When you are involuntarily bumped from a flight, you can get cash (a check or credit on your credit card) from airlines. Those are the rules. If passengers choose to bargain with the airlines at the gate, that’s their choice. But, travelers involuntarily bumped...
Are airline customer service commitments worthless? Every airline has a customer service commitment. The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires it. But, DOT refrained from making these customer service commitments a part of the contract of carriage. In other...
Airline passengers can change tickets and correct errors within 24 hours of purchase Way back in 2012, the Department of Transportation (DOT) promulgated the 24-hour rule. This regulation requires airlines to provide travelers booking flights 24 hours to change them....
Passing a bill through Congress is not enough — passengers need delayed checked-bag-fee refund rules from DOT, too. Most Americans don’t realize that getting a bill passed through Congress (already a major accomplishment) is not enough. The executive department...
Like Medieval serfs, passengers cannot fully access America’s legal system for aviation consumer rights. The state and local US court systems strictly limit America’s aviation consumer rights litigation. Passengers must plead a case to the federal courts,...
These accomplishments have been achieved by working closely with our members, national media, the travel industry, the Department of Transportation (DOT), Congress and many other agencies.
– Removal of restaurant fees from DC area eateries — this is an ongoing project
– Creation of DOT Dashboard to outline consumer rights after cancellation of a flight
– Bi-partisan bill to eliminate hotel resort fees introduced into House of Representatives
– Creation of the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections
– Advertised airfares now include airfare plus, mandatory taxes and fees
– Lost/damaged/delayed luggage compensation limit increased to $3,800
– Passengers have 24 hours to change or cancel their nonrefundable tickets without penalty
– Once an airfare is purchased, that airfare and ancillary fees cannot be increased
– Families flying together act passed by Congress that requires family members 13 years of age and younger to sit with other family members at no additional cost.
