How do consumers fare in the new FAA Reauthorization Bill — not bad at all

Anyone following happenings in Washington, DC, regarding aviation knows that the latest FAA bill has been introduced by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Already, some unions and consumer groups are decrying the attempt to bring the old, tried-and-true air traffic control system in the 21st century. And, some claim consumers have been forgotten.

That is not the case. Consumers have not been forgotten, only overlooked by the media.

Ultimately, consumers will benefit from any focus on the mission to improve the air traffic control system. Airspace will be safer, airports will be used more efficiently, fuel will be saved, the environmental impact will lessen, on-time statistics will improve, air traffic holds will be all but eliminated, and hours spent on the runway during tarmac delays will end.

So far, after years of promises and billions of dollars being spent, the FAA, tasked with the upgrade job, is not coming through. Does Congress need to change the FAA mission or split its role in regulation from its often conflicting role in implementing? Or, is the old system that still uses radar from the 1960s “good enough”? How this will play out is anyone’s guess.

However, no matter what one thinks about the air traffic reorganization portion of this bill, it has more good news for consumers than has ever been packed into an FAA bill. And, there is more to come as negotiations begin between consumer advocates, the Senate Commerce Committee and House Transportation staff on the final version of this bill. This is the result of consumers, led by Travelers United, having a seat at the table during this entire multiyear bill-making process. This has never happened before. Here is the basic outline of consumer benefits in the bill as it now stands.

• Requires airlines to refund baggage fees for bags delayed more than 24 hours on domestic flights
• Bans use of cell phones for in-flight voice communications on scheduled passenger flights
• Ensures that airlines notify passengers of their consumer rights
• Extends the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection
• Authorizes DOT to establish a smartphone application for consumer complaints
• Requires large and medium airports to provide private rooms in every terminal for nursing mothers
• Requires airlines to notify families before tickets are booked if family members are assigned separated seats
• Maintains reforms to programs for service at small and rural airports

The consumer voice is being heard. Let’s look at the details. Plus, in each case, Travelers United is working to strengthen the legislative language that provides these protections.

Refunds for baggage fees when it is not delivered within 24 hours
Anyone who has been separated from their baggage during airline travels knows that the airlines have steadfastly refused to refund baggage fees, even when the bags don’t arrive. Finally, last year DOT mandated that airlines must refund baggage fees when baggage is lost completely, but for most consumers the hassles come when the baggage does not arrive together with passengers and then is delivered late. This legislation is a move in the right direction and will light a fire under the airlines to do a better job.

Cell phone use on planes
Consumers have been loud and clear about not wanting to be subjected to yammering cell phone calls while in the air. This bill will end that discussion as well as any other discussions in the air on cell phones. Texting will be allowed and the Internet use won’t be affected, but voice calls will.

Notification of passengers about consumer rights
Much of the consumer protection rules are hard to dig out from reams of regulation and the airline contracts of carriage. However, only three instances will result in passengers getting compensation — lost/delayed luggage, denied boarding (bumping), and delays on flights to and from Europe. Other than those three issues, consumers do not get any compensation. This bill will require airlines to let passengers clearly know their rights.

Reauthorization of the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections
This unique consumer-focused committee will be continued for another six years with this bill. Travelers United is attempting to get the committee extended for a longer term and make it permanent. Plus, the committee could use additional funding to help bring in witnesses for its hearings. Over the past two years, this advisory committee has been the focus on consumer protection debates in Washington. Issues have ranged from privacy protections to personal space on airplanes and from educating consumers about their rights to controlling cell phone use on planes. As is evident, the work of the committee has affected this legislation.

A new DOT consumer complaint smartphone app
During the past four years, DOT has dramatically improved its complaint process. Today, the DOT system is considered one of the best in the government. Their Web forms are easy to find and easy to fill out. The addition of a smartphone interface proposed by Travelers United, which will make filing complaints easier and more timely, is a big step and should result in more scrutiny of airline customer protections.

Nursing mothers’ rooms at airports
This law will insure privacy for those who want it when breast-feeding their children.

Family notification of seating together
This part of the law is lame at the very best. Travelers United efforts have been directed at the upcoming DOT rule making that will require airlines to be transparent about their baggage and seat-reservation charges. This will ultimately be what changes the airline rules for seating families together. Once airlines begin to compete when it comes to families sitting together, the seating world will change.

All in all, this bill promises to be a boon for passengers and additional consumer protections may be added as Congressional discussions continue over the next month.

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