New DOT Passenger Protections Take Place

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has introduced new rules designed to enhance passenger rights and to improve the air travel environment for consumers. These rules affect how airline fares are displayed in all media advertising and online booking tools. 

Effective January 26, 2012, any advertising that includes airfares must clearly state the full price of an airline ticket including all taxes and fees. For the consumer this means it will be far easier to compare the total cost of similar travel options. Previously, Airline A might have advertised a fare to Europe as $308 plus taxes and fees, while Airline B offered a price of $553 plus tax. At first glance the choice is a no-brainer, but adding mandatory government taxes and various surcharges actually made Airline A’s total price $822, while Airline B included surcharges in the quoted rate and their total amounted to $783 – a $39 lower total fare. While there still may be valid reasons to choose the higher fare, such as departure/arrival time or number of connections, now consumers can easily compare fares when weighing all factors. It is important to note that while advertised fares may appear to have increased, they are actually the same prices – just more transparent.  

DOT regulation also requires that baggage fees be disclosed, but not included in the fare quote. A link to the airline’s baggage fee policies and who may be exempt, (i.e. premier frequent flyers or military personnel), must be displayed. Covington Travel will provide a baggage information link on all itineraries for travelers’ reference. In a radical departure from past practices, baggage fees that apply at the beginning of a trip now apply throughout an entire trip. This means that the fees charged by the first carrier apply throughout the trip, or in the case of international travel, the dominant carrier’s baggage policy applies. In addition, once the ticket is purchased, airlines may not increase mandatory fees like fuel surcharges or baggage fees.

Other stipulations include regulation that travel suppliers cannot include optional items, such as insurance in the full price. They must be broken out so that consumers have the choice to opt-in to purchase. Additionally, on cruise or tour packages that include air, allowable price increases may not be passed on to the traveler without his or her consent once a transaction is under deposit or full payment has been made.

These new DOT regulations give consumers much more transparent airline pricing so that they can better manage their travel expenditures. If you need clarification or have any questions about how the new regulations may impact you, please contact us.