---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 41712"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "41712"
heading: "Unfair and deceptive practices and unfair methods of competition"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/41712"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part A — Air Commerce and Safety"
  - "Subpart ii — economic regulation"
  - "Chapter 417 — Operations of Carriers"
  - "Subchapter I — Requirements"
---

# §41712. Unfair and deceptive practices and unfair methods of competition

- (a) **In General.—** On the initiative of the Secretary of Transportation or the complaint of an [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2), [foreign air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-21), air ambulance consumer (as defined by the Secretary of Transportation), or [ticket agent](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-45), and if the Secretary considers it is in the public interest, the Secretary may investigate and decide whether an [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2), [foreign air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-21), or [ticket agent](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-45) has been or is engaged in an unfair or deceptive practice or an unfair method of competition in [air transportation](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-5) or the sale of [air transportation](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-5). If the Secretary, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, finds that an [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2), [foreign air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-21), or [ticket agent](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-45) is engaged in an unfair or deceptive practice or unfair method of competition, the Secretary shall order the [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2), [foreign air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-21), or [ticket agent](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-45) to stop the practice or method.
- (b) **E-Ticket Expiration Notice.—** It shall be an unfair or deceptive practice under [subsection (a)](#a) for any [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2), [foreign air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-21), or [ticket agent](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-45) utilizing electronically transmitted tickets for [air transportation](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-5) to fail to notify the purchaser of such a ticket of its expiration date, if any.
- (c) **Disclosure Requirement for Sellers of Tickets for Flights.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** It shall be an unfair or deceptive practice under [subsection (a)](#a) for any [ticket agent](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-45), [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2), [foreign air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-21), or other person offering to sell tickets for [air transportation](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-5) on a flight of an [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2) to fail to disclose, whether verbally in oral communication or in writing in written or electronic communication, prior to the purchase of a ticket—
    - (A) the name of the [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2) providing the [air transportation](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-5); and
    - (B) if the flight has more than one flight segment, the name of each [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2) providing the [air transportation](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-5) for each such flight segment.
  - (2) **Internet offers.—** In the case of an offer to sell tickets described in [paragraph (1)](#c-1) on an Internet Web site, disclosure of the information required by [paragraph (1)](#c-1) shall be provided on the first display of the Web site following a search of a requested itinerary in a format that is easily visible to a viewer.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1143; Pub. L. 106–181, title II, § 221, Apr. 5, 2000, 114 Stat. 102; Pub. L. 111–216, title II, § 210, Aug. 1, 2010, 124 Stat. 2362; Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title IV, § 419(b), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3336.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 41712 | 49 App.:1381(a). | Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, § 411(a), 72 Stat. 769; Oct. 4, 1984, Pub. L. 98–443, § 7(a), 98 Stat. 1706. |
|  | 49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E). | Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 1601(b)(1)(E); added Oct. 4, 1984, Pub. L. 98–443, § 3(e), 98 Stat. 1704. |

The words “such action by” are omitted as surplus. The words “opportunity for a” are added for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–254 inserted “air ambulance consumer (as defined by the Secretary of Transportation),” after “of an air carrier, foreign air carrier,”.

2010—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–216 added subsec. (c).

2000—Pub. L. 106–181 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2000 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 106–181 applicable only to fiscal years beginning after Sept. 30, 1999, see section 3 of Pub. L. 106–181, set out as a note under section 106 of this title.