DOT Fines Agencies for Code-Share Rules Violations

The Department of Transportation (DOT) fined three travel agencies for violating its rules on disclosing code-share flights.

Liberty Travel was fined $100,000 and STA Travel and AAA Mid-Atlantic were each fined $40,000. DOT said the amount of the fines was based on the circumstances of each case.

These latest cases brings to four the number of DOT fines for code-sharing violations this year. The third fine for $60,000 was issued in May against JTB USA.

Right to know
The DOT said the fines are part of its ongoing effort to ensure compliance with its code-share disclosure rules.

 “When passengers buy an airline ticket, they have a right to know which airline will be operating their flight,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

“We will continue to make sure that all companies selling air transportation are transparent with consumers and comply with our code-share disclosure rules.”

Consumer complaints
The DOT said its enforcement action is based on both consumer complaints and its own investigations.

In these three most recent cases its Aviation Enforcement Office called several travel companies during January and February and asked about booking flights.

Reservations agents at all three companies failed to disclose that the flights were being operated under code-share agreements, the DOT said.

The agents identified only the name of the marketing airline and not the corporate name of the airline operating the flight—or any other name under which the flight was marketed.