While cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages continue to be available, airlines have notified the Department of Transportation (DOT) that they need more time to comply with the new airline consumer protection rules that were released two months ago.
U.S. and foreign airlines claim that the DOTs new rules are so far-reaching and complex that it is not feasible to reprogram their systems and retrain their employees in time to satisfy published compliances dates. Most rules are set to go into effect on August 23rd, with the new price advertising rule being effective as of October 24th.
The airlines argue that it is not possible at this time for them to comply with the directive that the luggage policies and fees of the marketing airline govern the entire itinerary of codeshare flights. Their position is that in almost all cases their airport check-in systems are not capable of searching for and applying the baggage policies of their own codeshare partners.
One of the airline industrys major concerns is that the DOT has enacted a double standard in regard to the type of advice that passengers should receive regarding luggage fees.
All direct bookings airlines will be required to include in the e-ticket confirmation the specific baggage allowances and fees that apply to that specific itinerary. Bookings made through online travel companies or other distribution channels will only have to include a hyperlink on the e-ticket confirmation which will take customers to a page on the airlines website containing a general explanation of its baggage fees and policies. www.cheapfares.com