NEW TRAVEL REGULATIONS GO INTO EFFECT THIS WEEK

 There are new DOT regulations that will go into effect this week that will help ensure that consumers are treated fairly when they travel by air, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently announced. Among the new guidelines are requirements that airlines and ticket agents include all mandatory taxes and fees in published airfares and that they disclose baggage fees to consumers buying tickets. Also beginning this week, passengers will be able to hold a reservation without payment, or cancel a booking without penalty, for 24 hours after the reservation is made, if they make the reservation one week or more prior to a flight’s departure date. In addition, airlines will be required to promptly notify passengers of flight delays of over 30 minutes, as well as flight cancellations and diversions, and they will generally be prohibited from increasing the price of passengers’ ticket after it is bought. The new rules also will make it easier for passengers to determine the full price they will have to pay for air transportation prior to travel, DOT said. (TravelAgentCentral.com, Jan. 24)

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