Bid to improve ADM dispute process

ASATA will be seeking a more
fair process for ADM disputes
when it attends the Passenger
Agency Conference (PaConf),
which focuses on relationships
between airlines and
recognised passenger sales
agents, in November.
Ceo of Asata, Otto de
Vries, is the current chair
of the World Travel Agents
Associations Alliance (WTAAA)
– the organisation of which
Asata forms a part – which,
together with the European
Travel Agents’ and Tour
Operators’ Associations, has
proposed revised wording
for Iata resolution 818g
Section1.10 which relates to
ADM disputes.
The proposed revisions will
incorporate wording that was
previously in place, which
allowed the travel agent to
refer disputes to the Travel
Agency Commissioner for
assistance within 30 days
of notification of an ADM.
Additionally, should the
agent’s interlocutory order
be approved, they will only
have to provide a bank or
other financial guarantee to
prove that funds are available
to pay the ADM, rather than
the disputed amount being
automatically deducted from
an agent’s next BSP. The new
wording will be voted on at
PaConf in November and,
if approved, will state the
following:
1.10.5 an Agent may within
30 days of the date of the
Notice of Default Action invoke
Resolution 820e for review
of the Agency Administrator’s
action by Travel Agency
Commissioner and may also
apply for an interlocutory
order staying the Default
Action and preserve status
quo pending outcome of
the review. Before granting
an interlocutory order under
such subparagraph, the Travel
Agency Commissioner shall
require the Agent to provide
a bank or other financial
guarantee and ensure all
amounts due as determined
under subparagraph 1.10.2(ii)
are settled at the time the
interlocutory order takes
effect.
“While Asata cannot
intervene in the process of
an agency disputing an ADM
with an airline, according to
Resolution 820d, we have
been working in our capacity
as the chair of the WTAAA to
review the Post Billing Dispute
provisions under Resolution
818g,” says Otto. He adds
that, if it is passed, travel
agents worldwide would have
recourse for a period of 30
days to liaise with the Travel
Agency Commissioner to
dispute ADMs.
“Further to this, Asata has
also been working with the
ADM Working Group to assess
the root causes of ADMs being
issued in the first place, and
a report has just been issued
that outlines these, and a
roadmap created to reduce
ADMs in future,” Otto says.