DOT Fines United for Failure to Disclose Code-Sharing
Jul 9, 2009, 2:51 pm
#1
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DOT Fines United for Failure to Disclose Code-Sharing
DOT Fines United for Failure to Disclose Code-Sharing
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today assessed a civil penalty against United Airlines for failing to disclose to consumers when flights sold by the carrier were being operated under a code-sharing arrangement.
When consumers buy an airline ticket, they have a right to know which airline will be operating their flight, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. We will continue to ensure that carriers are complying with the code-sharing rules.
United was ordered to cease and desist from further violations and assessed a civil penalty of $80,000.
Under code-sharing, a carrier will sell tickets on flights that use its designator code but are operated by a separate airline. DOT rules require airlines to disclose to consumers, before they book a flight, if the flight is operated under a code-sharing arrangement. The disclosure must include the corporate name of the transporting carrier and any other name under which the flight is offered to the public.
The Departments Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings made a number of telephone calls to Uniteds reservations line this past January to determine if the carriers employees were advising consumers of code-sharing arrangements as required by the regulations. The Enforcement Office found that Uniteds reservations agents failed to disclose code-sharing during a substantial number of those calls.
The consent order is available on the Internet at www.regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2009-0001.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today assessed a civil penalty against United Airlines for failing to disclose to consumers when flights sold by the carrier were being operated under a code-sharing arrangement.
When consumers buy an airline ticket, they have a right to know which airline will be operating their flight, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. We will continue to ensure that carriers are complying with the code-sharing rules.
United was ordered to cease and desist from further violations and assessed a civil penalty of $80,000.
Under code-sharing, a carrier will sell tickets on flights that use its designator code but are operated by a separate airline. DOT rules require airlines to disclose to consumers, before they book a flight, if the flight is operated under a code-sharing arrangement. The disclosure must include the corporate name of the transporting carrier and any other name under which the flight is offered to the public.
The Departments Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings made a number of telephone calls to Uniteds reservations line this past January to determine if the carriers employees were advising consumers of code-sharing arrangements as required by the regulations. The Enforcement Office found that Uniteds reservations agents failed to disclose code-sharing during a substantial number of those calls.
The consent order is available on the Internet at www.regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2009-0001.
Jul 9, 2009, 2:53 pm
#2
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Jul 9, 2009, 2:53 pm
#3
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The Departments Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings made a number of telephone calls to Uniteds reservations line this past January to determine if the carriers employees were advising consumers of code-sharing arrangements as required by the regulations. The Enforcement Office found that Uniteds reservations agents failed to disclose code-sharing during a substantial number of those calls.
Jul 9, 2009, 2:57 pm
#4
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nice find...there are two times that i can remember booking last minute tickets and being put on codeshares. the worst part is that i got middle seats both times it happened. boo!
Jul 9, 2009, 2:58 pm
#5
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Quite frankly I'm sorta surprised by this. When booking online it is very easy to see. And when a person reaches the ICC (presumably where the non-status enforcement office reached) they typically read back every boring detail of the itinerary at least once during the call.
Jul 9, 2009, 3:03 pm
#6
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Jul 9, 2009, 3:08 pm
#7
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I have a flight right now on Skywest and it says nothing about it being on Skywest (seems like an online glitch).
Jul 9, 2009, 3:09 pm
#8
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So, what DOT is saying is that travelers who flew a UA codeshare flight during the DEQM/TEQM period should get the extra EQM for codeshare flights. :-)
Jul 9, 2009, 3:37 pm
#11
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Quite frankly I'm sorta surprised by this. When booking online it is very easy to see. And when a person reaches the ICC (presumably where the non-status enforcement office reached) they typically read back every boring detail of the itinerary at least once during the call.
Jul 9, 2009, 3:50 pm
#12
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the rule needs to be changed.
Jul 9, 2009, 3:51 pm
#13
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Jul 9, 2009, 3:52 pm
#14
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I wonder which routes ere they not disclosing.
Jul 9, 2009, 3:52 pm
#15
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