Lost bag: US airlines face fee refund
UNITED States airlines must offer bag fee refunds for losing luggage, according to a new regulation aimed at holding carriers more accountable for service lapses that include 2 million lost bags annually.
The Transportation Department order unveiled yesterday also doubles the penalty for involuntarily "bumping" passengers from sold-out flights and builds on steps initiated previously by the agency or ordered by Congress to address passenger complaints.
The airline industry relies on a range of fees for bags, drinks, preferred seating and other services to supplement what it collects in fares.
Airlines collected more than US$2.5 billion in bag fees alone last year, the latest government estimates show.
But passengers, transportation officials and members of Congress are frustrated with escalating airline-related prices, claims of hidden charges, and difficulty gaining redress if something goes wrong.
"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," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.
Airlines, which want government to reduce regulation, taxes and fees, are already required to reimburse passengers for reasonable expenses if their luggage is lost or damaged.
But the new rule taps into bag fees - a particular sore spot with consumers who had to put up with 2 million lost bags in 2010, government figures show.
Airlines in recent years have charged up to US$25 to check one bag and up to US$35 for each additional piece of luggage that must be loaded and stowed under the cabin. Higher charges are imposed for oversized or overweight bags. More than 700 million passengers fly annually but not all check in bags.
In addition to the refund requirement, the new regulation also:
? Requires airlines to prominently disclose all potential fees on their websites, including for bags, meals, canceling or changing reservations, and seating upgrades.
? Doubles the amount of possible compensation when passengers on oversold planes are "bumped" or involuntarily placed on another flight. Currently, "bumped" passengers can collect compensation equal to the value of their tickets - up to US$400 - with certain restrictions.
? Expands the existing ban on lengthy runway delays to cover flights operated by overseas airlines at US airports.
The Transportation Department order unveiled yesterday also doubles the penalty for involuntarily "bumping" passengers from sold-out flights and builds on steps initiated previously by the agency or ordered by Congress to address passenger complaints.
The airline industry relies on a range of fees for bags, drinks, preferred seating and other services to supplement what it collects in fares.
Airlines collected more than US$2.5 billion in bag fees alone last year, the latest government estimates show.
But passengers, transportation officials and members of Congress are frustrated with escalating airline-related prices, claims of hidden charges, and difficulty gaining redress if something goes wrong.
"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," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.
Airlines, which want government to reduce regulation, taxes and fees, are already required to reimburse passengers for reasonable expenses if their luggage is lost or damaged.
But the new rule taps into bag fees - a particular sore spot with consumers who had to put up with 2 million lost bags in 2010, government figures show.
Airlines in recent years have charged up to US$25 to check one bag and up to US$35 for each additional piece of luggage that must be loaded and stowed under the cabin. Higher charges are imposed for oversized or overweight bags. More than 700 million passengers fly annually but not all check in bags.
In addition to the refund requirement, the new regulation also:
? Requires airlines to prominently disclose all potential fees on their websites, including for bags, meals, canceling or changing reservations, and seating upgrades.
? Doubles the amount of possible compensation when passengers on oversold planes are "bumped" or involuntarily placed on another flight. Currently, "bumped" passengers can collect compensation equal to the value of their tickets - up to US$400 - with certain restrictions.
? Expands the existing ban on lengthy runway delays to cover flights operated by overseas airlines at US airports.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔$粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.