by Tim Wood
Last updated: 4:09 PM ET, Thu January 2, 2014
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) began the New Year by issuing a nearly six-figure fine against WK Travel, operator of OneTravel.com and other travel websites.
The $95,000 fine is for violating the DOT's rules on disclosure of codeshare flights. The DOT ordered the ticket agent to cease and desist from further violations.
The DOT's Aviation Enforcement Office made calls to call centers of the websites operated by WK Travel over the first two months of 2013 and found that agents failed to disclose that flights were being operated under codeshare deals.
The agents only told callers of the airline selling the flight, not of the airline operating the flight - even after the caller asked specifically if there were codeshare issues to be aware of.
In 2013, the DOT assessed a record $7.1 million in fines predominately for violations of its consumer rights regulations.
"Consumers deserve to know which airline will be operating their flight as they're shopping for a ticket," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in a statement. "We will continue to make sure that all companies selling air transportation are transparent with consumers and will take enforcement action when necessary."
Codesharing is the practice of airlines selling seats on flights using their designator codes when the flights are operated by a separate airline.
Since the beginning of 2013, DOT has issued eight fines for code-share disclosure violations, totaling $555,000.
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