DOT fines US $70,000

Interesting read:

An investigation by the Aviation Consumer Protection Division (ACPD) of the Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings (Enforcement Office) revealed a significant lack of compliance by US Airways with section 257.5. In January and March 2009, Enforcement Office staff made a number of telephone calls to US Airways’ reservations line to determine if US Airways employees were advising consumers of the code-share status of US Airways flights operated by other carriers as required by section 257.5(B). The US Airways reservations agents answering those calls failed to disclose the code-share status of the flights in question during a substantial number of those calls.
2
In mitigation, US Airways states that it takes seriously its section 257.5(B) obligations, and continually trains its reservations agents to make all required code-share disclosures. US Airways further asserts that refunds and no-fee exchanges are available to any US Airways customer who elects not to take a flight because it is a code-share. US Airways states that it has implemented a “zero-toleranceâ€￾ policy for code-share disclosures during monthly quality review call evaluations, with progressive discipline for agents failing to make required disclosures.
We view seriously the failure of US Airways, Inc., to disclose code-sharing arrangements as required by 14 CFR Part 257. Accordingly, after carefully considering all of the facts in this case, including those set forth above, the Enforcement Office believes that enforcement action is warranted. In order to avoid litigation, US Airways, Inc., agrees to the issuance of this order to cease and desist from future similar violations of Part 257 and 49 U.S.C. § 41712 and to the assessment of $70,000 in compromise of potential civil penalties otherwise assessable against it. We believe that this compromise assessment is appropriate in view of the nature and extent of the violations in question, serves the public interest, and provides a strong incentive to all airlines to comply with the Department’s code-share disclosure rule.
 
Gee maybe if QIK/SHARES actually made the codeshare info a little more prominent, say on the first screen like Sabre did, there wouldn't such a problem. Sabre also printed the codeshare info "operated by XYZ Airlines" on the boarding passes.
 
Maybe the phrase Code Share has no translation into Guatamalan.
 
In addition to US, HA was fined $50k for a related violation and CO was fined $75k for violating full-fare advertising requirements
 
70K get their attention?

LOL, that is what they pay for the exclusive fitness club that they go to. My gawd people i am suprised that they even answered the phones... Now the next huge thing will be some announcement to all the employees that " specific items" need to be addressed. If they only knew what they thought they knew US would be #1 there is no question. Abbott & Costello ride into the sunset fit as ever