Consumers Cautioned on Super Bowl Air Travel Ticket Scams

DOT 8-02
Tuesday, January 22, 2002
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel.: (202) 366-5571

Consumers Cautioned on Super Bowl Air Travel Ticket Scams

Air travelers going to Super Bowl XXXVI this year should be aware that not all tour packages include a ticket to the Feb. 3 game in New Orleans.

U.S. Department of Transportation consumer protection rules require that an operator marketing a Super Bowl air package that is promoted as including game tickets must have the tickets in hand or have a written contract for the tickets before the operator does any advertising.

The department today cautioned travelers that if a game ticket is not specifically mentioned in newspaper advertisements or other solicitation material or listed as a tour feature, the ticket is probably not included.

The department's Aviation Consumer Protection Division says that in the past some advertisements for Super Bowl travel packages did not appear to include game tickets. If such an advertisement does not state whether or not a game ticket is included, consumers should ask about it. If a travel agent or other tour representative states that a game ticket is included, the consumer should require at the time of purchase that the game ticket be presented or a written confirmation of the ticket be provided.

Starting in December 1994, the rules covering Super Bowl tours were extended to all air tours organized for the purpose of attending any sporting, social, religious, educational, cultural, political or other event of a special nature and limited duration, and for which admission to the event is advertised as part of the tour. These "Truth in Ticketing" rules cover air tours to college bowl games, among other events.

The department's Aviation Consumer Protection Division has been monitoring Super Bowl activities covered by these rules, as well as issuing consumer advisories, for over a decade. As a result, there has been little evidence of misrepresentation by Super Bowl tour operators in recent years concerning the availability and inclusion in the tour package of game tickets or other features.

· Consider paying by credit card, where possible, which provides some degree of protection under fair credit practice laws.

The department’s “Truth in Ticketing” rules state that if a tour is supposed to include a game ticket and you do not receive one, you are entitled to a full refund of the entire package price when you return. If the tour operator increases your price by more than 10 percent beyond what you originally agreed to pay, you have the right to cancel and receive a full refund. No price increases are permitted during the last ten days before departure.

Additional consumer protections apply to Super Bowl packages involving public charter flights:

· If the operator makes a major change in the tour -- such as changing the flight's departure or arrival city for either the departure or return date, or substituting a hotel not named in the solicitation material or the operator-participant contract -- you can cancel and get a full refund.

· Less than 10 days before departure, a Super Bowl charter tour may not be canceled except for causes that make it physically impossible to operate it.

· On a public charter, you are required to sign and are entitled to have a copy of a detailed operator-participant contract.

Scheduled and charter flights have check-in time limits. Consumers are advised to arrive well ahead of the scheduled time. DOT advises passengers to consult with their travel agents, charter operator or airline for the actual check-in deadlines.