GAO report tells DOT to protect consumers better Five years ago, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report outlined a series of problems with the Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) airline consumer protections. These changes have not been made...
When applying for a new or renewed passport there are traps that can cause your trip to end before it starts. Plus, other passport traps cause problems at your destination. When traveling internationally, the one document we must have is our passport. Other documents...
Sadly, airlines need to be forced to let families sit together. Let families sit together. Families are traveling together now that the pandemic is over. Today, the industry has to deal with rules that let families sit together on planes for no additional cost. A new...
FAIR Fees Act would prohibit airlines from charging unreasonable fees for basic services like reservation changes, carry-on baggage. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04),...
The President highlights the Administration and DOT’s steady progress in eliminating extra airline fees. Calls for end to fees for families sitting together. Hidden or unexpected ancillary fees are costly to consumers. They stifle competition by encouraging...
DOT complaints soared by more than 1,700 percent after DOT’s airline refund rules notice. Here are DOT’s answers The Department of Transportation (DOT) released its enforcement notice about airline refund rules on April 3, 2020. DOT told airlines that any...
These accomplishments have been achieved by working closely with our members, national media, the travel industry, the Department of Transportation (DOT), Congress and many other agencies.
– Removal of restaurant fees from DC area eateries — this is an ongoing project
– Creation of DOT Dashboard to outline consumer rights after cancellation of a flight
– Bi-partisan bill to eliminate hotel resort fees introduced into House of Representatives
– Creation of the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections
– Advertised airfares now include airfare plus, mandatory taxes and fees
– Lost/damaged/delayed luggage compensation limit increased to $3,800
– Passengers have 24 hours to change or cancel their nonrefundable tickets without penalty
– Once an airfare is purchased, that airfare and ancillary fees cannot be increased
– Families flying together act passed by Congress that requires family members 13 years of age and younger to sit with other family members at no additional cost.
