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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) on Monday called on the House Members of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Conference Committee to include his Airline Passenger Bill of Rights in the long-term FAA authorization bill.
The Airline Passenger Bill of Rights would ensure that passengers are given the option to deplane after three hours.
In addition it would require that fliers are provided with basic necessities, including access to food and water, comfortable cabin temperatures, and adequate restroom facilities.
“The Senate has acted and put consumers first by including the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights in their FAA bill – now it is time for the House to agree to do the same,” said Thompson. “Air carriers have a responsibility to provide basic services and accommodations to their passengers, and the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights would ensure they meet this responsibility.”
The Passenger Bill of Rights was included in the Senate version of the FAA Authorization bill, S. 223.
The House version of the FAA Authorization bill, H.R. 658, did not include specific language ensuring passengers could deplane after three hours on the tarmac.
House and Senate members are expected to meet in conference committee on Tuesday to discuss the final language of the legislation, including the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights protections.
Negotiations between the House and Senate conferees are expected to be completed by Feb. 17, when the current FAA bill expires.
Currently, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has rules in place saying that passengers must be given the opportunity to deplane after three hours and are provided with basic necessities.
However, these rules can be rescinded now, or at any time in the future under a current or future administration.
The DOT rules also do not require the airports themselves to have emergency contingency plans for meeting these rules.
Having the language written in law, as Thompson is calling for, would ensure that consumers are guaranteed these protections now and in the future.
Congressman Mike Thompson represents California’s First Congressional District, which includes the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa and Yolo. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson also is a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Main Street Association is currently conducting a survey of Lakeport businesses to help direct future programs for business improvement and recruitment.
All existing Lakeport businesses are encouraged to take the short survey online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2658JMT, or use the link on the home page of the association Web site at www.lakeportmainstreet.com.
Paper forms of the survey also are available at the Lakeport Main Street Association desk in the lobby of Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St., or you can request one at 707-263-8843 or
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Pam Scully of Lakeport Furniture hosts at 302 S. Main St.
Meet and greet starts at 5:30 p.m.
Complimentary appetizers and water will be provided and there will be a no host wine/beer bar.
The Business of the Quarter will be awarded and there will be door prizes, too.
For more information contact Executive Director Carol Hays at 707-263-8843.
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The new protections, put in place by the Department of Transportation (DOT), require that airlines and ticket agents include all mandatory taxes and fees in published airfares and that they disclose baggage fees to consumers buying tickets.
“Starting this week, there will be more transparency when it comes to the cost of flying,” said Thompson. “Passengers have rights, and now because of the new DOT regulations airlines will no longer be able to hide costs and fees from consumers.”
Specifically, the new rules will make it easier for passengers to determine the full price they will have to pay for air transportation prior to travel.
Currently, airlines and ticket agents are allowed to publish ads that list government-imposed taxes and fees separately from the advertised fare, as long as these taxes and fees are assessed on a per-passenger basis.
However, sometimes the notice of these taxes and fees is not obvious to consumers. Under the new requirements, all mandatory taxes and fees must be included together in the advertised fare.
In addition, airlines and ticket agents will be required to disclose baggage fees to consumers when they book a flight online.
The first screen containing a fare quotation for a specific itinerary must show if there will be additional baggage fees, and inform consumers where they can go to see these fees.
Information on baggage fees also must be included on all e-ticket confirmations, and for most trips the same baggage allowances and fees must apply throughout a passenger’s journey.
These consumer protections build on rules announced in August that expanded the existing ban on lengthy tarmac delays to cover foreign airlines’ operation at U.S. airports and established a four hour time limit on tarmac delays for international flights. Under the regulations, carriers must ensure that passengers stuck on the tarmac are provided adequate food and water after two hours, as well as working restrooms.
Exceptions to the four hour rule will only be allowed for safety, security, or air traffic control reasons. These same protections are included in the Air Passenger Bill of Rights Act (H.R. 729), a bill Thompson introduced in February.
Also beginning this week, passengers will be able to hold a reservation without payment, or cancel a booking without penalty, for 24 hours after the reservation is made, if they make the reservation one week or more prior to a flight’s departure date.
In addition, airlines will be required to promptly notify passengers of flight delays of over 30 minutes, as well as flight cancellations and diversions, and they will generally be prohibited from increasing the price of passengers’ ticket after it is bought.