DOT publishes long-awaited rules for automatic ticket refunds
and transparent ancillary fees
For more information, contact Paul
Hudson, President of FlyersRights at 800-662-1859 or
paul@flyersrights.com
WASHINGTON, April 24,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT) announced two final rules that protect the
rights of airline passengers and put an end to some of the most
notorious airline deceptive behavior.
First, the DOT announced a rule "To Protect Consumers from
Surprise Airline Junk Fees." This rule requires airlines and ticket
agents to display the passenger-specific carry-on bag fee, 1st
checked bag fee, 2nd checked bag fee, change fees, and cancellation
fees on the first screen that a flight is offered for sale. For the
past 15 years, the airlines have separated the base fare from
optional services. As a result, ancillary fee revenue, and also
consumer confusion, has skyrocketed. The DOT found that baggage fee
prices increased by 30% from 2018 to 2022, far outpacing overall
airline revenue increases.
FlyersRights has brought this issue to the forefront in its Bill
of Rights, rulemaking proposals, and public advocacy and comments
to the DOT's public hearings and Aviation Consumer Protection
Advisory Committee meetings.
Paul Hudson, President of
FlyersRights, noted, "This marks a significant victory in the
war against 'Gotcha Fees'. The airlines argue that they want
competition, and this rule provides the transparency that is
necessary for that competition. Having critical ancillary fee
information available to the consumer on the first page where they
can purchase a ticket increases airline competition and the ability
to comparison shop."
Second, the DOT published a new rule on automatic refund
requirements for canceled flights, significantly changed flights,
public health emergencies, and for passengers with serious
communicable diseases. The rule requires airlines to provide
automatic refunds whenever a flight is canceled or a flight is
significantly changed, provided that the passenger does not accept
an offer of an alternative flight. For the first time, the DOT is
defining a significant schedule change as one that moves up the
departure time or pushes back the arrival time by three or more
hours for domestic flights and six or more hours for international
flights.
The rule also addresses public health emergencies and individual
passengers with serious communicable diseases. Under this rule,
passengers are entitled to a transferable travel voucher that
expires in no fewer than 5 years if (1) they are diagnosed with a
serious communicable disease or (2) their health is at risk from
travel during a declared public health emergency involving a
serious communicable disease, or (3) a travel health ban or
quarantine disrupts a substantial portion of their travel.
The DOT published these rules pursuant to its authority to
prohibit unfair and deceptive practices. These rules will begin to
take effect in 6 months and will be fully implemented in 18-24
months.
FlyersRights.org maintains up to date passenger rights
information at https://flyersrights.org/your-rights and also
provides passengers with legal information and appropriate contacts
by phone, 877-FLYERS-6 and by email, hotline@flyersrights.org.
FlyersRights.org, established in 2007, is the largest airline
passenger organization. It provides legal information to
passengers, operates a free hotline for airline passengers 877-
FLYERS-6, advocates for passenger rights and interests, represents
passengers on the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee
dealing with air safety, and maintains a staffed office in
Washington, D.C.
FlyersRights.org. Media line: 800-662-1859; hotline 877-FLYERS6
or hotline@flyersrights.org; 4411 Bee Ridge Road, 274,
Sarasota, FL 34233.
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SOURCE FlyersRights.org