U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today proposed new consumer protections for air travelers, building on the Department of Transportation’s recent rule banning carriers from subjecting passengers to long tarmac delays and other deceptive practices. Specifically, the new proposed rule would: increase compensation for passengers involuntarily bumped from flights allow passengers to make and cancel reservations within 24 hours without penalty require full and prominently displayed disclosure of baggage fees as well as refunds and expense reimbursement when bags are not delivered on time require fair price advertisingprohibit price increases after a ticket is purchased mandate timely notice of flight status changesComments on the proposal are due in 60 days. The text of the proposed rule and comments are available on the Internet at www.regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2010-0140.Source: DOT press release of June 2, 2010; find full text here>>.
