[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 220 (Thursday, November 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67246-67247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26962]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

[OMB Control : 2105-0538; Docket Number: OST-95-177]


Agency Information Collection; Request for Comments; Clearance 
and Renewal of a Previously Approved Collection; Disclosure of Change-
of-Gauge Services

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OST).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public 
Law 104-13, (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) this notice announces that the 
Information Collection Request, abstracted below, is being forwarded to 
the Office of Management and Budget for renewal and comment. The ICR 
describes the nature of the information collection and its expected 
cost burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period 
soliciting comments on the following collection of information was 
published on September 9, 2008 [FR Vol. 73, pages 51547--51548]. No 
comments were received.

DATES: Written comments on this notice should be received on or before 
[December 15, 2008 and submitted to the attention of the DOT/OST Desk 
Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 
Management and Budget, Docket Library, Room 10102, 725 17th Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20503 with the associated OMB Approval Number 2105-
0538 and Dockets OST-95-177.

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: December 31, 2008.
    Type of Review: Renewal and Approval of a previously approved 
collection.
     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.
    Number of Respondents: 16,000, excluding air travelers
     Number of Responses: 18,200,000
     Total Annual Burden: 227,288 hours
     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.
     Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Department's estimate of burden of the 
proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information collection; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, by 
the use of electronic means, including the use of automated collection 
techniques

[[Page 67247]]

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. E8-26962 Filed 11-12-08; 8:45 am]
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