The amended FAA Reauthorization bill (H.R. 3935) approved by the Senate in the late evening on May 9 failed to address a recent Department of Transportation (DOT) final rule that leaves travel agencies on the hook for providing airline refunds in cases where they are the merchant of record.  

ASTA notes that in both the regulation and the legislation, “ticket agents” were painted with a broad brushstroke, and not all ticket agents are created equal. The ability of a large online travel agency (OTA) to repay an airline refund is vastly different from a third-generation retail travel agency.  

Travel advisors will meet with lawmakers this September for ASTA’s annual Legislative Day. This will be the first item on the agenda in those congressional meetings. Travel advisors will want to know how their lawmakers plan to address this significant oversight.

ASTA extends its appreciation to Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who introduced an amendment restoring the original language included in the House version of the bill that would have placed the refund obligation on the party holding the funds. Unfortunately, Senate leadership failed to provide an opportunity to consider amendments