New Airline Passenger Rights in Effect Today
By: Karen Libby
Updated: April 20, 2011
While you were sleeping, the government announced some possible relief for frustrated airline passengers. The Department of Transportation is extending its passenger bill of rights.
For business traveler Kelly Benton, irritation at the airport is all too common, especially when he arrives before his luggage. "Its very frustrating, especially if you don't get it that day and you have plans that evening. Especially if you're traveling for business."
But soon, you can fly with the confidence you'll be compensated when there's a problem.
The Department of Transportation is expanding the Airline Passenger Bill Of Rights implemented last year.
Lost bag? Airlines will now have to reimburse passengers for bag fees.
The government is now requiring airlines to prominently display all those surcharges and hidden fees on their websites .
"You have to pay for every little thing," complains passenger Jill Dente. "You have to pay for snacks, you have to pay for a little bag of pretzels, eventually you'll have to pay to go to the bathroom."
Also, Passengers bumped from flights will receive up to $1300, depending on the length of the delay and value of their ticket.
And the rules (more here) for how long a plane full of passengers can sit on the tarmac are also changing. Currently an airline is fined if a domestic flight sits for too long. Now international flights are being included as well.
The government claims its original bill of rights reduced long tarmac delays by more than 97 percent.
Consumer advocates say the new rules are a good start, but don't go far enough.
"Another thing I'm looking forward to, is getting airline passengers more legal rights," says Charlie Leocha of the Consumer Travel Alliance. "Right now airline passengers have the rights of medieval serfs. We have to petition the Department of Transportation for anything legal."
The Transportation Department says it'll take up to four months for the new regulations to take effect.
Last December international passengers were stuck on the JFK tarmac for more than eight hours during a blizzard in New York. The government says that delay helped inspire the changes.
(Kendis Gibson - CBS News)
For business traveler Kelly Benton, irritation at the airport is all too common, especially when he arrives before his luggage. "Its very frustrating, especially if you don't get it that day and you have plans that evening. Especially if you're traveling for business."
But soon, you can fly with the confidence you'll be compensated when there's a problem.
The Department of Transportation is expanding the Airline Passenger Bill Of Rights implemented last year.
Lost bag? Airlines will now have to reimburse passengers for bag fees.
The government is now requiring airlines to prominently display all those surcharges and hidden fees on their websites .
"You have to pay for every little thing," complains passenger Jill Dente. "You have to pay for snacks, you have to pay for a little bag of pretzels, eventually you'll have to pay to go to the bathroom."
Also, Passengers bumped from flights will receive up to $1300, depending on the length of the delay and value of their ticket.
And the rules (more here) for how long a plane full of passengers can sit on the tarmac are also changing. Currently an airline is fined if a domestic flight sits for too long. Now international flights are being included as well.
The government claims its original bill of rights reduced long tarmac delays by more than 97 percent.
Consumer advocates say the new rules are a good start, but don't go far enough.
"Another thing I'm looking forward to, is getting airline passengers more legal rights," says Charlie Leocha of the Consumer Travel Alliance. "Right now airline passengers have the rights of medieval serfs. We have to petition the Department of Transportation for anything legal."
The Transportation Department says it'll take up to four months for the new regulations to take effect.
Last December international passengers were stuck on the JFK tarmac for more than eight hours during a blizzard in New York. The government says that delay helped inspire the changes.
(Kendis Gibson - CBS News)
