TFI Tours International, Ltd.

Order 04-2-5
OST-04-16943 - Violations of 49 USC 41712 and 14 CFR 399.84

Consent Order | Word

TFI failed to properly disclose the full fare, including its service fee, where applicable, for airfares advertised on its website. TFI advertised via a search feature that displayed airfares, but failed to include in the advertised fares an additional service fee that was added to certain fares, or to comply with the conditions set forth in Order 2001-12-7. TFI customers were not informed until several steps into the booking process that a service fee would be added to the advertised fare. In addition, TFI failed to properly disclose the taxes and fees for airfares advertised on its website. The TFI search results display did indicate that taxes and fees were not included in the airfares displayed to consumers; however, it did not state the amount of the taxes and fees that may properly be separately stated (such as segment fees, Passenger Facility Charges, the September 11th Security Fee and, for international destinations, additional government-imposed taxes and fees). It was not until several steps into the booking process that TFI disclosed the full fare, including all taxes and fees, to a consumer.

TFI, in order to avoid litigation and without admitting or denying the alleged violations, consents to the issuance of this order to cease and desist from future violations of 49 U.S.C. § 41712 and of 14 CFR 399.84, and to the assessment of $40,000 in compromise of potential civil penalties, of which $10,000 shall be paid in accordance with the schedule set forth below and $10,000 shall be offset for past expenditures to improve future compliance.

By: Rosalind Knapp