New Interline Baggage Rules for Canada

Information for Ticket Sellers

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Canadian Transportation Agency- Our Role

• The Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) is an independent administrative body of the Government of Canada with a multi-modal mandate. It performs two key functions within the federal transportation system:

As a quasi-judicial tribunal, the Agency resolves a range of commercial and consumer transportation-related disputes. It operates like a court when adjudicating disputes.

As an economic regulator, the Agency makes determinations and issues authorities, licences and permits to transportation carriers under federal jurisdiction.

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The Agency's Approach to Interline Baggage Rules

On April 16, 2014, the Agency issued Decision No. 144-A-2014 respecting interline baggage rules for Canada. Subsequently, the Agency issued Order No. 2014-A-158 which extends the implementation date.

Accordingly, for international itineraries involving multiple air carriers, to, from and within Canada, purchased on a single ticket issued on or after April 1, 2015, the Agency determined that carriers should:

1.apply a single set of baggage rules to the entire itinerary; and2.disclose the applicable baggage rules on the itinerary receipt or e-ticket.

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The Agency's Approach to Interline Baggage Rules (Cont'd)

In support of Decision No. 144-A-2014 , the Agency has issued an Interpretation Note- To provide guidance on how the industry is to align with the Agency's decision.

•The purpose of the Agency's Interpretation Note is to clarify to ticket sellers and air carriers and inform the travelling public how baggage rules should be applied for both checked and unchecked baggage and how ticket sellers and air carriers should disclose the applicable baggage rules to passengers.

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Guiding Principles of the Agency's Approach to Interline Baggage Rules

The Agency's approach is guided by two fundamental principles:

1.a seamless and transparent baggage regime for passengers;passengers should have a seamless travel experience throughout their interline itinerary issued on a single ticket;passengers should be informed of which carrier’s baggage rules apply to their interline itinerary.

•a harmonized and practical regime for industry;the Canadian approach should avoid imposing unique requirements that conflict with other jurisdictions and particularly within the North American context;the Canadian approach should take into account the operational challenges faced by the industry and not impose unnecessary burdens.

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How Baggage Rules Should Be Applied

International Itineraries:•Air carriers should for interline transportation where the origin or ultimate ticketed destination is a point in Canada and where such transportation has been issued on a single ticket, apply a single set of baggage rules throughout a passenger's interline itinerary, regardless of stopovers.

•The methodology for selecting which carrier's baggage rules would apply to an international interline itinerary has been described in the Agency's Interpretation Note

Domestic Itineraries:•For interline itineraries of Canadian domestic carriers involving travel taking place wholly within Canada, the domestic carrier whose designator code is identified on the first flight segment of the passenger's interline ticket (i.e., the selecting carrier) is expected to select and apply its own baggage rules to the entire interline itinerary. All downline carriers are expected to also apply those rules to their respective services.

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Disclosure of Baggage Rules

Baggage rules should be disclosed to passengers:

•On any summary page at the end of an online purchase •On E-tickets or itinerary receipt•On a carrier's website

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Disclosure - Role of Ticket Sellers

• A ticket seller is any person that sells air transportation and issues tickets on behalf of a carrier.

• A ticket seller is directly involved in disclosing baggage rules to passengers based on the Agency's Approach.

• Carriers should ensure that ticket sellers have sufficient information by giving them access to the necessary tools and support in order that they may disclose to passengers the baggage rules applicable to their journey.

• Carriers should ensure that their ticket sellers are provided specific baggage information (i.e., the carrier whose baggage fees/rules apply) on the e-ticket confirmation.

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Disclosure on e-Tickets

Ticket sellers or the ticketing carrier should advise passengers of baggage rules provisions related to:

• a passenger's 1st and 2nd checked bag;

and,• a passenger's carry-on baggage

(" the passenger's standard baggage allowance")

This information should be disclosed on any summary page at the end of an online purchase and on e-ticket confirmations when that ticket has been issued in Canada.

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Disclosure on e-Tickets (Cont'd)

The information appearing on the online summary page and the passenger's e-ticket should include:

a)the name of the carrier whose baggage rules apply;

b)the passenger's free baggage allowance and/or applicable fees;

c)the size and weight limits of baggage, if applicable;

d)the terms or conditions that would alter or impact a passenger's standard baggage allowances and charges (e.g. frequent flyer status, early check-in, pre-purchasing baggage allowances with a particular credit card);

e)the existence of any embargoes or restrictions that may be applicable to the passenger's itinerary; and,

f)the application of baggage allowances and charges (i.e., whether they are applied once per direction or if they are applicable at each stopover point).

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Disclosure on e-Tickets Carrier vs Ticket Seller

ExpectationsDisclosure expectations differ slightly with respect to how much specific information must be conveyed to the passenger on the e-ticket depending on whether a carrier or a ticket seller is issuing a passenger ticket.CarriersThe Agency expects all carriers to disclose on e-tickets the standard baggage allowances and charges are applicable to the passenger for the 1st and 2nd pieces of checked baggage and carry-on baggage.

Carriers are also expected to disclose any specific information about all of the factors (e.g. Flyer-specific factors: e.g. Frequent flyer status, military status, early purchase discounts over the internet etc.) that may cause the fee for the first and second checked bag and carry-on baggage to vary so that the passenger can determine for themselves the fees that would apply. This information must be stated clearly in text format on the e-ticket.

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Disclosure on e-Tickets Carrier vs Ticket Seller

ExpectationsTickets SellersTicket sellers should, at a minimum, disclose on the passenger’s e-ticket the standard baggage allowance and charges applicable to the passenger for the 1st and 2nd piece of checked baggage and carry-on baggage.

However, with respect to the providing the consumer specific information about all of the factors that may cause the fees with respect to the 1st and 2nd piece of checked baggage and carry-on to vary, ticket sellers have the option to provide the consumer with this information, on both the summary page and the e-ticket, either in text format or through a hyperlink to a specific location on the carrier’s website or the ticket seller’s own website where the information is displayed.

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Disclosure on Carrier's Website• Disclosure of all of a carrier's baggage rules information on its Web site provides a

means for consumers, ticket sellers and other air carriers to verify the applicable interline itinerary baggage rules.

• Carriers should disclose on their Web sites, in a convenient and prominent location, a complete and a comprehensive summary of all of their baggage rules. This information includes not only those baggage allowances and charges related to a passenger's "standard" baggage allowance, but also any other baggage rule information that a carrier may apply beyond its "standard" baggage allowance and charges provisions.

• Ticket sellers may offer hyperlinks to carriers' baggage rules information via their own Web sites or via their customers' e-tickets to ensure that passengers have access to all of the details regarding the applicable carrier's baggage rules.

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Implementation of the Agency's Approach

To enable implementation of the Agency's approach:

•Carriers and ticket sellers have been encouraged to use any automated baggage rules systems (e.g. databases, global distribution systems (GDS), web pages, etc.) that enable them to publish and disclose all baggage provisions, excess and special items, embargoes, and carry-on allowances and fees in all sales and distribution channels.

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Education and Compliance

• Carriers are expected to apply the Agency's Interline Baggage Rules for Canada to all tickets issued on and after April 1st, 2015.

• Agency staff is willing to work with air carriers and industry stakeholders to foster understanding of the Agency's expectations.

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