[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51547-51548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20371]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

[Docket Number: OST-95-177]


Notice of Request for Extension of a Previously Approved 
Collection

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public 
Law 104-13, this notice announces the Department of Transportation's 
(DOT) intention to request extension of a previously approved 
information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before November 
3, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit a comment (identified by DOT Docket Number 
OST-95-177) by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://regulations.gov. Follow the instructions 
for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building, Room W12-
140, Washington, DC 20590-001.
     Hand Delivery: Room W12-140 on the ground level of the 
West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Wednesday and Federal 
Holidays.
    Instructions: All comments must include the agency name and Docket 
Number OST-95-177. Note that all comments received will be posted 
without change to http://

[[Page 51548]]

regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. You 
should know that anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.).
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments, go to http://regulations.gov at any time or to Room W12-140 
on the ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Wednesday and Federal holidays.
    If you wish to receive confirmation of receipt of your written 
comments, please include a self-addressed, stamped postcard with the 
following statement: ``Comments on Docket OST-95-177''. The Docket 
Clerk will date stamp the postcard prior to returning it to you via the 
U.S. mail. Please note that due to delays in the delivery of U.S. mail 
to Federal offices in Washington, DC, we recommend that persons 
consider an alternative method (Internet, fax, or professional delivery 
service) to submit comments to the docket and ensure their timely 
receipt at U.S. DOT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aleta Best, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, Office of the 
Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., Washington, DC 20590, (202) 493-0797.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Disclosure of Change-of-Gauge Services.
    OMB Control Number: 2105-0538.
    Expiration Date: November 30, 2008.
    Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved collection.
    Abstract: Change-of-gauge service is scheduled passenger air 
transportation for which the operating carrier uses one single flight 
number even though passengers do not travel in the same aircraft from 
origin to destination but must change planes at an intermediate stop. 
In addition to one-flight-to-one-flight change-of-gauge services, 
change-of-gauge services can also involve aircraft changes between 
multiple flights on one side of the change point and one single flight 
on the other side. As with one-for-one change-of-gauge services, the 
carrier assigns a single flight number for the passenger's entire 
itinerary even though the passenger changes planes, but in addition, 
the single flight to or from the exchange point itself has multiple 
numbers, one for each segment with which it connects and one for the 
local market in which it operates.
    The Department recognizes various public benefits that can flow 
from change-of-gauge services, such as a lowered likelihood of missed 
connections. However, although change-of-gauge flights can offer 
valuable consumer benefits, they can be confusing and misleading unless 
consumers are given reasonable and timely notice that they will be 
required to change planes during their journey.
    Section 41712 of Title 49 of the U.S. code authorizes the 
Department to decide if a U.S. air carrier or foreign air carrier or 
ticket agent (including travel agents) has engaged in unfair or 
deceptive practices. Under this authority, the Department has adopted 
various regulations and policies to prevent unfair or deceptive 
practices or unfair methods of competition. The Department requires as 
a matter of policy that customers be given notice of aircraft changes 
for change-of-gauge flights. (See Department Order 89-1-31, page 5.) 
The Department proposed to adopt the extant regulations, however, 
because it was not convinced that these rules and policies resulted in 
effective disclosure all of the time.
    Respondents: All U.S. air carriers, foreign air carriers, computer 
reservations systems (CRSs), and travel agents doing business in the 
United States, and the traveling public.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: Annual reporting burden for this 
data collection is estimated at 113,644 hours for all travel agents and 
airline ticket agents and 113,644 hours for air travelers, based on 15 
seconds per phone call and an average of 1.5 phone calls per trip, for 
the approximately 33% of change-of-gauge itineraries that involve 
personal contact. Most of this data collection (third party 
notification) is accomplished through highly automated computerized 
systems.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 16,000, excluding travelers.
    Estimated Time per Response: At 15 seconds per call and an average 
of 1.5 calls per trip, a total of 22.5 seconds per respondent or 
traveler, for the approximately 33% of change-of-gauge itineraries that 
involve personal contact.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether this collection of information 
(third party notification) is necessary for the proper performance of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on the 
respondents, including through the use of automated techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

Todd M. Homan,
Director, Office of Aviation Analysis.
[FR Doc. E8-20371 Filed 9-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P