CONSUMER PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO LARGE TICKET AGENTS.

SEC. 427. [49 U.S.C. 42301 note] CONSUMER PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO LARGE TICKET AGENTS. (a) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue a final rule to require large ticket agents to adopt minimum customer service standards. (b) Purpose.—The purpose of the final rule shall be to ensure that, to the extent feasible, there is a consistent level of consumer protection regardless of where consumers purchase air fares and related air transportation services. (c) Standards.—In issuing the final rule, the Secretary shall consider, to the extent feasible, establishing standards consistent with all customer service and disclosure requirements applicable to covered air carriers under this title and associated regulations. (d) Definitions.—In this section, the following definitions apply: (1) Ticket agent.— (A) In general.—Subject to subparagraph (B), the term “ticket agent” has the meaning given that term in section 40102(a) of title 49, United States Code. (B) Inclusion.—The term “ticket agent” includes a person who acts as an intermediary involved in the sale of air transportation directly or indirectly to consumers, including by operating an electronic airline information system, if the person— (i) holds the person out as a source of information about, or reservations for, the air transportation industry; and (ii) receives compensation in any way related to the sale of air transportation. (2) Large ticket agent.—The term “large ticket agent” means a ticket agent with annual revenues of $100,000,000 or more. (e) Enforcement.—No large ticket agent may be found in noncompliance of any standard or requirement adopted in the final rule required by this section if— (1) the large ticket agent is unable to meet the new standard or requirement due to the lack of information or data from the covered air carrier and the information is required for the large ticket agent to comply with such standard or requirement; or (2) the sale of air transportation is made by a large ticket agent pursuant to a specific corporate or government fare management contract.