Rule Summary
Airline Passenger Rights
New federal airline passenger protections took effect in April, but they were only a first step. The new rules don’t cover all airlines or airports. And passengers still don’t have a clear set of rights in many important customer service areas. The Department of Transportation (DOT) now wants to fill these gaps, and it's asking for public feedback. Here, you can find out what additional passenger protections are being considered -- and have your say about whether or not DOT is on the right track in dealing with tarmac delay, bumping, extra or hidden fees, and other air traveler concerns.
A draft summary of the discussion that occurred on the Peanut Allergy post between June 2 and August 31 has been posted. (On that date, the post was closed to further discussion.) The summary was written by the Regulation Room team based on all the comments people made. We need YOUR help to make sure that nothing is missing, wrong or unclear.
I find it interesting that the moderator keeps saying the DOT will consider carry on rules in the future. The fact is there ARE current carry on rules in effect. Sadly the CURRENT carry on rules ARE NOT ENFORCED! A great start would be to ENFORCE the current rules. This needs to happen AT THE SECURITY CHECKPOINT, so that those who need to check luggage are easily directed back to the airline’s ticket counter.As far as the multiple, and seemingly never ending array of fees that the airlines are charging, yes, these fees should be prominently displayed as part of the ticket purchase process. The customer should be required to acknowledge their understanding of the fees before the ticket purchase is completed. Perhaps those writing the rules need to check the websites for Ryan Air (www.ryanair.com), EasyJet (www.easyJet.com), or Flybe (www.flybe.com). As the customer navigates these sites, as part of the ticket purchase process they are asked to select additional items they are interested in. For example, when they select to check a bag, the bottom line price goes up, same for fees for early boarding, sporting equipment, and the like. The ticket purchase, and the additional fees are then lumped into a single transaction. In this scenario, no advanced notice of changes in the fees would be required, if once the fee is paid, it cannot be changed.Personally, I believe that EVERY airline ticket should include the first checked bag. This would simplify security, and help alleviate the problems with the carry on luggage. I also believe that unless the passenger does not meet the check in time limit for checked luggage, that all fees charged for the transport of that luggage should be immediately refunded to the original form of payment if the luggage does not arrive with the passenger.The regulations, once they are developed should apply to all carriers, no matter size of the plane. No reason to increase the complexity by making exceptions or differences based on the size of the company or size of the plane. The services should cost the same on code share flights, regardless of which carrier is operating the flight.
My worst experiences with notifications have been "after hours" at some airports, when most of the staffs have left and nobody seems to be minding the store. I arrive to pick up someone from a flight and cannot even get info on the status boards by the gates or security.So, yes, I think airlines should keep up their end of the deal until all their flights are FINISHED for the day! If flights are late coming or going, airline staff need to stay with it.
All fees should be shown on the initial screen showing a price or in any ad showing a fare.That said, I would prefer the rule to be that airlines return to the standard of several years ago. Any flight to, from or within the US includes 2 bags of up to 70lb. and a carry on in the standard 22 inch size.
We are talking about departing flights so, in theory, the people on the plane have not yet passed through Customs & Immigration since they are not in the new country yet. Except for some places where Customs is done at the departing airport (Canada, for example).So, yes, if it's that big a deal I would support some kind of holding area.
Do you think there are any reasons foreign air carriers should not be held to the same rules as domestic air carriers? Are there any added benefits to travelers that you do not see mentioned here? Do you agree with the cutoff of 30 seats for these rules to apply to foreign air carriers?
For the costs and benefits, the DOT is looking for your reactions to the estimated costs and benefits, as well as your reactions to their methodology. Do you think they did a good job in their calculations? Do you think the balance of costs & benefits justifies each of the proposed regulations?
I do not understand, where are the owners of all those unclaimed baggage and why have they not claimed their luggage? Obviously, the baggage were found because they were delivered to the Unclaimed Luggage Center to be sold, therefore, why were they not instead delivered to their rightful owners?? Where are all those people who have had their luggage lost?The second thing I do not understand is the fact that the airlines are actually making a very high profit from all of these ‘lost’ personal items. Therefore, they have a vested interest to insure that their ‘stock’ is always available for sale. In order for there to be stock to fill the shelves then there must be a huge amount of lost luggage. And if the airlines are making a profit from all of these lost items in order to insure that they continue to maintain their profit they then must purposefully not return lost luggage to their rightful owners and/or intentionally hold on to it and then claim it as being lost. Having a unclaimed luggage store whereby the airlines profit from the loss of other people’s personal and valued property is a clear and obvious conflict of interest and the store needs to be put out of business. This type of conflict of interest could not, nor would not exit in any other type of industry. In fact, it would be a violation of law.The solution: For every piece of luggage that is lost, no matter the size or content, the airlines should reimburse the customer $7,000. This will insure two things: 1) the airlines will make every effort to make sure the luggage is returned; 2) if the luggage is not returned and instead sold at the Unclaimed Luggage Center then at least the person whose items have been sold will have made some profit from their sale.
I do not understand, where are the owners of all those unclaimed baggage and why have they not claimed their luggage? Obviously, the baggage were found because they were delivered to the Unclaimed Luggage Center to be sold, therefore, why were they not instead delivered to their rightful owners?? Where are all those people who have had their luggage lost?The second thing I do not understand is the fact that the airlines are actually making a very high profit from all of these ‘lost’ personal items. Therefore, they have a vested interest to insure that their ‘stock’ is always available for sale. In order for there to be stock to fill the shelves then there must be a huge amount of lost luggage. And if the airlines are making a profit from all of these lost items in order to insure that they continue to maintain their profit they then must purposefully not return lost luggage to their rightful owners and/or intentionally hold on to it and then claim it as being lost. Having a unclaimed luggage store whereby the airlines profit from the loss of other people’s personal and valued property is a clear and obvious conflict of interest and the store needs to be put out of business. This type of conflict of interest could not, nor would not exit in any other type of industry. In fact, it would be a violation of law.The solution: For every piece of luggage that is lost, no matter the size or content, the airlines should reimburse the customer $7,000. This will insure two things: 1) the airlines will make every effort to make sure the luggage is returned; 2) if the luggage is not returned and instead sold at the Unclaimed Luggage Center then at least the person whose items have been sold will have made some profit from their sale.
Thank you for your suggestion. We will note it for inclusion when we create the final summary.
I think you guys need to make this more clear, as I am looking over this I cannot really figure out what it is you want us to comment about..