DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS
OFFICE OF AIRLINE INFORMATION

ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING DIRECTIVE

No. 336

Issue Date: 03/17/2022
Part: 241
Section: 19

The Department of Transportation (DOT, or the Department) has received information from industry regarding fees it believes should not be included in the non-exhaustive list of carrier-imposed fees and charges that DOT considers part of the “total dollar value of ticket.”  Specifically, the Department has received feedback indicating that industry considers and treats frequent flyer reward redemption fees and unaccompanied minor fees as ancillary service fees secondary to a ticket purchase.  Airlines have stated that these fees are not included on the reported ticket, and airlines will need to update their systems to search separate databases to retrieve and report this information.  (See Docket OST 2018-0132-0019, A4A Supplemental Comments dated December 16, 2021).  

DOT published a proposed rule on January 19, 2021 (86 FR 5052), Updates to the Origin—Destination Survey of Airline Passengers (RIN 2105-AE45) and is considering the comments received on that proposed rule in determining how to proceed with any final rule.  DOT welcomes any additional feedback on the reporting of data elements included within the DOT interpretation of “total dollar value of ticket.” DOT will consider all comments in the ongoing rulemaking.  While DOT continues to consider its definition of “total dollar value of ticket,” as interpreted in the prior directive issued on October 7, 2021 and available at Number 335 - O and D Survey Definition of "Total Dollar Value of Ticket" | Bureau of Transportation Statistics (dot.gov), DOT recognizes the reporting difficulties asserted by the airlines; consequently, the airlines are not required to include frequent flyer reward redemption and unaccompanied minor fees in their reporting of “total dollar value of ticket.”

For questions or further clarification, please e-mail james.bouse@dot.gov. 

William Chadwick, Jr.
Director, Office of Airline Information