Traveler-Protection Measures Postponed (Again)

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)once again kicked the can down the road on the start of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which requires the airlines to disclose clearly the breakdown of ancillary service fees that have become a huge source of revenue for airlines. The August 10, 2012 new date is bound to be postponed again as this is an election year after all. The airlines got exactly what they had hoped for and then some. The delay amounts to to a "Confusion Fee" for the traveler. Travel Management Companies (TMC's) and travelers have no viable means to compare actual costs of travel even though all the necessary disclosure components are available. DOT can make a difference, even though this is an election year. Travelers must be given full disclosure of what their trips actually cost. Ancillary fees should be clearly disclosed. www.premieretravel.com