WASHINGTON -- ASTA urged ARC to eliminate its $150 annual fee per
agency location on the grounds that "since the airlines have
slashed commission levels below costs, asking travel agencies to
pay for selling airline seats is like rubbing salt in the wound."
The demand came as ARC management asked its airline-only board
to continue the fee at the same level in 2000. An ARC spokesman
said the corporation "takes pride" in having maintained the fee at
$150 since 1985 despite rising costs and new programs with
cost-saving technology for agents.