strengthen the rights of air travelers when purchasing airline tickets from ticket agents, ensure that passengers have adequate information about regional carriers’ operations to make informed decisions when selecting flights, increase notice to consumers of some of the fees carriers charge for optional or ancillary services, and prohibit unfair and deceptive practices such as post-purchase price increases and undisclosed biasing in fare and schedule displays. Summary of Regulatory Provisions Subject Proposed Rule Codification Codifies the Department’s broad interpretation of the statutory of the definition of the term agent” to include Global Distribution “ticket Department’s Systems (GDS), websites with flight metasearch engines, and Interpretation similar intermediaries in the sale of air transportation, if the of intermediary is compensated in connection with the sale of air “Ticket Agent” transportation.
Executive Summary Purpose of the Regulatory Action The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to improve the air travel environment of consumers based on its statutory authority to prohibit unfair or deceptive practices in air transportation, 49 U.S.C. § 41712. The Department is taking action to strengthen the rights of air travelers when purchasing airline tickets from ticket agents, ensure that passengers have adequate information about regional carriers’ operations to make informed decisions when selecting flights, increase notice to consumers of some of the fees carriers charge for optional or ancillary services, and prohibit unfair and deceptive practices such as post-purchase price increases and undisclosed biasing in fare and schedule displays. Summary of Regulatory Provisions Subject Proposed Rule Codification of the Department’s Interpretation of “Ticket Agent” Codifies the Department’s broad interpretation of the statutory definition of the term “ticket agent” to include Global Distribution Systems (GDS), websites with flight metasearch engines, and similar intermediaries in the sale of air transportation, if the intermediary is compensated in connection with the sale of air transportation.
Passenger%20Protections%20NPRM%20April%2016%202014.docx