Baggage Liabilty Limits

If your bag is lost, damaged, delayed or pilfered, the airline is free to invoke a limit on the settlement that it offers you.

Cancellation penalties

We would like to call your attention to several consumer-related issues concerning the new fare structure recently announced by American.  American's April 10 newspaper advertisement states that all tickets will be subject to a penalty of $25 if the passenger wishes to change his or her...

Spirit Airlines Strike

Spirit Airlines' pilots went on strike on June 12, and the carrier has been canceling all of its flights on a day-to-day basis. If you are holding a reservation for an upcoming Spirit flight, visit the carrier's website (www.spirit.com) for additional information and then call the carrier's...

Notice of enforcement policy: oversale notice for foreign carriers

This notice provides guidance for foreign air carriers regarding the content of the written explanation on denied boarding compensation and boarding priorities that carriers must provide to passengers who are denied boarding involuntarily, and to other interested persons at a U.S. airport upon...

Reporting of oversales: misreporting involuntary bumpings as voluntary, failing to report bumped passengers that are ineligible for compensation

This letter concerns the “Report of Passengers Denied Confirmed Space” (Form 251, copy enclosed), sometimes referred to as the “Bumping Report.” The submission of this form is required of certain U.S. and foreign airlines in order to provide the Department of Transportation (DOT) with...

DOT Issues Two Fines Against Passenger Carriers for Tarmac Delay Violations

DOT Issues Two Fines Against Passenger Carriers for Tarmac Delay Violations

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation closed 2012 with fines against two airlines for violating federal rules that limit how long an aircraft with passengers aboard may be delayed on the...

Virgin America Inc. 2012-12-20

This consent order concerns violations of 14 CFR Part 259 and 49 U.S.C. § 41712 by Virgin America Inc. (Virgin America) when it failed to inform passengers on a flight delayed at the gate for a lengthy period of time of the opportunity to deplane. This order directs Virgin America to cease and...

Copa Airlines, Inc. 2012-12-18

This consent order concerns violations by Copa Airlines, Inc., (Copa) of 14 CFR Parts 259 and 244 and 49 U.S.C. §§ 41712 and 41708. Specifically, the carrier failed to adhere to the assurances in its contingency plan for lengthy tarmac delays that the carrier (1) would not allow an aircraft to...

Rights of small entities to enforcement fairness, and policy against retaliation

General

DOT has a policy regarding the rights of small entities to regulatory enforcement fairness and an explicit policy against retaliation for exercising these rights. The policy is as stated below.

Your Rights to Enforcement Fairness

Our objective is to ensure a fair...

World Travel Network, LLC 2012-12-19

This order concerns advertisements by World Travel Network, LLC (WTN), that violated the advertising requirements specified in 14 CFR 399.84 and the statutory prohibition against unfair and deceptive practices and unfair methods of competition, 49 U.S.C. § 41712. It directs WTN to cease and...