The U.S. Department of Transportation urges airlines to be transparent

The government aims for the passengers to benefit booking process transparency from both U.S. air carriers and third parties.

According to the U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg:

“Airline passengers deserve to know the full, true cost of their flights before they buy a ticket,” says

“This new proposed rule would require airlines to be transparent with customers about the fees they charge, which will help travellers make informed decisions and save money.”

The move is supported by the Travel Technology Association, including key players such as Expedia, Kayak, Skyscanner, Booking.com, Skyscanner, Travelport, Amadeus and more.

“Consumers, specifically ones that travel only once or twice a year, often are not aware of what products and services are included with their airline tickets. Airline models differ from airline to airline where some do not charge extra for bags or seats while others do, and prices can range significantly. [...]

“Additionally, seats can be available at the time the airline ticket is purchased by the consumer and a few days or weeks later may not be, making it difficult for a family travelling to sit together,” commented Stewart Alvarez, Travel Technology Association’s CEO.

According to the White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, the decision also aims to “spur competition among airlines, expose and limit airline fees and most importantly save money for American families.”

Moreover, any additional fees are required to be shown in order to protect consumers. Airlines must clearly display “useable, current and accurate information regarding baggage fees, change fees, cancellation fees and adjacent seating fees for families travelling with young children, if any, to ticket agents that sell or display the carrier’s fare and schedule information”, said the Department.

The request is the result President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, with the goal of supporting travellers considering the latest aviation crisis leading to thousands of flight cancellations and delays.

The proposal will be submitted for 60 days of public comments before its final form.

 

Source: phocuswire.com