DOT PUBLISHES GUIDANCE FOR UPCOMING COLLEGE BOWL SEASON
January 7, 2015
On December 15, 2014, DOT published the following guidance pertaining to the 2014-2015 college bowl season:
- Notice to Colleges and Universities Organizing Flights to College Bowl Games and Other Special Events
This particular notice provides guidance to colleges, universities, and similar organizations that may want to arrange charter flights to special events such as bowl games or the NCAA basketball playoffs. DOT seeks through its guidance to assist such organizations in avoiding: (1) unknowingly contracting with airlines that do not have economic authority from the Department and are not subject to FAA oversight; (2) reselling individual seats on charter flights without first complying with DOT Public Charter rules; and (3) using a Public Charter Operator or a charter broker that does not fully comply with DOT and FAA rules.
The relevant guidance is available at: https://cms.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/BowlGameGuidance2014_ORGANIZERS.pdf
- Notice to Consumers Purchasing Tickets to Special Events that Include Air Transportation
The Department’s second notice provides guidance to air travelers and other consumers that seek to purchase tickets to special events that are offered as part of a package that also includes air transportation. DOT regulations consider such packages to be “Special Event Tours.”
A Special Event Tour operator that offers a flight together with tickets to a special event must be in physical possession of the tickets being offered as part of the package or have a written contract for them. DOT encourages consumers to get their tickets ahead of time if possible or, alternatively, obtain written confirmation for the ticket at the time of purchase if a travel agent or other tour representative states that a ticket is included. Consumers may be entitled to a full refund if a tour operator does not have physical possession of the tickets or a written contract for the tickets at the time the tickets are sold.
The relevant guidance is available at: https://cms.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/BowlGameGuidance2014_consumers.pdf
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6622) or Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6665).