[Travelandtourism] Airlines must reimburse for lost bags, bumped flights, government says: A Peachtree Travel must read!

[Peachtree Travel]

WASHINGTON - The government is introducing sweeping protections for fliers 
today to bar long tarmac delays on international flights, require airlines 
to reimburse bag fees if luggage is lost and pay people double if they're 
bumped off flights.

The rules, issued by the Department of Transportation, will take effect Aug. 
23. Airlines will be required to more clearly disclose the fees charged for 
such services as checking bags and changing reservations.

"Airline passengers have a right to be treated fairly," Transportation 
Secretary Ray LaHood said about the rules. "It's just common sense that if 
an airline loses your bag or you get bumped from a flight because it was 
oversold, you should be reimbursed. The additional passenger protections we're 
announcing today will help make sure air travelers are treated with the 
respect they deserve."

The Transportation Department barred airlines last April from delaying 
flights on the ground for longer than three hours without allowing 
passengers the chance to return to the gate. Otherwise, the airlines faced 
stiff fines.

The rule has all but eliminated long delays for passengers on domestic 
flights, but it didn't apply to international routes - something consumer 
advocates wanted changed because too many travelers on international flights 
were stranded for hours on tarmacs.

At least 31 international flights carrying as many as 9,000 passengers 
became stranded for three hours or more at New York's John F. Kennedy 
Airport during a December blizzard.

The incident was "an important factor in the department's decision to extend 
the tarmac delay provisions," the department said in a release.

Airlines will have more time to let international flights sit on the tarmac 
before they must take off or return to the gate: four hours compared with 
three for domestic flights.

The rules provide other protections: Airlines will be required to hold 
flight reservations for 24 hours at the quoted fare price if the 
reservations are made at least a week before takeoff. They must also 
promptly notify passengers of flight delays longer than 30 minutes.

The rules target some of the most aggravating aspects of airline travel 
fliers say they suffer.

Chief among them are the fees to check bags. The rules say the airlines must 
refund the fees - up to $50 or more a bag - if they are misplaced.

Under the rules, passengers bumped from flights are entitled to compensation 
of twice the price of the ticket up to $800 if the passenger is delayed two 
hours or less. Those who have longer delays after being bumped can get up to 
$1,300. That's double the current amount.

The airline industry generally supported the changes, but opposed broadening 
restrictions on lengthy tarmac delays, said the Air Transport Association, a 
Washington trade group. They argued that the rule would increase flight 
cancellations and delays.


Peachtree Travel
Independent Travel Consultant

(phone) 888-389-2723

(website: http://www.peachtreetravel.net.

Email: reservations at peachtreetravel.net