New Airline Passenger Rights Go Into Effect

The Department of Transportation issued new regulations to protect passengers on April 20, 2011.  The new regulations will go into effect in about 120 days (depending on when they are printed in the Federal Register).  The following is a summary of the salient new regulations:

• Bumped Passengers are entitled to compensation of double their ticket price up to $650 when delayed domestically from 1-2 hours, and quadruple their ticket price up to $1300 when delayed longer.
• An airplane must cancel a flight after a four hour tarmac delay.  After two hours, the airline must provide food, water and toilet facilities.
• The list price of a ticket must reflect the actual cost (including bag fees, government fees, and other surcharges).
• Ban post purchase fare increases (a very dubious practice).

To submit comments regarding the new regulations, or to read a detailed analysis of flight delays, passenger delays and costs go to regulations.gov.