The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) offered its approval of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) new airline passenger protection rules.
“GBTA is pleased to see that some of the new rules from the DOT are in line with our 2010 rule recommendations to both implement and improve existing protections for business travelers,” the association said in a statement. “Specifically, GBTA supports DOT’s decision to expand tarmac delay requirements to foreign carriers and generally supports the DOT rules relating to increasing denied boarding compensation or 'bumping' compensation.”
GBTA also said it applauds DOT’s rules requiring full disclosure of airline fees including taxes in the advertised price.
The GBTA “encourages the [DOT] to move quickly and require airlines to provide ancillary fee and fare information on any platform selling airline inventory, not just airline websites—without dictating specifics on how the fee data be transmitted or displayed.”
The GBTA went on to say that, while it was very pleased with the new DOT rules, it hopes that the DOT will also take on the challenge of having airlines provide full disclosure of ancillary fees.
“We are heartened to see DOT issue these rules,” said Michael W. McCormick, executive director and COO for the GBTA. “They are absolutely necessary to improve air travel for business and leisure travelers alike. In its next phase of rulemaking, we strongly encourage DOT to address the display of fees and fares at all points of sale.”
McCormick continued, “This is essential to give business travelers and their companies the information they need to make well-informed decisions. We will work with DOT to establish a framework for transparency so travelers and booking agents can understand the total cost of travel before buying a ticket. This is a pivotal issue for the business travel community and we are eager to continue working with DOT in this area.”
Visit www.gbta.org.
