U.S. Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) recently introduced the Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights ahead of consideration of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization legislation in the Senate Commerce Committee earlier this week.
The Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights aims to serve as a comprehensive legislative measure to expand protections for American air travelers.
“Whether it is overbooked planes, delayed flights or lost luggage, laws in place to protect consumers have been frequently and flagrantly ignored by airlines more concerned with profits than passengers,” Blumenthal said. “Airline travelers shouldn’t be forced to check their basic rights at the gate. The Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights will restore sanity to the skies by expanding the rights afforded to passengers and ensuring tougher oversight of the airline industry.”
The legislation would protect travelers by ending involuntary denied boarding, lowering exorbitant and unnecessary airline fees, requiring ticket refunds and/or compensation for delays and cancellations caused by the airlines, and stopping airlines from endangering safety by shrinking seat sizes. It also would restore customers’ rights to pursue claims against an airline and strengthen the Department of Transportation’s enforcement against the airline industry and its policies.
“Sky-high fees, shrinking seats, IT meltdowns, and a growing frustration with the modern flying experience have made a passengers’ bill of rights as much a requirement for flying as a boarding pass,” Markey said. “We must ensure that airline customers are protected by basic consumer rights every time they fly. The Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights gives passengers meaningful control over the flying experience, ensuring the skies remain friendly and fair for all consumers.”