ASTA's position is clear: travel agencies should not have to pay for air ticket refunds if they do not possess the funds.
However, the DOT in late April finalized regulations to broaden circumstances in which air passengers have a right to a ticket refund, and requiring ticket agents who are the merchant of record to pay refunds was a part of the new rules.
While the FAA reauthorization bill does partially address the issue to ASTA's satisfaction, ASTA wants that bill amended to ensure agencies are never on the hook for refunds when they don't possess the funds.
Now, the Society is calling on travel advisors to push lawmakers to support an amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill that would do just that. The amendment is from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
Advisors can use ASTA's online grassroots portal to send a message to legislators and use the phone script ASTA has drafted to call lawmakers. The Society encouraged advisors to personalize its scripts with their own experiences.
The call to contact lawmakers is particularly being directed at advisors in Washington, Illinois, Kansas, Texas and New York, ASTA said. Those states' representatives will make final decisions on the bill and the amendment process.
ASTA said the call to action is urgent.
"The amendment process and timeline are largely unknown at this point; therefore, it is even more vital that ASTA members show strong support for this amendment," the Society said in an advocacy alert.