We mentioned this before when it was first announced, but since it starts tonight at midnight, we thought we would pass it along again. Federal regulators are placing into effect tonight new airline passenger rules for airlines to abide by. There's enough in here that it's worth noting and knowing in case you have any trouble with a flight going forward. All airlines will be required to:
1) Display all fees including fees for checking bags, in flight meals and other amenities.
2) Refund all baggage fees for lost baggage.
3) Increase compensation for passengers bumped from flights and delayed for up to two hours to twice the ticket price, up to $650, and for those delayed longer than two hours to as much as four times ticket value, up to $1,300. Formerly shorter delays brought compensation equal to ticket value up to $400 and longer delays were capped at $800
4) Allow regulators to fine airlines up to $27,500 for leaving passengers stranded on the tarmac for more than four hours.
Other new rules will be coming next year as well. Of which included in those will be requiring airlines to warn passengers when their flight is delayed more than 30 minutes, forcing airlines to display taxes and fees in the price of the flight, as well as allowing customer to make changes to a flight within 24 hours of booking a flight. All in all, these are some pretty big changes for the airline industry with the balance of power shifting back to the consumer. Just how we like it.
For more on the ensuing changes,
click here.
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Posted by GetHuman on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 5:47pm