The Honorable Jay P. Lefkowitz
Deputy Assistant To The President For Domestic Policy
Executive Office To The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. Lefkowitz:

I am compelled to advise you that the Department of Transportation's proposed changes to the rules governing the use of Computer Reservation's Systems represent a major reversal of a hard-fought corporate consumer gain earned by CRS companies. Not only will they frustrate current attempts to reach a long-term solution to the airlines' problems, they will further encourage corporations to seek alternatives to flying.

The DOT maintains the proposed changes will lower distribution costs, and (by inference) airfares. Considering the financial status of the nation's carriers, this approach to discounting travel is unrealistic at this time.

CRS discount programs presently offer substantial long-term booking fee reductions in exchange for guaranteed access for CRS users to all airlines published fares -- including Web fares. The DOT proposal (which implies CRSs would lose the ability to negotiate agreements for all fares), jeopardizes the ability of corporate travel managers to secure the lowest fares for travelers through the CRS -- an option they have only recently secured.

I respectfully suggest that the Department of Transportation abandon these changes in pursuit of realistic long-term changes, with mutual benefits, that encourage business travel and a healthier economic environment for the transportation industry.

Sincerely,

Mark Williams
President
Association of Corporate Travel Executives

Click here to view the press release, ACTE To Congress: Proposed DOT Rulemaking Not In Best Interest Of Business Travel Nor Corporate America.

Website: www.acte.org