DOT Provides Guidance To Airlines On Code Share Disclosure Requirements

 

 
 
NEWSROOM
 
 
  Bookmark and Share
 
 
 
 

DOT Provides Guidance To Airlines On Code Share Disclosure Requirements

By
Eddy Metcalf
 

January 11, 2011 - Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Aviation Enforcement Office on Monday provided guidance to airlines and ticket agents about the requirement for notifying passengers if a flight they are selling is being operated under a code-sharing arrangement.

A recent amendment to section 41712, which has for some time contained a general prohibition against unfair and deceptive practices and unfair methods of competition on the part of air carriers, foreign air carriers and ticket agents. 

A New section was added, 41712(c) that specifically requires that these entities disclose in any oral, written or electronic communication to the public, prior to the purchase of a ticket, the name of the carrier providing the service for each segment of a passenger’s itinerary.

The language is principally intended to address service rendered pursuant to code-share arrangements. In addition, the new language explicitly requires that on websites, disclosure must be made “on the first display of the Web site following a search of a requested itinerary in a format that is easily visible to a viewer.” 

Under code-sharing, an airline sells tickets on flights that use the airline’s code, but are actually operated by a different carrier. Longstanding DOT rules require airlines to disclose code-sharing arrangements to consumers before they book a flight, but legislation adopted in August 2010 has also clarified the requirements for Internet websites that sell airline tickets. 

“When passengers buy an airline ticket, they have the right to know which airline will be operating their flight,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  “For years we’ve required airlines to inform consumers about code-sharing arrangements, and we’ll be monitoring the industry closely to make sure they comply with the provisions of the new legislation.” 

The new law makes it clear that when a consumer requests an airline itinerary on the Internet, any code-sharing arrangement must be included on the same screen and next to the itinerary.

 

Currently, code-sharing on some websites is being disclosed through a hyperlink or when one passes the cursor over a link. Under the existing Department rules, code-share disclosure must include the corporate name of the transporting carrier and any other name under which the flight is offered to the public.

 
   
The Department’s Aviation Enforcement Office will give airlines and ticket agents 60 days to modify websites that are now using links for code-share disclosure to bring them into compliance before instituting enforcement action. In the meantime, it will continue to enforce other aspects of the current rules aggressively, as it has in the past.

The guidance also reminded airlines that they are responsible for the compliance of their ticket agents, and put ticket agents that provide Internet ticket sales software to travel agents on notice that they must ensure that the software is in compliance with DOT’s rules, including the code-share disclosure requirements, or risk enforcement action.

Other News Stories
 

 

 
 
Home Aviation News Aviation Stories Of Interest FAA Exam Upcoming Events Links To Other Sites General Aviation Helicopters Medical Factors Facing Pilots
Maintenance and Aircraft Mechanics Hot Air Balloon Aviation Training Handbooks Read Online Aviation History Legal Issues In Aviation Sea Planes Editorials
 
 ©AvStop Online Magazine                                                                 Contact Us                                                  Return To News                                          Bookmark and Share
 

 

AvStop Aviation News and Resource Online Magazine

Grab this Headline Animator