Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

28 June 2012, Washington, DC

Aviation Consumer Pro

©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

Washington, DC

28 June 2012

“ARTA's mandate is to assure a balanced approach

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

28 June 2012, Washington, DC

Disc

The opinions and concepexpressed in this presenare solely and exclusivelof ARTA and are not inteto represent the views or policies of other parties.
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

28 June 2012, Washington, DC

A Balanced Ap

ARTA very much suprotecting consumeaviation matters and general. What is key successfully deploysupport means praccommon-sense induimplementation. As agents of the airlineagents of consumerown right, any regulregime imposed on must have roots basfairness, practicalityabove all, commerc
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

28 June 2012, Washington, DC

ARTA Co

ARTA members are conce

 that DOT will adopt minim

customer-service standato the sales by travel agetransportation and the ditrade practices including commissions;

 that travel agents will be 

accountable by the DOT data or display fault lies wbeyond the agents' contr

 that the DOT will regulate 

other functionality that arcommercial negotiations airlines and third party tratechnology providers, inc
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

28 June 2012, Washington, DC

Customer Service Sta

 There isn’t a shred of do

evidence to suggest thaagents do not provide ecustomer services.

 The methodology would 

complex to take into accmyriad of ways travel agair, book air, and providto consumers.

 Nothing could be more s

then disclosing the trade wholesale buying, incencommissions, and other from preferred suppliers not just in the travel inin all other forms of recommerce. 
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

28 June 2012, Washington, DC

Errors Caused by 

 The DOT regulates certa

facilities and functions amGDSs the portray and seservices.

 When it is known that a G

not followed a regulation on the airline industry, thshould be held accountacan be demonstrated thafault, not the airline.

 Travel agents do not hav

power to correct the GDSinformation in a GDS, or 

the GDSs mistakes.
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

28 June 2012, Washington, DC

The Ancillary Oppo

For the 67% of travel suppliers surveyed won 2010 revenues of $1 billion or more, thancillary revenues are expected to reprapproximately $25 million by 2015. For $560 billion global airline industry, that tra$16.2 billion in revenues coming from tof third-party ancillary revenues by 201

Source:
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

28 June 2012, Washington, DC

Ancillary Distr

 ARTA Members do not w

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

 Airlines and GDSs (just a

travel technology providethemselves comes to terof commercial negotiatio

 ARTA Members do not w

terms mandated by the Dcould impact their contraobligations which may pGDSs to charge increasesubscribers.

 Let the marketplace dicta

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

28 June 2012, Washington, DC

Truths About Ancillaries i

Amadeus

Galileo

Sabre

Worldspan

 So-called “com

shopping” wilpossible for min the GDS env

 The GDSs are 

adapt for prodand differentia

 GDS pricing is

enough to aggrprice paid the p

 Years of inact

real story.

 Agents want a 

solution makiand agent a w

24AUG-WE-1824 YYZYVR ** ** AC1 YYZ ALTERNATE XLQ YBZ YHM YTZ/YVR ALTERNATE CXH XEA1 #WS 683 Y7 E7 O7 V7 R7 B7 Q7 U7 YYZYVR-1845 2043 73W 0E2*A$NZ4725 C4 D4 Z4 J4 Y7 B7 M7 H7 YYZYVR-1800 1955 * 333 0E

NZ4725 INTL ONL CNX/STP TFC 

3*A#AC 137 J9 C9 D9 Z9 Y9 B9 M9 U9 YYZYVR-1800 1955 333 0E4*A#AC 149 J9 C9 D9 Z9 Y9 B9 M9 U9 YYZYVR-1900 2058 321 0E5 #WS 713 Y7 E7 O7 V7 R7 B7 Q7 U7 YYZYVR-1730 1928 737 0E6*A#AC 115 J9 C9 D9 Z9 Y9 B9 M9 U9 YYZYVR-1700 1858 763 0E7*A$NZ4771 C4 D4 Z4 J4 Y7 B7 M7 H7 YYZYVR-1700 1858 * 763 0E

NZ4771 INTL ONL CNX/STP TFC 

8*A$NZ4777 C4 D4 Z4 J4 Y7 B7 M7 H7 YYZYVR-2015 2205 * 77L 0E

NZ4777 INTL ONL CNX/STP TFC 

9*A#AC 33 J9 C9 D9 Z9 Y9 B9 M9 U9 YYZYVR-2015 2205 77L 0E** MONEYSAVER FARES ** LOADED 19FEB 20:53EST/20FEB 01:53GMTYTOYVR NLX FARES FOR TRVL 20FEB11 AND TKTG 20FEB 

ADD TAXES

LN A/L F.B.C. CAD OW RT EFF LTK AP MIN/MAX

1 WS PCRO1 229.00 458.00 3JAN11 - ## - / -2 WS PCRP1 249.00 498.00 3JAN11 - ## - / -3 WS MCRO1 269.00 538.00 1FEB11 - ## - / -4 WS MCRP1 289.00 578.00 1FEB11 - ## - / -5 AC T7STPC 294.00 588.00 23APR11 16APR11 ## - / -6 AC T7ITPC 294.00 588.00 1FEB11 - ## - / -7 AC T7ITPC 294.00 588.00 6SEP11 - ## - / -8 AC T7ITPC 314.00 628.00 24JUN11 - ## - / -9 AC T7SJTPC 314.00 628.00 23APR11 16APR11 ## - / -
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

28 June 2012, Washington, DC

Ancillaries: Too Diverse for Co

Group 1 Boarding Expres

Seat Assignment
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

28 June 2012, Washington, DC

Open Allies 

What they say it’s about:

1. Transparency2. Comparative data3. Full Disclosure4. Ease of Use5. Consumers

What it’s really 

Giving GDSs a Free 
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

28 June 2012, Washington, DC

Open Allies and Co

Their case is so weak, they want Congress to make it fo
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

28 June 2012, Washington, DC

We Want Our Piece of 

 Ancillary sales a

huge opportun

travel agents;

 We want airline

share the pie w

 We can sell and 

upsell;

... but not at a cos

travel agents arunprepared to pand until fair prihas been negotwith the airlines
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection

28 June 2012, Washington, DC

Than

Bruce Bishins, CTC

Association of Retail Travel Agents

ARTA

Scottsdale, Arizona

www.arta.travel

bbishins@arta.travel