Under the Biden Administration, the DOT has put out several proposals related to rules for airlines, passengers and travel advisors. Two of the biggest are about refunds and fee disclosures: In the first, when flyers should be entitled to refunds and in the second, when air ticket sellers – like travel agents -- should disclose fees like bags, change fees, and how much it would cost for families to sit together. 

And there are other rulemakings in the works, plus a new online dashboard on airline policies for delays and cancellations. In short, it seems like a lot is going on. But what does it mean, what do advocates think needs to be clarified in order for flyers and agents to truly benefit, and how can people get involved in the comment process before the DOT issues its final rulemaking?

Host Rebecca Tobin and Travel Weekly senior editor for aviation Robert Silk talk about these issues with Eben Peck, the executive vice president of advocacy at the American Society of Travel Advisors, and Bill McGee, a consumer advocate who is now with the American Economic Liberties Project.

This episode was recorded Thursday Oct. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Related Travel Weekly reports: 

DOT's fee-disclosure plan is met with opposition: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/DOT-fees-disclosure-plan-met-with-widespread-opposition

Wheels up: The new airline dashboard is good. It could be better https://www.travelweekly.com/Robert-Silk/Digging-into-airlines-controllable-delay-loophole

At the DOT, ASTA lays out opposition to air-ticket refund plan https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/ASTA-talks-with-DOT-on-air-ticket-refunds

Airlines improve their services to customers impacted by cancellations: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Airlines-improve-services-for-delays-cancellations

DOT proposes giving flyers more opportunities to get a refund https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/DOT-proposed-rules-airline-refunds

DOT rulemaking dockets:

Air ticket refunds: https://www.regulations.gov/docket/DOT-OST-2022-0089

ASTA:

Update on state and federal campaigns: https://www.asta.org/advocacy/stateAndFederalCampaigns

American Economics Liberties Project:

DOT's effort to secure airline refunds is an important change for consumers: https://www.economicliberties.us/press-release/dot-effort-to-secure-airline-refunds-is-an-important-change-for-consumers/

Under the Biden Administration, the DOT has put out several proposals related to rules for airlines, passengers and travel advisors. Two of the biggest are about refunds and fee disclosures: In the first, when flyers should be entitled to refunds and in the second, when air ticket sellers – like travel agents -- should disclose fees like bags, change fees, and how much it would cost for families to sit together. And there are other rulemakings in the works, plus a new online dashboard on airline policies for delays and cancellations. In short, it seems like a lot is going on. But what does it mean, what do advocates think needs to be clarified in order for flyers and agents to truly benefit, and how can people get involved in the comment process before the DOT issues its final rulemaking?
Host Rebecca Tobin and Travel Weekly senior editor for aviation Robert Silk talk about these issues with Eben Peck, the executive vice president of advocacy at the American Society of Travel Advisors, and Bill McGee, a consumer advocate who is now with the American Economic Liberties Project.
This episode was recorded Thursday Oct. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related Travel Weekly reports: 
DOT's fee-disclosure plan is met with opposition: <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/DOT-fees-disclosure-plan-met-with-widespread-opposition">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/DOT-fees-disclosure-plan-met-with-widespread-opposition</a>
Wheels up: The new airline dashboard is good. It could be better <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Robert-Silk/Digging-into-airlines-controllable-delay-loophole">https://www.travelweekly.com/Robert-Silk/Digging-into-airlines-controllable-delay-loophole</a>
At the DOT, ASTA lays out opposition to air-ticket refund plan <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/ASTA-talks-with-DOT-on-air-ticket-refunds">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/ASTA-talks-with-DOT-on-air-ticket-refunds</a>
Airlines improve their services to customers impacted by cancellations: <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Airlines-improve-services-for-delays-cancellations">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Airlines-improve-services-for-delays-cancellations</a>
DOT proposes giving flyers more opportunities to get a refund <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/DOT-proposed-rules-airline-refunds">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/DOT-proposed-rules-airline-refunds</a>
DOT rulemaking dockets:
Air ticket refunds: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/DOT-OST-2022-0089">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/DOT-OST-2022-0089</a>
ASTA:
Update on state and federal campaigns: <a href="https://www.asta.org/advocacy/stateAndFederalCampaigns">https://www.asta.org/advocacy/stateAndFederalCampaigns</a>
American Economics Liberties Project:
DOT's effort to secure airline refunds is an important change for consumers: <a href="https://www.economicliberties.us/press-release/dot-effort-to-secure-airline-refunds-is-an-important-change-for-consumers/">https://www.economicliberties.us/press-release/dot-effort-to-secure-airline-refunds-is-an-important-change-for-consumers/</a>

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they’ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they&rsquo;ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Hosted by Rebecca Tobin, managing editor of Travel Weekly

The Folo by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week. 

In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about.  

You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do. 

Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week.&nbsp;
In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about. &nbsp;
You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do.&nbsp;
Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

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