Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

07 August 2012, Washington, DC

Aviation Consumer Pr

©2012 Association of Retail Travel Agents

All Rights Reserved. Tous droits réservés. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

The Travel Agency Perspective

Presented by

Bruce Bishins, CTC

Managing Director

Association of Retail Travel Agents

Second Meeting

Washington, DC

07 August 2012

“ARTA's mandate is to assure a balanced approach

leading to consumer protection which makes good sen
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

07 August 2012, Washington, DC

Dis

The opinions and conceexpressed in this presenare solely and exclusiveof ARTA and are not inteto represent the views opolicies of other parties
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

07 August 2012, Washington, DC

ARTA Co

ARTA members are co

 that DOT will adopt min

customer-service standto the sales by travel agtransportation and the dtrade practices including commissions;

 that travel agents will be 

accountable by the DOT data or display fault lies beyond the agents' cont

 that the DOT will regula

other functionality that acommercial negotiations airlines and third party ttechnology providers, in
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

07 August 2012, Washington, DC

Ancillary Distr

 ARTA Members do not 

DOT to promulgate reguwhat content and functishould be in the GDSs.

 Airlines and GDSs (just 

travel technology providthemselves comes to teof commercial negotiatio

 ARTA Members do not 

terms mandated by the could impact their controbligations which may pGDSs to charge increassubscribers.

 Let the marketplace dic

content is available for sfunctionality.
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

07 August 2012, Washington, DC

Consequences of Co

 Not all content is in 

“The supplier payfreight; you get to 

 Huge content gaps 

missing for small olow cost carriers, ARC/BSP, and nicproducts.

 Blended displays 

(t

party content

) are 

restricted in many giving rise to distorsupply and invento

 Surprisingly, most 

contracts have sim

terms, incentives, 

clawbacks, and res

They even share dsegment performa
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

07 August 2012, Washington, DC

Confused? So 

“DOT this week announced that it fined online travel agency Travelocity $180,00the rule on full-fare advertising that went into effect last January. Travelocity faifuel surcharges and other fees in advertised airfares, DOT said. Under its price “carriers and ticket agents must show the total price, including all government every advertised fare. The rules apply to travel agents as well as airlines,” DOT statement announcing the Travelocity fine.”

Travel Weekly, 31 July 2012 

If Travelocity, owned by Saget its own consumer bookin order, how would the untechnology and programmreliable for the GDS sectorappear to ARTA that Sabre back in the drawing board concentrate on the basics tackling ancillaries. 
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

07 August 2012, Washington, DC

Department of 

 ARTA is conc

with parallel eby the DOJ to assess the Gsector.

 ARTA is conc

about GDS’ willingness to strategic inforwith one anot

 ARTA is conc

by the Sabre/deal.
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

07 August 2012, Washington, DC

Than

Bruce Bishins, CTC

Association of Retail Travel Agents

ARTA

Scottsdale, Arizona

www.arta.travel

bbishins@arta.travel