ASTA is in favor of the Department of Transportation's proposal to relax the rules on fare displays.
The DOT last month proposed to ease the requirements for how airlines and ticket sellers (including travel agencies) display airfares.
Since 2012, advertised fares must show the full price as the most prominent figure, while any breakdowns, like the base fare or government taxes, cannot be displayed in the same size or larger font or more prominently than the total ticket price.
Under the proposed rule change, airlines and ticket sellers could show individual ticket components in the same font size and level of prominence as the total price. However, those individual components still cannot be displayed more prominently than the total price.
The DOT said the change would give advertisers more flexibility in displaying fares.
ASTA called the proposed changes "practical updates," so long as the total price is at least as prominent as any other charges shown separately, stating the change will make it easier for airlines and ticket sellers to comply with federal guidelines without making it harder for consumers to understand what they will pay.
"Travelers deserve to know the full price of an airline ticket from the outset, but the federal government does not need to dictate every formatting decision used to present that information," ASTA president and CEO Zane Kerby said, characterizing the proposed changes as "a sensible balance."
The DOT is also asking for feedback on repealing the entire rule for displaying fares, which ASTA is against. Full elimination could make it harder to comparison shop as well as result in inconsistent price displays, ASTA said.
Further, the DOT has proposed rescinding a number of airfare advertising guidance documents. ASTA is in favor of that, noting many of the documents address technology platforms and advertising practices no longer used.