USA begins to collect entry fees on travellers from Visa Waiver countries

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will begin collecting fees on travellers from Visa Waiver countries beginning Sept. 8, 2010. Travellers will be charged a USD 10 fee when applying for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). A portion of the fee will go toward funding the Corporation for Travel Promotion, created by the 2009 Travel Promotion Act. Customs and Border Protection, the DHS unit that is overseeing the process, also established a USD 4 cost-recovery fee for the ESTA program, meaning the total to visitors will be USD 14.

Currently, travelers from Visa Waiver countries are required to log on to a secure U.S. government ESTA website, enter their passport information and expected itinerary, and wait for an electronic authorization, which is good for multiple entries for two years.

Source: Travel Weekly; find article here>>.

USA: Court rejects airline challenge to airport congestion pricing

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia rejected an airline industry challenge to a regulation letting airport operators charge more at busy times of the day to reduce delays.

The carriers argued the July 2008 regulation by the Transportation Department was discriminatory and unreasonable. The airlines also claimed the regulation wrongfully allowed state and local airport authorities to charge fees preempted by federal law and provided inadequate guidance to the airports on how the Department of Transportation would evaluate the reasonableness of the fees.

The court denied the petition by the Air Transport Association, which represents companies including Delta Air Lines Inc. and AMR Corp., the owner of American Airlines.

The full opinion in case Air Transport Association of America Inc. v. U.S. Department of Transportation, 08-1293, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is available for download here>>.

Germany: Ryanair must not charge extra fees for credit card payments

Upon law suit of Federal Consumer Asscoiation (Bundesverband der Verbraucherzentralen), German Supreme Court (BGH) in judgement Xa ZR 68/09 of May 20, 2010 decided that Ryanair may exclude chash payment but, however, must not charge extra fees for card payment. BGH held that to receive payments of the customers was one of the basic obligations of an entrepreneur who therefore had to provide a common and reasonable way to pay. If payments are only possible by cards no extra fee can be charged therefore.

Source: BGH press release; available in German here>>.