President Obama introduced new regulations on airline carriers earlier this week because, as he described in his weekly address on Saturday, Americans deserve better flying experiences, even if it will never quite rival Air Force One’s commodities.
“I’m going to be honest with you — one of the best parts of being president is having your own plane. And I’m going to miss it. A lot. Because up until I ran for this office, I was mostly flying coach so I know what a pain the whole process can be — from searching for the best prices to that feeling you get when the baggage carousel stops and yours still hasn’t come out,” Obama said.
Under the Department of Transportation’s guidance, the 700 million annual domestic passengers will not be charged for services they do receive and will be given refunds for delayed baggage services. The actions come six months after the administration had announced the executive order to create a plan to boost competition between airline carriers and improve consumers’ experiences when flying last April.
If passengers are charged a fee by an airline for their checked baggage, they should expect to receive that baggage in a timely manner, according to Obama. The administration will now require airlines to reimburse bag fees when bags are lost.
Airline companies will also be banned from cherry-picking data about their performance, which will provide consumers with more information before making a decision about the company to choose for a flight.
Online ticket agents will be required to disclose whether they are rewarded or compensated for getting customers to purchase from a particular airline.
“All of this should help you make better decisions for yourselves and your families — and hopefully avoid a few headaches, too. It’s another example of how government can be a force for good — standing up for consumers; ensuring businesses compete fairly to give you the best services at the best prices; and making sure everyday Americans have a voice in the conversation — not just corporate shareholders,” Obama finished.
The Transportation Department is looking into additional regulations, including banning airlines from making customers pay for flight, seat assignment, boarding preference and baggage separately. In addition, travel agents may have to adopt minimum customer service standards, including the right for customers to cancel a reservation within 24 hours and receive a refund.
