File a Consumer Complaint
Before you contact DOT for help with an air travel problem, you should give the airline a chance to resolve it. Airlines have trouble-shooters at the airports, usually called Customer Service Representatives, who can take care of many problems on the spot. They may be able to arrange meals and hotel rooms for stranded passengers, write checks if you’re bumped from your flight, help with baggage issues, and settle other routine claims or complaints.
If you can’t resolve the problem at the airport, you may want to file a complaint with the airline. DOT requires airlines to acknowledge consumer complaints within 30 days of receiving them and to send consumers written responses addressing these complaints within 60 days of receiving them. DOT also requires airlines to let consumers know how to complain to them.
It’s often best to email or write to the airline’s consumer office at its corporate headquarters. DOT requires airlines that fly to, from, or within the United States to state on their websites how and where complaints can be submitted. There may be a form on the airline’s website for this purpose.
If you feel that the airline does not resolve the issue to your satisfaction, you may want to file a complaint with DOT. You may also file a complaint with DOT if you feel that you experienced unlawful discriminatory treatment in air travel by airline employees or the airline’s contractors on the basis of disability or on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), religion, or ancestry.
Safety and Security Complaints
Please note that aviation safety and security complaints are not handled by DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division.
- If you have a concern about airline safety (airline and airplane safety, emergency exit seating, low-flying aircraft, pilot licensing and related issues), please visit the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) website to report a safety-related issue.
- If you have a concern about aviation security (passenger screening, the “no-fly” list, the baggage screening process, and related issues), call the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) toll-free at 1-866-289-9673 or email TSA. For additional information, visit the TSA website.
Contact Us By Mail
If you wish to submit a complaint to DOT via written letter, please feel free to do so using the contact information below. When mailing a letter, please include your full address, email address, and phone number as well as complete and accurate information about your trip and the problem you had or are having.
- Contact us by mail – To contact us by mail, please send your correspondence to the below address.
- Office of Aviation Consumer Protection
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
- Office of Aviation Consumer Protection
How the Complaint Process Works
For Disability and Discrimination Complaints
- DOT will forward your complaint to the airline, and the airline will be required to respond to you and the DOT.
- Once the airline’s response is received, DOT will review your complaint and the airline’s response to determine if a violation occurred.
- Once your case has been reviewed, an analysis with DOT's findings will be mailed to you.
- Please note that due to the volume of cases received, and the thoroughness of this process, it may take some time to fully process your case.
For All Other Complaints
- DOT will direct the identified airline and/or ticket agent to respond directly to you regarding your complaint. DOT will also require that a copy of the response be provided to it.
- Except for civil rights complaints, DOT does not investigate every air travel service complaint received due to the volume of complaints received. Instead, DOT conducts targeted or sample reviews of complaints to determine airlines' and travel agencies' compliance with aviation consumer protection requirements.
- Every month, DOT publishes its Air Travel Consumer Report, which contains information about the number of complaints we receive about each airline and what problems people are having. This report is made available to the public so that consumers and air travel companies can compare the complaint records of individual airlines and tour operators. In addition to complaints, the report also contains statistics that the airlines file with us on flight delays, cancellations, bumping, mishandled baggage, and other helpful information.
How Do Consumer Complaints Help DOT?
Complaints from consumers help DOT spot problem areas and trends in the airline industry. Complaints can lead to enforcement action against an airline when a serious violation of the law has occurred. Complaints may also be the basis for rulemaking actions.