399.80—Unfair and deceptive practices of ticket agents.
It is the policy of the Board to regard any of the following enumerated practices (among others) by a ticket agent as an unfair or deceptive practice or unfair method of competition:
(a)
Misrepresentations 1 which may induce members of the public to believe that the ticket agent is an air carrier.
Code of Federal Regulations
Footnote(s): 1 The word “misrepresentation” used in this list includes any statement or representation made in advertising or made orally to members of the public which is false, fraudulent, deceptive or misleading, or which has the tendency or capacity to deceive or mislead.
(b)
Using or displaying or permitting or suffering to be used or displayed the name, trade name, slogan or any abbreviation thereof, of the ticket agent, in advertisements, on or in places of business, or on aircraft in connection with the name of an air carrier with whom it does business, in such manner that it may mislead or confuse the traveling public with respect to the agency status of the ticket agent.
(c)
Misrepresentations as to the quality or kind of service, type or size of aircraft, time of departure or arrival, points served, route to be flown, stops to be made, or total trip-time from point of departure to destination.
(d)
Misrepresentation as to qualifications of pilots or safety record or certification of pilots, aircraft or air carriers.
(e)
Misrepresentations that passengers are directly insured when they are not so insured; for example, where the only insurance in force is that protecting the air carrier in event of liability.
(f)
Misrepresentations as to fares and charges for air transportation or services in connection therewith.
(g)
Misrepresentation that special discounts or reductions are available, when such discounts or reductions are not specific in the lawful tariffs of the air carrier which is to perform the transportation.
(h)
Advertising or otherwise offering for sale or selling air transportation or services in connection therewith at less than the rates, fares and charges specified in the currently effective tariffs of the air carrier or air carriers who are engaged to perform such air transportation or services, or offering or giving rebates or other concessions thereon, or assisting, suffering or permitting persons to obtain such air transportation or services at less than such lawful rates, fares and charges.
(i)
Misrepresentations that special priorities for reservations are available when such special considerations are not in fact granted to members of the public generally.
(j)
Selling air transportation to persons on a reservation or charter basis for specified space, flight, or time, or representing that such definite reservation or charter is or will be available or has been arranged, without a binding commitment with an air carrier for the furnishing of such definite reservation or charter as represented or sold.
(k)
Selling or issuing tickets or other documents to passengers to be exchanged or used for air transportation knowing or having reason to know or believe that such tickets or other documents will not be or cannot be legally honored by air carriers for air transportation.
(l)
Failing or refusing to make proper refunds promptly when service cannot be performed as contracted or representing that such refunds are obtainable only at some other point, thus depriving persons of the immediate use of the money to arrange other transportation, or forcing them to suffer unnecessary inconveniences and delays or requiring them to accept transportation at higher cost, or under less desirable circumstances, or on less desirable aircraft than that represented at the time of sale.
(m)
Misrepresentations regarding the handling, forwarding or routing of baggage or other property, or the loss or tracing thereof, or failing or refusing to honor proper claims for loss of or damage to baggage or other property.
(n)
Misrepresentation as to the requirements that must be met by persons or organizations in order to qualify for charter or group fare flights.