ACTA Successful in Extending Interline Baggage Rules Compliance Deadline

Dear Members,

On April 16, 2014 the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) passed legislation to harmonize interline baggage rules with the US DOT. The new Canadian legislation forces air carriers to provide specific information to the consumer about all of the factors that may cause the fee for a carry-on bag and the first/second checked bag to vary. (Frequent flyer status, military status, early purchase discounts over the internet etc.) This is so the passenger can determine for themselves the fees that would apply.

This new information must be included in addition to indicating what the standard baggage allowances and charges are applicable to the passenger for the 1st and 2nd pieces of checked baggage and carry-on baggage. Under the new legislation this information must appear on the summary page at the end of an online purchase on the carrier's website and must also appear on a passenger’s e-ticket issued by the carrier. At the time this decision was passed the CTA stated that it expected carriers to apply this approach for transportation to, from and within Canada for tickets purchased on and after October 1, 2014.

With a strict deadline pending ACTA, as a contributing stakeholder with CTA on industry related matters and Travel Tech members (Sabre, Amadeus & Travelport) aligned to ask for an extension of the initial deadline due to the fact that the changes were technical in nature and that the timelines were to aggressive to complete the software development required to comply.

We are extremely pleased to report that on August 26 2014, after hearing our arguments, the CTA extended the deadline to April 1, 2015 stating, " As various industry stakeholders filed submissions related to the implementation date and in order to provide air carriers sufficient time to make the significant changes required to their systems, the Agency issued Order No. 2014-A-158 (https://www.otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/ruling/2014-a-158) which extends the implementation date."

I am very pleased with this ruling and want to thank the CTA for considering the concerns of the stakeholders and extending the deadline.

Our good friend and partner Bruce Charendoff, Senior Vice President, Government & External Affairs for Sabre added that ""Harmonizing Canadian and U.S. interline baggage rules was a sensible regulatory policy welcomed by the industry.  However, the Canadian Transportation Agency's overly ambitious timetable could have caused significant difficulties for airlines, GDS's and Canadian travel agents.

ACTA played a lead role in making the case to the CTA that a reasonable amount of extra time was needed to insure orderly implementation of the rules.  ACTA's team, led by Dave McCaig and Heather Craig-Peddie, was instrumental in achieving a successful outcome.  Once again, ACTA proved that it is an outstanding partner on important advocacy initiatives in Canada and throughout the world."

Thank you Bruce, and thank you members for your support. We are YOUR association and believe there is strength in numbers. Together we can make the positive changes for the sustainability and professionalism of ACTA members and their employees.

Sincerley,