Required disclosure of airline baggage & other fees

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a notice to all airlines and travel agents regarding the disclosure of checked baggage fees. Effective immediately, DOT requires all airlines and travel agents to clearly disclose significant conditions applicable to airfares, and the airlines new baggage fees are considered a significant condition.

Therefore when you make an airline reservation the booking source is required to disclose first and second baggage fees to consumers when pricing an itinerary, and to provide notice of the fees in any and all advertising that we may do.

DOT also requires that reservation agents "disclose baggage charges and limitations", including the effective date, during telephone or face-to-face sales prior to completing the sale.

This disclosure notice applies to all sellers of air travel, storefront-brick & mortar agencies and on-line booking sources.

For some light reading and more information & guidance from the DOT's visit: http://www.dot.gov/affairs/aviation080516/baggagefeenotice.htm.