The Consumer Travel Alliance strongly supports the Menendez amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act. As noted below, this amendment will compel the airlines to be upfront about their various fees. The airlines should present all fees prior to the point where customers have already completed a portion of the purchase process.
March 16, 2010
The Honorable Robert Menendez
528 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510I am writing in support of your amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act.
Airline fees have mushroomed over the past two years and are now a significant portion of the overall costs of traveling by air. Often consumers are not aware of the extent of these new fees. Consumers have a right to know the final cost of a trip as they plan travel.
Presently, most airlines wait until the last moment in the purchase process to alert travelers to possible fees. Airlines even withhold some fee information from travel agencies, which makes it difficult for consumers to compare the true final costs of flying between different airlines.
This amendment “to require air carriers and ticket agents to notify consumers of all taxes and fees applicable to airline tickets in a timely manner,” will allow consumers to make informed decisions about their travel options and the true travel costs.
If there is any way that the Consumer Travel Alliance can help you with your efforts to pass this amendment, please let us know. We stand firmly behind full transparency in airfares and providing consumers complete information on their costs of travel.
Sincerely,
Charles Leocha
Director, Consumer Travel Alliance
