Bumping airlines to count the cost
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is outlining new measures that will strengthen airline passenger protections beyond the recently-enacted tarmac delay limits. The proposed rules are intended to:
- increase compensation for passengers involuntarily bumped from flights allow passengers to make and cancel reservations within 24 hours without penalty
- require full and prominently displayed disclosure of baggage fees as well as refunds and expense reimbursement when bags are not delivered on time
- require fair price advertising
- prohibit price increases after a ticket is purchased
- mandate timely notice of flight status changes
One of the more prominent changes deals with compensation for passengers who are denied boarding due to overbooking of flights. Involuntarily "bumped" passengers are currently entitled to USD400 if the airline can get them to their destination within two hours of the original schedule for a domestic flight or four hours for an international flight. If not, the compensation goes up to $800. According to the DOT, the proposed rule would quickly increase these limits to $650 and $1,300, respectively, and thereafter adjust the amounts for inflation every two years.
The new rules also require carriers to provide special notice any time baggage fees are increased, and to notify passengers buying tickets whether they must pay to check up to two bags, according to the DOT press release.
There will be a 60 day comment period for interested parties before the rules are finalized and implemented later this year.
Philip Thorniley
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