WASHINGTON -- In a lobbying effort organized by ASTA and Sabre,
dozens of agents from at least eight states descended on Capitol
Hill Thursday to urge lawmakers to push for immediate deregulation
of the GDS industry.
The agents are opposing the DOT's proposal for new GDS rules,
part of which would prohibit productivity pricing. Also, the effect
of other rules changes would give airlines more bargaining power
with the GDSs.
The agents came to the Hill backed by a pro-deregulation
petition signed by more than 3,000 of their colleagues. It was sent
to President Bush the same day.
The agents also enlisted the support of the National Business
Travel Association, a consumer coalition called Travelers First,
the Competitive Enterprise Institute and Reps. Sue Kelly and John
Sweeney (both R-N.Y.), who spoke at a midday rally in a room at the
House's Rayburn office building.
The DOT's most recent projection is that it will turn its
proposed final rule over to the Office of Management and Budget for
review by Oct. 19. The OMB has to approve it before the DOT can
publish a final rule, which it plans to do by Jan. 30, the day
before the current regulations are scheduled to expire.
If the agents and groups rallying and lobbying on Capitol Hill
have their way, the DOT will decide expiration of the rules is the
best option.
Firing up the troops at the 1 p.m. rally, Terry McCabe,
president of Stratton Travel Management in Oakland, N.J., called
the DOT's proposed rules "out of touch, paternalistic and
counterproductive."
"Let consumers decide who wins and loses in the marketplace, not
the Department of Transportation," she said. "All that seems to
matter to the DOT with this rulemaking is shifting money back to
the airlines."
Sabre said 78 agents came to the day's events, although not all
of them were present for the 1 p.m. rally. They came from all over
the Eastern seaboard, from as far south as Miami and as far north
as Boston.
ASTA urged agents to continue their efforts after the return
home, providing water bottles with a deletion symbol over the words
"D.O.T. CRS RULES" The bottle contains a slip of paper with the
wording of the agent petition on one side, and bullet points on the
other side explaining agent opposition to the DOT's proposal.
ASTA asked agents to send the water bottles to travel writers
and publishers at their local newspapers.
To contact reporter Andrew Compart, send e-mail to [email protected].