As with everything in Washington DC, there is time to push hard and a time to wait. The Consumer Travel Alliance is in the push-hard part of an effort to force the airlines to tell travelers all of their fees upfront in the ticketing process.
The Menendez amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act, being debated today, will mandate that airlines and travel agents disclose the full price of a ticket, including taxes and fees, right up front. (Other governments, including Australia and Europe, already do this.)
Anyone who has made an airline reservation recently has discovered new fees after they are deep in the process of buying their airline ticket. Some families only learn about the extra baggage fees when they arrive at the airport with kids in tow and then learn that their vacation may cost hundreds of dollars more.
Airfare displays on services like Expedia, Priceline, Orbitz, Kayak and other travel agencies no longer provide a true comparison between airlines. Some prices include baggage fees, others don’t. Some prices include advanced seat reservations, some don’t. Some include free telephone reservations, some don’t.
It is enough to confuse even the most diligent airline ticket buyer.
It shouldn’t be this way. The Menendez Amendment will help consumers get the full cost of a trip so that they can compare prices before they begin the ticketing process.
Contact your Senator right away. Discussions and negotiations are underway right now in the Senate office buildings. A vote on the amendment may come as early as tomorrow, Thursday, March 18.
Send your Senator this message:
I urge you to support the amendment (No. 3506) proposed by Sen. Menendez to H.R. 1586 requiring airlines and travel agents to disclose all taxes and fees associated with airfares. We need this rule so that we can compare the true cost of air travel.
Here’s the full Menendez amendment:
Purpose: To ensure that all consumers are able to easily and fairly compare airfares and other costs applicable to tickets for air transportation, including all taxes and fees.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES-111th Cong., 2d Sess.
H.R.1586AMENDMENT intended to be proposed by Mr. MENENDEZ to the amendment (No. 3452) proposed by Mr. ROCKEFELLER
Viz:
At the end of subtitle A of title IV, add the following:
SEC. 407. NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE SALE OF AIRLINE TICKETS.
(a) IN GENERAL.-The Office of Aviation Consumer Protection and Enforcement of the Department of Transportation shall establish rules to ensure that all consumers are able to easily and fairly compare airfares and other costs applicable to tickets for air transportation, including all taxes and fees.
(b) NOTICE OF TAXES AND FEES APPLICABLE TO TICKETS FOR AIR TRANSPORTATION.-Section 41712, as amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
(d) NOTICE OF TAXES AND FEES APPLICABLE TO TICKETS FOR AIR TRANSPORTATION.-
IN GENERAL.-It shall be an unfair or deceptive practice under subsection (a) for an air carrier, foreign air carrier, or ticket agent to sell a ticket for air transportation unless the air carrier, foreign air carrier, or ticket agent, as the case may be-
“(A) displays information with respect to the taxes and fees described in paragraph (2), including the amount and a description of each such tax or fee, simultaneously with and in reasonable proximity to the price listed for the ticket; and
“(B) in the case of a ticket for air transportation sold on the Internet, provides to the purchaser of the ticket information with respect to the taxes and fees described in paragraph (2), including the amount and a description of each such tax or fee, before requiring the purchaser to provide any personal information, including the name, address, phone number, e-mail address, or credit card information of the purchaser.
“(2) TAXES AND FEES DESCRIBED.-The taxes and fees described in this paragraph are all taxes, fees, and charges applicable to a ticket for air transportation, including-
“(A) all taxes, fees, charges, and surcharges included in the price paid by a purchaser for the ticket, including fuel surcharges and surcharges relating to peak or holiday travel and
“(B) any fees for checked baggage, seating assignments, and optional in-flight goods and services, and other fees that may be charged after the ticket is purchased.”.
(c) REGULATIONs.-The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out subsection (d) of section 41712 of title 49, United States Code, as added by subsection (b) of this section.
Again, here is the list of all U.S. Senators and their contact information.
Senator Menendez, on March 16th, spoke about airline fees starting at the 8 minute spot in this video.
