DOT Forgoes Ancillary Fee Transparency

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has decided to kill two rules changes that ASTA had been seeking in regards to ancillary fees.

The DOT has officially withdrawn the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) for both the Ancillary Airline Passenger Revenues and the Transparency of Airline Ancillary Service Fees rules that were proposed in 2011 to provide fee transparency to travelers.

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In a statement, the DOT said:

“After a careful review, the Department has determined to withdraw the SNPRM. The Department is committed to protecting consumers from hidden fees and to ensuring transparency. However, we do not believe that Departmental action is necessary to meet this objective at this time. The Department’s existing regulations already provide consumers some information regarding fees for ancillary services.”

The DOT noted that the rules were considered excessive use of regulatory control.

“The withdrawal corresponds with the Department’s and Administration’s priorities and is consistent with the Executive Order 13771, Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs, January 30, 2017,” the DOT statement continued.

ASTA expressed disappointment in the decision although, it noted that the rules change was a “heavy lift” under the current political climate in Washington.

Eben Peck, executive vice president, advocacy, released these remarks in response to the decision:

“We are disappointed with the DOT’s decision. While a far cry from the full transparency in and consumer access to airline ancillary fees ASTA has been pushing for since 2011, the Department’s January 2017 proposal requiring that consumers be notified of airline bag fees at all points of sale – including through travel agents – was a step in the right direction.

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“ASTA believes strongly that withholding important airline information from consumers who engage the services of a professional travel advisor harms the traveling public and that those who purchase their travel through agents should be as informed and empowered as those who buy directly from airlines,” said Peck.

ASTA vowed to continue efforts to bring the rules to light, however.

“While today is a setback, we intend to continue our efforts in Washington to make sure these travelers can see, compare and buy ancillary services through their agent,” Peck said.