Important NOTE: To All Travel Agents

A  NEW U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulation governing hazardous materials that are banned from commercial air transportation... Becomes effective January 1, 2016

Those changes Mandate Travel Agent Compliance with the DOT rule.

ASTA recommends that you include the following disclosure statement on all ticket receipts or conformations that include air travel:

Federal law forbids the carriage of certain hazardous materials, such as aerosols, fireworks, and flammable liquids, aboard the aircraft. If you do not understand these restrictions, contact your airline or go to... http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/hazmat_safety.

For online transactions,  the hazmat information must be presented and the passenger (or a person acting on his or her behalf) must indicate that he or she understands the restrictions. In practice, this can be accomplished through use of a "check-box" in your online booking system.

DOT has indicated that it will provide updated guidance over the next few years. While that process is ongoing, the regulations above are the "law of the land."

To summarize, ASTA recommends that on or before January 1, 2016 you:

1. Include the sample disclosure notice with all invoices/ticket receipts for assisted transactions.
2. Ensure that your online booking tool includes a check-box at the point of purchase that requires the purchaser to read and affirmatively agree to understanding hazardous materials restrictions.
3. Agents should review http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/hazmat_safety website so they can assist clients that may have questions.