[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 151 (Monday, August 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46789-46790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19111]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

[Docket Number: OST-1995-177]


Agency Request for Renewal of a Previously Approved Collection: 
Disclosure of Change-of-Gauge Services

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comments 
about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) approval to renew an information collection. We are required to 
publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by October 5, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by DOT Docket Number

[[Page 46790]]

OST-1995-177) through one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility; U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West 
Building, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal Holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Snoden, (202) 366-4834, 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: 2105-0538.
    Title: Disclosure of Code Sharing Arrangements and Long-Term Wet 
Leases.
    Type of Review: Renewal of an information 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.
    Number of Respondents: 16,000, excluding travelers.
    Frequency: 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 estimated change-of-gauge itineraries that involve 
personal contact.
    Total Annual Burden: Annual reporting burden for this data 
collection is estimated at 76,313 hours for all travel agents and 
airline ticket agents, based on 15 seconds per phone call and an 
average of 1.5 phone calls per trip, for the approximately 33% of 
estimated change-of-gauge itineraries that involve personal contact. 
Most of this data collection (third party notification) is accomplished 
through highly automated computerized systems.
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection, including (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the Department's 
performance; (b) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for the 
Department to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information collection; and (d) ways that the burden could be minimized 
without reducing the quality of the collected information.

    Authority:  The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1:48.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 31, 2012.
Todd M. Homan,
Director, Office of Aviation Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2012-19111 Filed 8-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P