Air Pricing Rule Provides Transparency

February 8, 2012 at 8:00 am · Filed under airlines, travel and tagged: airline advertising rules, travel writing

By Linda Tancs

Under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s recently adopted consumer rule that enhances protections for air travelers, carriers and ticket agents have been required to include all government taxes and fees in every advertised fare since 26 January.  The airline price advertising rules apply  to both U.S. and foreign carriers as well as ticket agents.  Agents must ensure that airfares quoted to customers include all applicable taxes and fees, including transaction fees, when first communicating the price of the desired itinerary.  The following mandates apply directly to airlines:

1. Baggage allowances/fees that apply at beginning of customers’ itineraries must apply throughout their entire journey.
2. Airlines must allow reservations to be held at the quoted fare without payment or cancelled after purchase without penalty for at least 24 hours after the reservations are made.
3. Once full payments are made, airlines are not allowed to increase mandatory fees (baggage, fuel surcharge, etc.).
4. On all e-ticket confirmations, one of the following must be included:  (i)standard free baggage allowances and/or fees for carry-on, first and second checked bags, along with a note stating that additional discounts may apply depending on flyer-specific factors (e.g., frequent flyer status, military, credit card used, etc.); or (ii) a direct link to the applicable airline’s baggage allowance and fee information.

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