December 15, 2010

President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

On behalf of the 64,000 consumers who this fall signed a petition to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, conveying how deeply concerned they are about the problem of hidden airline fees, we write to applaud you and the Secretary for your extraordinary leadership in support of airline consumers. In the view of the American Society of Travel Agents, Business Travel Coalition and Consumer Travel Alliance, you are overseeing perhaps the first consumer-centered Transportation Department in the history of commercial aviation.

We strongly support Secretary LaHood’s efforts to require airlines to make their fees fully and easily accessible to both consumers and intermediaries in the travel industry so that travelers can compare prices and know in advance how much their trips will cost. Leisure and business travelers alike are too often surprised to find hidden fees, adding up to billions of dollars, that can sometimes double the cost of an airfare upon arrival at the airport or upon completion of their travel purchase. This situation is ruining vacations and undermining business travel management processes.

Just as the Transportation Department has required of airlines full disclosure on other issues critical to consumers, it should require airlines to make all of their ancillary fee information, such as checked bag fees, easily accessible through online and offline travel agencies via the major reservations systems that power those ticketing systems. This will give consumers more information and better choices, allowing them to comparison shop among airlines by both cost and services offered to find the best air travel options.

Mr. President, families trying to get home for the holidays during these extraordinarily difficult economic times are getting a very unwelcome present at the airport wrapped in hundreds of dollars in hidden fees. We strongly encourage you to affirm your commitment to airline consumers and unequivocally support a Transportation Department rule that will eliminate the increasing financial burden inflicted upon consumers each and every additional day they are surprised at the airport by hidden airline fees.

Sincerely,

Paul Ruden, Senior Vice President Legal & Industry Affairs, American Society of Travel Agents, Inc.
Kevin Mitchell, Chairman, Business Travel Coalition
Charlie Leocha, Director, Consumer Travel Alliance