Airline alliance improvements for business travelers often mean worse service for vacation fliers. You may have read stories about international airline alliance improvements for their passengers. However, the “improvements” are focused on business...
Delta and Air France/KLM have proposed merging transatlantic operations in all but name Delta Air Lines and Air France/KLM are already in an unholy airline alliance called SkyTeam. That alliance, while approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT), is part...
The biggest threats to a free market in international aviation are anti-consumer airline alliances. Though around 20 airlines provide trans-Atlantic flights, only three alliances with antitrust immunized carriers (one within each alliance) combine to carry over 82...
In preparation for Senate testimony on airline consolidation, I have been researching the inexorable consolidation of the airline industry. This consolidation has been taking two tracks. First, airlines are merging. Second, antitrust immunity granted to airline...
“I think we are seeing an evolution, seeing these alliances become tighter-knit partnerships,” noted AMR, parent company of American Airlines, chief financial officer Tom Horton at a recent travel conference. Those are words that should terrify passengers,...
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.
