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Apr-17-2008US Proposes Auctioning Runway Slots to Curb Delays at La Guardia(topic overview)
CONTENTS:
- 'We are taking steps to improve the travel experience, cut delays and lower fares in one of America's busiest aviation markets,' Secretary Peters said. (More...)
- Although in the works for months, the rule is going into effect as U.S. airlines are caught in a storm of bad news concerning aircraft safety, airplane maintenance, flight cancellations and poor treatment of passengers. (More...)
- A new website called Delaycast has just gone into beta. (More...)
- Over the next five years, 8 percent of the additional slots currently used by an airline would be made available to any carrier via an auction. (More...)
- LaGuardia is one of the nation's busiest airports - and one of the most plagued by chronic delays, even though the number of daily flights was capped by the government 40 years ago. (More...)
- "By overbooking - that actually has the effect of holding ticket prices down a bit," Kasper said. (More...)
- Fortunately, systemic delays don't happen often. (More...)
- DOT said it also would make the rules applicable to aircraft that seat between 30 and 60 people, which previously had been exempt from the denied boarding standards. (More...)
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'We are taking steps to improve the travel experience, cut delays and lower fares in one of America's busiest aviation markets,' Secretary Peters said. The Department today finalized changes to its so-called bumping rule, which doubles the limit on compensation airlines must pay passengers who are involuntarily bumped from their flight. Under the new rule which goes into effect next month, fliers who are involuntarily bumped would receive up to $400 if they are rescheduled to reach their destination within two hours of their original arrival time or four hours for international flights, and up to $800 if they are not rerouted within that timeframe. The new rule also covers more flights, including those operated with aircraft seating 30 people or more; the current rule covers flights with 60 seats or more. The amount of these payments are determined by the price of the ticket and the length of the delay, and are in addition to the value of the passenger's ticket, which the flyer can use for alternate transportation or have refunded if not used. 'It's hard to compensate for a missed family occasion or business opportunity, but this rule will ensure flyers are more fairly reimbursed for their inconvenience,' Secretary Peters said. The Secretary also announced new air traffic measures designed to help cut delays this summer. [1] Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced a series of steps it said would improve passenger protections, reduce congestion in the skies and improve consumer choices. The Transportation Department finalized changes to its so-called bumping rule, doubling the limit on compensation airlines must pay passengers who are involuntarily bumped from their flights. The new rule, which takes effect in May, gives involuntarily bumped fliers up to $400 if they are rescheduled to reach their destination within two hours of the original arrival time (or four hours for international flights), and up to $800 if they are delayed more than two hours. The regulation also covers more flights, including those involving planes seating 30 passengers or more, versus the current rule covering those with 60 seats or more.' We are taking steps to improve the travel experience, cut delays and lower fares in one of America's busiest aviation markets,' Secretary Peters said.[2]
Passengers who get bumped off overbooked flights will soon be eligible to receive twice as much compensation from U.S. airlines. The Transportation Department finalized changes to its so-called bumping rule, which doubles the limit on compensation airlines must pay passengers who are involuntarily bumped from their flight. Under the new rule, travelers forced onto another flight that takes them to their destination more than two hours after their original arrival time will be eligible to receive the full price of their fare, up to $800.[3] The news has been consistently lousy for airline passengers lately. There's some good news for those who get bumped from airline flights. They'll be eligible to get twice as much compensation from U.S. airlines. A new Transportation Department rule set to take effect next month covers travelers forced onto another flight that takes them to their U.S. destination more than two hours after their original arrival time. They'll be paid the full price of their fare up to $800.[4]
The latest government action comes on the heels of maintenance-related investigations that unveiled a cozy relationship between carriers and regulators, and led to the grounding of hundreds of planes and the grumbling of thousands of upended passengers. The industry has its own bittersweet scenario to stomach. Although there's never been a safer period in history to travel on domestic airlines, they are buckling under record fuel prices and have fewer options available to ease financial losses. Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. announced their plan to combine on Monday, and many carriers already have announced cuts in capacity, higher ticket prices and extra fees for checking baggage and other features. The Transportation Department said the passenger compensation increase is its latest effort to bolster consumer protection at a time when airline delays are flirting with record levels. Travelers forced onto another flight that takes them to their domestic destination more than two hours after their original arrival time will be paid the full price of their fare up to $800, under a new Transportation Department rule that goes into effect next month.[5] WASHINGTON, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Transportation Department announced on Wednesday several measures to reduce air travel delays, including doubling the compensation for passengers who are refused to board on overbooked flights. According to the transportation department's new rule, travelers who are forced to take other flights that take them to their domestic destinations more than two hours later than their original arrival time would be paid the full price of the fare up to 800 U.S. dollars, doubling the limit of 400 dollars since 1978. For those whose arrival time is less than two hours later than their original arrival time, the new compensation limit for domestic flights is 400 dollars instead of 200 dollars, says the new rule that applies to all airplanes carrying more than 30 passengers. "It's hard to compensate for a missed family occasion or business opportunity, but this rule will ensure flyers are more fairly reimbursed for their inconvenience," said Transportation Secretary Mary Peters in a statement.[6] It's a new rule that may not be much help to you if you're travelling within Canada, but it could mean you get more compensation if you're bumped off a flight in the United States. A new U.S. Transportation Department measure means that any traveller who can't get on their scheduled domestic American flight will have to be paid the full price of their fare up to a maximum of $800 (US) if they arrive at their destination more than two hours after their original arrival time - if they've been bumped to another plane. If a passenger arrives at their destination less than two hours after their original arrival time they can get compensation up to $400. This doubles the amount of funds delayed travellers could previously get.[7] Passengers who get bumped off overbooked U.S. airline flights will soon be eligible for higher compensation. The new U.S. Transportation Department rule going into effect next month says if bumped passengers arrive less than two hours after their original arrival time, the new compensation limit for domestic flights is $400.[8]
Ms. Grearson said some airlines have cut back recently by restricting the destinations on the free ticket or offering only a $200 voucher. The result has been a sharp increase in the dreaded involuntary bump -- when passengers are barred from the flight against their will. Those folks are still rewarded, and the U.S. Department of Transportation announced yesterday that they will be better compensated. Under new rules that go into effect next month, involuntarily bumped travelers will receive the cost of their ticket up to $800 -- double the previous limit -- if they are rescheduled to arrive at their destination more than two hours later than the original time.[9] The department also issued new rules designed to relieve air traffic congestion including reducing the takeoff/landing slots at La Guardia Airport and opening up another west-bound route. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters outlined the new bumping rules, which would take effect in May, and said involuntarily bumped passengers would receive up to $400 if the airline could get them to the destination within 2 hours domestically and 4 hours for international flights.[10] If you get bumped, the airlines get thumped, under a new rule. The feds yesterday announced they are doubling the limits on compensation to passengers who are grounded because airlines overbooked their flights. "It's hard to compensate for a missed family occasion or business opportunity, but this rule will ensure fliers are more fairly reimbursed for their inconvenience," Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said. Starting next month, domestic travelers will be eligible to receive up to $400 if they are bumped to a flight that arrives less than two hours later than the originally scheduled flight or four hours for international trips.[11]
April 16 (Bloomberg) -- Airline passengers will get doubled payments for being involuntarily bumped from flights and carriers would be forced to buy some landing rights at New York's LaGuardia airport, under U.S. rules announced today. The maximum penalties for airlines ' shuffling of travelers will rise to $400 if fliers arrive within two hours of their original schedule, and $800 if not.[12] Airlines ordered to pay more to people bumped off flights Boston Globe WASHINGTON - Airline passengers will get doubled payments for being involuntarily bumped from flights and carriers would be forced to buy some landing rights at New York's LaGuardia Airport, under U.S. rules announced yesterday.[13]
The Department of Transportation said that there were 55,828 passengers involuntarily bumped in 2006 by the 19 largest U.S. airlines, carriers whose denied boarding rate is tracked in the department's monthly Air Travel Consumer Report. That is 1.01 denied boardings per 10,000 passengers, and that climbed to 1.12 for 2007. The new rule also covers more flights, including those flying 30 people or more.[14] Washington DC ' The Transportation Department has ordered airlines to double the compensation paid to ticket buyers who are involuntarily bumped from their flights. Under the new rules, people could get as much as $800 ' this money is in addition to being booked on another flight to the passenger's destination.[10] Passengers who get bumped involuntarily from oversold flights can expect double the compensation, under a new Department of Transportation rule to take effect in May. Fliers who are involuntarily bumped would get up to $400 if they are rescheduled to reach their destination within two hours of their original arrival time or four hours for international flights, and up to $800 if they are delayed longer.[15] Though the ruling came amid fierce opposition from air carriers, DOT said it would go into effect in 30 days. Under the rule, passengers who are involuntarily bumped would receive compensation equal to their one-way fare up to $400 if they are rescheduled to reach their destination within two hours of their original arrival time for domestic and four hours for international flights, and $800 if they reach their destination after those times. "It has been 25 years since the rule was last revised, and the existing $200 and $400 limits on the amount of required denied boarding compensation for passengers involuntarily denied boarding have not been raised since 1978," DOT said in the filing. "The Department has received recommendations from various sources that it reexamine its oversales rule and, in particular, the maximum amounts of compensation set forth in the rule."[16] Passengers bumped off oversold flights will receive twice as much money from offending airlines, according to rules released by the federal government Wednesday. Travelers who are involuntarily bumped will receive up to $400 if they are rescheduled to reach their destination within two hours of their original arrival time on domestic flights, or four hours for international flights. That goes up to up to $800 if they are not rerouted within that time frame. For the past 30 years, there has been a ceiling of $200 and $400 in those two categories. That could add up for an industry that is increasingly denying passengers the right to board flights they have tickets for.[14] Wednesday, the DOT also doubled the limit on compensation the airlines must ay passengers who are involuntarily bumped from flights. Effective next month, travelers would receive up to $400 cash if they reach their destination within two hours of their original arrival time, or four hours for international flights. Bumped passengers would also receive up to $800 if they arrive after that two hour period.[17]
Airline passengers involuntarily bumped from oversold flights will receive as much as $800 in compensation - double the current limit - under new federal rules announced yesterday in a move the government hopes will increase protections for passengers bedeviled by increasing congestion and delays. Such passengers rescheduled to arrive more than two hours late at their domestic destination will be entitled to twice the cost of their ticket, up to $800. Those delayed between one and two hours will receive the value of their ticket, up to $400.[18] When carriers must deny passenger boardings involuntarily, federal rules and penalties apply. Last year, an estimated 622,000 passengers voluntarily gave up their seats on overbooked flights, while nearly 64,000 were involuntarily bumped. Under new rules, passengers who are involuntarily bumped will receive up to $400 if they reach their destination within two hours of their original arrival time (four hours for international destinations).[19] While meant to provide some financial relief to passengers, the rule could wind up raising fares. Groups representing both large and regional carriers blanched at the decision and said their members may have no choice but to bump up ticket prices and end service to smaller cities. If bumped passengers arrive less than two hours after their original arrival time, the new compensation limit for domestic flights is $400, according to the new rule.[20] The new rule comes into effect next month. Bumped passengers who arrive within two hours of their original arrival time will now be paid up to $400 for domestic flights.[21]
U.S. Dept. of Transportation yesterday unveiled initiatives it promised would "strengthen passenger protections, improve consumer choice and reduce congestion," including doubling the maximum compensation owed to passengers bumped from oversold flights and its intention to auction off slots at New York LaGuardia. Under the new rule effective next month, passengers bumped involuntarily will be owed a maximum of $400 if they are rescheduled on a flight that will arrive at their destination within 2 hr. domestically or 4 hr. internationally or up to $800 if they are not.[22] WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is raising the stakes in its effort to introduce more market-based approaches to relieve crowding in the nation's airways. Under a proposal announced Wednesday, airlines would be required to put up a portion of their closely guarded landing slots at New York's La Guardia Airport for auction each year for the next five years. The Transportation Department also made final a rule to double to as much as $800 the maximum amounts airlines are required to pay passengers who are bumped from flights against their will.[23] The move, aimed at reducing delay, drew criticism from the Port Authority, Gov. David Paterson and Senator Charles Schumer. The Transportation Department made a final rule to double as much as $800 the maximum amounts airlines are required to pay passengers who are bumped from flights against their will. The proposal would require airlines to put up a portion of their landing spots at the New York airport for auction each year for the next five years.[17]
Transportation Department officials also announced plans to add new routes out of the New York City area that could help reduce delays. "This proposal increases choices for passengers and adds competition, which is proven to lower fares," Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said. "It also cuts delays." The most controversial component of the proposal is that major airlines already at LaGuardia would lose up to 20% of their existing flights at the airport. Those flights would be auctioned to the highest bidder, beginning as early as the end of the year, said D.J. Gribbin, general counsel for the Transportation Department. The federal government is hoping that increased competition ultimately will force airlines to attempt to keep their costs down by flying larger planes into LaGuardia, Gribbin said. Larger planes would allow more passengers to fly into the constricted airport without adding delays, he said.[24] The idea of auctioning flight slots is justified by some as an impetus to get the big airlines like American and Delta to use bigger planes instead of more smaller ones, thus creating more space on the runways. Some regulators say this could be advantageous to some low cost airlines that until now have been shut out of LaGuardia due to space restrictions. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters says, "This proposal increases choices for passengers and adds competition, which is proven to lower fares. It also cuts delays and funds new aviation capacity projects for the region.'''[25]
'We are taking steps to improve the travel experience, cut delays and lower fares in one of America's busiest aviation markets,' U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters said. The new rule also covers more flights, including those operated with aircraft seating 30 people or more; the current rule covers flights with 60 seats or more. The amount of these payments are determined by the price of the ticket and the length of the delay, and are in addition to the value of the passenger's ticket, which the flyer can use for alternate transportation or have refunded if not used. 'It's hard to compensate for a missed family occasion or business opportunity, but this rule will ensure flyers are more fairly reimbursed for their inconvenience,' Peters said.[3] Any compensation is in addition to the value of the ticket, which the passenger can use for alternate transportation or have refunded if not used. The new rule extends required compensation to smaller regional jets - those with 30 seats and up - a move the U.S. Transportation Department said was appropriate as big airlines increasingly use regional carriers to ferry passengers to connecting flights.[18] A new rule doubling the maximum compensation for bumped passengers was part of a package of measures announced by the Transportation Department to strengthen consumer protections and ease flight delays.[26]
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Transportation Department is doubling the available compensation for passengers who get bumped off overbooked flights. Travelers forced onto another flight that takes them to their destination more than two hours after their original arrival time will be eligible to receive the full price of their fare, up to $800.[27] The Transportation Department also announced Wednesday that it will double the compensation airlines must give passengers who are involuntarily bumped from flights. Passengers who are bumped from flights will receive $400 if they arrive at their destination within two hours of their original schedule, or $800 if they arrive later.[24]
Regional airlines fly a large number of planes with fewer than 60 seats and often have higher bumping rates than the big carriers. Passengers who are involuntarily bumped will receive up to $400 if they reach their destination within two hours of their original arrival time (four hours for international destinations).[26]
DOT finalized a rule to double the maximum amounts airlines are required to pay passengers when they are bumped from flights against their will. In such cases, airlines are required to refund the cost of the ticket and pay the passenger the equivalent of two one-way fares. Wednesday's action increases the cap on those pay-out amounts to $400 from $200, if passengers are re-routed to reach their destination within two hours for domestic flights, and $800 if they don't reach their destination within that time.[28] Many feel that addressing delays that keep people trapped in cabins for hours on end are what need to be addressed first. The actual compensation for the new bumping rule will give passengers up to $400 if their flights have been rescheduled to arrive within two hours of the original time, or for international flights, within four hours. If this still isn'''t adhered to, up to $800 can be claimed.[29] "Instead of going after the tail that wags the dog, going after the flea on the dog's tail." The new bumping rule would allow passengers inconvenienced by airline overbooking to collect up to $400 if their flights are rescheduled to arrive within two hours of their original schedule, or within four hours for international flights.[30]
The maximum that a flier could receive will double, to $800, under a new federal rule next month. Airlines were ordered Wednesday to pay passengers as much as $800 when they are involuntarily bumped from flights starting next month, the latest sign of a get-tough attitude in Washington toward the nation's air carriers.[26] A new U.S. Department of Transportation rule mandates that U.S. airlines pay the full price of a fare - up to $800 - to travelers who are forced to another flight which results in a more than two-hour arrival delay.[21] The bumped-traveler charge and auctions for airline access to LaGuardia, the nation's most-congested airport in 2007, are part of the Transportation Department's efforts to improve customer service after flight delays reached a seven-year high. Airlines sometimes sell more seats than they have available, betting that some travelers won't show up. When planes are too full, airlines typically offer vouchers or other inducements to find people willing to delay their travel before bumping fliers against their will. Carriers that serve LaGuardia would have as many as 20 percent of their slots auctioned over five years, under a separate proposal the department plans to make final by year's end.[13] Only 58.5 percent of LaGuardia arrivals were on time last year, according to department data. She proposes one of two options. One is to auction 8 percent of airline slots over the next five years, retire 2 percent of the rights to cut delays, and have auction proceeds fund delay-reduction projects. The second plan would auction a fifth of airlines' slots over five years, with carriers retaining the net proceeds. Even without the retirement of slots, this option would ease congestion, D.J. Gribbin, the Transportation Department's general counsel, said on a conference call. Paying for takeoff and landing privileges would spur airlines to fly bigger planes, easing the need to make more flights with smaller jets, he said.[12] The bumped-traveler charge and auctions for airline access to LaGuardia, the nation's most-congested airport in 2007, are part of the Transportation Department's efforts to improve customer service after flight delays reached a seven-year high. AMR Corp.' s American Airlines and carriers that serve LaGuardia would have as many as 20 percent of their slots auctioned over five years, under a separate proposal the department plans to make final by year's end.[12]
Proceeds from the auction would be invested in new congestion reduction and capacity improvement initiatives in the New York region. The second option also gives airlines permanent access to up to 20 slots a day for a 10 year period. Beyond those flights, 20 percent of the slots currently used by the airlines would be made available over the next five years to all airlines through an auction. Under this option, the carriers would retain the net proceeds of the auction. The Secretary said both options provide financial stability to the airlines operating at LaGuardia by providing them with a defined right to operate at the airport for a decade, something they do not have today. These rights are given in recognition of the significant financial investment the airlines have made in the airport's infrastructure, she said.[1]
The previous $200 and $400 limits had not been raised since 1978. To cut delays this summer, the DOT will open an "escape route" into Canadian airspace to alleviate congestion in bad weather around New York and proposed auctioning slots at LaGuardia Airport to force carriers to use it more efficiently. The suggestion set off a firestorm from groups such as the Air Transport Association and the Regional Airline Association, which said the bidding would limit access from small markets, including Memphis. "Clearly, in our view, this is another attempt by this administration to implement the wrong solution at the wrong time," said Roger Cohen, RAA president, who said that with the exception of the days following 9/11, U.S. airlines have never been more challenged than they are with barrels of oil costing $110.[31] April 16, 2008 -- '''Today's rules put forth by the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT), in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), were intended to be a step toward making air transportation more reliable and comfortable for passengers. These rules are not the right solution, and, in the case of the auctioning of slots at LaGuardia, are woefully misguided. In an already difficult economic time, New Yorkers should not be made to shoulder added costs for air travel, and these auctions will increase the price of travel for the 26 million passengers who travel through LaGuardia each year. The last thing the New York economy needs is a blow to its business and tourism sectors by charging passengers more money to visit and do business in New York. '''While the DOT and FAA are making progress through recommendations, such as adding new lanes of air traffic, the LaGuardia auction plan is short-sighted and does not provide a real solution to the problems faced by the exhausted traveling public.[32] 'Our plan strikes a sound balance between protecting investments by incumbent carriers and ensuring that all airlines have the ability to fly to New York's LaGuardia,' Secretary Peters said. Overall, the Secretary said improving the passenger experience is central to the Department's efforts and that she wanted to hear directly from travelers how they are being impacted by problems in the air travel industry. To do so, she has launched a series of Aviation Consumer Forums to hear from consumers and help educate air travelers about their rights and responsibilities.[1]
Under a supplemental rulemaking announced today, the Department is proposing two market-based options that would require a limited number of flights operated by the airlines in a given day, known as slots, to be made available through an auction process. 'This proposal increases choices for passengers and adds competition, which is proven to lower fares. It also cuts delays and funds new aviation capacity projects for the region,' Secretary Peters said.[1] U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters today announced a series of new aviation measures to strengthen passenger protections, improve consumer choice and reduce congestion, including doubling the limits on compensation airlines must pay flyers bumped from oversold flights and establishing operational improvements to cut delays this summer.[1]
Under one new rule, passengers who get bumped off overbooked flights will be eligible to receive twice as much compensation from U.S. airlines.[5] For travellers, getting bumped off a flight is one of the most frustrating experiences possible, and compensation is usually a far cry from actually being compensatory. This week things are set to get a bit better, as the United States government announced new rules for the compensation airlines must pay passengers.[29] In an acknowledgment of the frustrating experience flying can be, the government Wednesday unveiled new rules doubling the amount of money airlines must pay passengers who are bumped from their flights.[30]
The amount of money paid to passengers under the new bumping rule will be determined by the price of the ticket and the length of the delay. It will apply only to travelers who are involuntarily bumped -- not those who willingly take offers of cash and vouchers to give up their seats. The payments will not apply in the case of cancellations, such as the thousands of scrapped flights that hit American last week.[26] The DOT'''s '''bumping rule,''' which would compensate passengers who are involuntarily bumped from flights and delayed, is a good step for passengers, but a stronger stand would be a comprehensive national Passenger Bill of Rights, proposed by New York and fought by the industry.[32]
REPRINTS DOT To Raise Denied Boarding Compensation APRIL 16, 2008 -- The Department of Transportation in a final rule released today said it will double the maximum amount airlines must compensate involuntarily bumped passengers.[16]
There are so many bigger complaints about airline travel today, starting with flight delays that have trapped passengers in plane cabins for hours, that few travel experts seemed impressed by the U.S. Department of Transportation's revised bump rules.[30] The inspections only involved MD-80 aircraft. American Airlines doesn't fly MD-80s out of Bradley International Airport at all, but many of the airport's travelers found their connecting flights at other airports canceled. The U.S. Department of Transportation, in its .Fly-Rights Guide To Air Travel, recommends that travelers book connecting flights through the least congested airport to reduce the risk of delay or missing a connection.[33]
The industry's top lobbyist called the plan "ridiculous" and said it would do nothing to reduce delays at LaGuardia, a popular destination for business travel and for years one of the worst airports in the nation for delayed flights and congestion. "It is truly mystifying, with the airline industry in a financial meltdown due to overwhelming fuel prices, that DOT decides now is time for a costly economics experiment at LaGuardia," said Jim May, chief executive of the industry's chief lobbying group, the Air Transport Association.[34] Part of the reason is that airlines are replacing big planes with smaller ones in an effort to fly with fewer empty seats. The Air Transport Association, which represents the nation's largest carriers, and the Regional Airline Association both submitted comments opposing parts of the new rule. "This administration. is tone deaf to the incredible challenges this industry is going through right now," including record fuel prices and the fact that four small carriers have sought bankruptcy protection in recent weeks amid a recession, said Roger Cohen, president of the Regional Airline Association. "This is not the time to be monkeying around with experiments." The new bumped-passenger fees will make it harder for airlines to justify serving small- and medium-sized communities based on their remote locations, airport facilities and other factors. "They're making it harder, not easier, for people to travel," Cohen said.[20]
The LaGuardia plan is "truly mystifying, with the airline industry in a financial meltdown due to overwhelming fuel prices,'' said James May, president of the Air Transport Association airline trade group, in a statement. Airlines sometimes sell more seats than they have available on each flight, betting that some travelers won't show up. When planes are too full, carriers typically try to find volunteers by offering vouchers and other inducements before bumping fliers against their will.[12]
The arrival time limit is four hours for international flights, and the amount of the payments are in addition to the value of the passenger's ticket, which can be used for alternate transportation or be refunded if unused. Under the congestion-easing plan, carriers will be forced to auction off some of their existing slots at LaGuardia over the next five years and possibly retire others.[5] The compensation formula hasn't been updated in 30 years, when a limit of $200 for domestic flights and $400 for international flights was set. "It's hard to compensate for a missed family occasion or business opportunity, but this rule will ensure fliers are more fairly reimbursed for their inconvenience," Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said in a statement.[30] The new bumped fliers rule applies to more planes, covering most aircraft that carry more than 30 passengers. "It's hard to compensate for a missed family occasion or business opportunity, but this rule will ensure flyers are more fairly reimbursed for their inconvenience," Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said in a statement.[5] How much you get depends on the price of the ticket and the length of the delay, and are in addition to the value of your ticket, which you can use for alternate transportation or have refunded if not used. "It's hard to compensate for a missed family occasion or business opportunity, but this rule will ensure flyers are more fairly reimbursed for their inconvenience," U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters said in a statement released today.[15] U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters described the change as an effort to strengthen passenger protection. "It's hard to compensate for a missed family occasion or business opportunity, but this rule will ensure fliers are more fairly reimbursed for their inconvenience," said Peters.[14]
Although in the works for months, the rule is going into effect as U.S. airlines are caught in a storm of bad news concerning aircraft safety, airplane maintenance, flight cancellations and poor treatment of passengers. [26] The maximum compensation for bumped airline passengers could receive will double, to $800, under a new federal rule next month.[26] A total of 63,878 passengers were involuntarily bumped, according to the agency. For international travelers, the new peak penalty is $400 if they arrive within four hours of their scheduled flight after being bumped, and $800 if they don't.[12] • No compensation for involuntarily bumped travelers who arrive less than one hour late. • Passengers may opt to receive a flight voucherworth more than their compensation amount.[18]
Currently, the rules state that flights with fewer than 60 people don't require compensation for involuntarily bumped passengers. That will be reduced to 30 passengers in May.[10]
The doubling of the compensation was arrived at considering inflation and ticket prices, the government said. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said Wednesday that she is "glad the administration has recognized the frustrations of our airline passengers, thousands of whom have been stranded in recent weeks because of abrupt cancellations and delays." She added, "Providing better compensation for passengers who are bumped from flights is certainly a step in the right direction, but there are underlying passenger rights issues that the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration still have not addressed."[14] The airline industry blames the government for many of the problems facing the nation's air travel system. "The administration is looking for any way it can to mask its failures," said Roger Cohen, president of the Regional Airline Assn., which represents commuter airlines. Doubling the bumped passenger compensation "is simply an arbitrary way to try to indicate that they're doing something." Scott Hamilton, an aviation consultant in Issaquah, Wash., questioned the motives and effectiveness of government actions, saying the results may not always be what they seem or what was intended. The grounding of American's MD-80 jets for what many considered a minor maintenance problem was "ludicrous," he said. Evidence that the government really isn't getting tough on the industry will come, he predicted, when the Transportation Department "rubber-stamps" the Northwest-Delta deal -- a combination that some say could be bad for consumers.[26]
Next month, the U.S. Transportation Department expects to double the amount airlines have to pay for involuntary bumping passengers. Currently, fliers who don't arrive within two hours of their original time get no more than $400.[35] The U.S. Department of Transportation now requires airlines to pay a maximum of $800 when it involuntarily bumps a passenger off an over-booked flight.[36]
Domestic airline delays in 2007 were the second worst on record, according to the Transportation Department, with U.S. flights late more than 26 percent of the time, due in part to congested skies, an aging air-traffic-control system and airlines operating under financial pressure.[30]
The Transportation Department has also authorized a new west-bound airway to relieve east-coast congestion. This is sure to make airlines happy, but another rule has them fuming. Airlines will lose up to 20% of their landing/takeoff slots at LaGuardia Airport. Those slots will then be auctioned off to the highest bidder.[10] Department also proposes auctioning some airline slots at New York's LaGuardia Airport to highest bidder, but some say that would limit access.[31] WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Airlines would have to relinquish some of their coveted takeoff and landing rights at New York's LaGuardia airport under a plan to ease delays announced on Wednesday by the U.S. government.[34] WASHINGTON - Federal officials unveiled a controversial proposal Wednesday to reduce delays at New York's heavily congested LaGuardia Airport by cutting flights and auctioning off the right for new competitors to fly there.[24] The Secretary proposed new optional methods of managing congestion at New York's LaGuardia Airport by requiring a limited number of flights each day to be made available through an auction process. The move, she said, would benefit consumers by increasing competition among air carriers.[2] The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia and New Jersey's Newark Liberty, lauded the opening of new air traffic lanes but echoed Schumer's sentiments on flight caps.[20]
LaGuardia would become the third major airport serving New York City to have flights reduced in recent months as the federal government tries to come up with a solution for the gridlock that plagued the region last summer.[24]
Proceeds would be invested in New York area capacity improvement initiatives. Under the second option, airlines would keep the 20 daily slots, but beyond those flights, 20% of their slots would be made available through auction in the next five years, with proceeds going to the airlines.[22] Proceeds would be invested in congestion reduction and capacity improvement initiatives in the New York region. The second plan also gives airlines permanent access to up to 20 slots a day for 10 years, but would have 20 percent of the current slots auctioned off and the carriers would retain the proceeds.[20]
Peters also proposed auctioning off slots to carriers at New York's crowded LaGuardia Airport.[18] The Secretary said the Department also is proposing a new way to manage congestion at New York's LaGuardia Airport. Even though this facility has been capped since 1968, it is still consistently one of the top three most delayed airports in the nation, she said.[1]
In addition to the bumping rule change, the Transportation Department announced measures to curb congestion at New York's crowded airports, where delays last summer had a domino effect at other airports.[18] Cohen called the new rule an attempt to mask the Transportation Department's failure to improve the nation's airports and infrastructures[30]
"We're trying to get it out in time before summer travel begins," said D.J. Gribbin, general counsel for the Transportation Department, who helped draft the rules change. "We need to make sure that passengers are compensated for the time they've wasted. It's overdue to be increased."[18]
LaGuardia - one of the nation's most congested airports and a bottleneck that is blamed for causing delays throughout the system - would become the test-case for a controversial idea that senior officials at the Transportation Department have long sought to put into practice. "They're under tremendous pressure to ensure that they don't have a repeat of the 2007 summer travel season," said Thomas Zoeller, president of the National Air Carriers Association. "They're looking at LaGuardia as the test-bed for a market-based mechanism to deal with congestion."[28]
"Instead," the Port Authority said in a statement, "the DOT and FAA are choosing to charge passengers more money via an auction without reducing delays and delivering relief." Another victim may be midsize air carriers that connect the city to upstate, who won't be able to outbid major airlines for flight slots, state officials said.[37] "Instead of modernizing a 1950s-era air traffic control system to meet passenger demand for more flights, the (government is) choosing to charge passengers more money via an auction without reducing delays and delivering relief," according to a Port Authority statement. Its solution is more capacity, smarter scheduling and better customer service.[20]
'''I am calling on the Bush Administration to finally take the steps necessary to reduce delays by modernizing a decades-old air traffic control system and providing strong standards for better customer service for every passenger. It is time for the federal government to put the needs of the public ahead of profits, and I plan to provide more detailed remarks during this rule making process.'''[32]
According to the Airline Quality Report, released two weeks ago, passengers have never been so besieged with delays and, frankly, shoddy service, said Dean Headley, professor at Wichita State University and co-author of the report for 18 years. "When airlines are scrambling just to make payroll and buy jet fuel, it's hard to get them motivated to offer the best customer service," he said. "They are not focused on customer service anymore; they are trying to stay in business." The new payouts will pertain for the first time to passengers on planes with as few as 30 seats, putting the onus on regional airlines to step up their accountability, too, experts said.[31] The previous limits had not been raised since 1978. Roger Cohen, president of the Regional Airline Association, said the new fees will make it harder for airlines to justify serving small- and medium-sized communities based on their remote locations, airport facilities and other factors. To further ease delays this summer, planes will be rerouted through Canadian air space to avoid storms and the government will open a second westbound route for aircraft flying from congested New York-area airports, Peters said.[5] In my mind, the main causes of flight delays are: 1) weather 2) technical difficulties in air 3) late take-off due to technical difficulties 4) not being able to land because of issues at destination airport 5) reputation of airline. Other than the reputation of the airline, none of these factors are taken into consideration at Delaycast. All in all, it's surely a novel concept that provides a service if you take it into account when booking flights.[38] For the most part, transfer is voluntary with the airlines involved; promises vary from line to line, and transfers are available only among lines with mutual "interline" agreements to honor each other's tickets. Conditional option 2: Hotel rooms, meals and such, if a delay catches you at a connecting hub. If your delay is at your home airport or your trip destination, the airline will probably not offer those amenities - and it definitely will not if the delay is due to weather. These options can work well when just a few isolated flights are delayed.[39] Ms. Grearson, of Squirrel Hill, is not just a frequent flier, but a frequent bumper. She is more than willing to take an offer of a free airline ticket to forego her seat on an overbooked flight, which often has been the case when she travels home to Alaska. The airline will arrange to get her on the next flight to her destination and usually will provide a travel voucher good for a free round-trip flight, which is more than enough incentive to trade a few extra hours of her time.[9]
DOT said it is doubling those limits to $400 if passengers are re-routed to reach their destination within two hours for domestic flights, and $800 if they do not reach their destination within that time.[40] • Fliers are entitled to double their ticket value, up to $800, if they are rescheduled to arrive more than two hours late on domestic flights and four hours on international ones. • Fliers receive their ticket value, up to $400, if rescheduled to arrive within two hours of their destination time.[18]
If you get bumped from your flight, the airline must pay you up to $400, and get you to your destination within two hours. If they don't, then they'll have to pay you up to $800.[41]
Airlines will pay $400 to passengers involuntarily delayed two hours, $800 if rerouting takes longer.[31]
If a passenger is rerouted within two hours, the new rule offers up to $400.[9] The new rules are a first step, but with delays seeming to occur more often than not, passengers are still a long way from feeling plane travel is a hassle-free experience.[29] The new rule applies to most planes carrying more than 30 passengers and is likely to go into effect next month.[27]
David Castelveter, spokesman for the Air Transport Association of America, a trade group of commercial airlines, said the new bump rules wouldn't lead to increased passenger satisfaction, but the industry would comply.[30] The airlines themselves would keep the sales proceeds. Airlines are permitted to trade and sell slots under current DOT rules, but administration officials complain that established carriers "hoard" more slots than they need. "If we were to do what the airlines want and allow them to operate those slots in perpetuity, new entrants are locked out," said D.J. Gribbin, DOT general counsel.[28] The nation's largest carriers control most of the slots at LaGuardia and don't want to lose or sell them, analysts said. "It is truly mystifying, with the airline industry in a financial meltdown due to overwhelming fuel prices, that DOT decides now is the time for a costly economics experiment at LaGuardia," Air Transport Association President and Chief Executive James May said in a release.[5] The airlines' Washington trade group, the Air Transport Association (ATA), called the proposal "ridiculous" and said the government doesn't have authority to make the changes. "It is truly mystifying, with the airline industry in a financial meltdown due to overwhelming fuel prices, that (the government) decides now is the time for a costly economics experiment at LaGuardia," ATA President James May said.[24]
"As soon as the rule is implemented, our carriers will be in full compliance," said David Castelveter, spokesman for the Air Transport Association in Washington, which represents major U.S. airlines. He said the group had gone to the government seeking the change because the compensation had not been adjusted in decades.[14] A subsequent FAA audit of all major U.S. carriers resulted in American Airlines' canceling thousands of flights last week, which in turn led to renewed calls for increased legal protections for passengers.[26] The only two with higher rates were Atlantic Southeast and Comair, which serve as regional carriers for Delta. Those three carriers combined to bump 2.61 passengers of every 10,000 passengers involuntarily last year. Bumps happen because airlines frequently overbook their flights in order to make sure as many seats are filled as possible.[9] Denied boardings have been on the rise in recent years as airlines have cut capacity even as demand has increased. That makes it harder for carriers to find enough passengers who will voluntarily step off an overbooked flight, even when they are offered vouchers worth hundreds of dollars.[26]
No passenger may be denied boarding on a flight until the airline's agents first solicit volunteers willing be bumped to a later flight in exchange for a voucher, according to government guidelines.[18] While the increased payout for bumped passengers sounds generous, Headley expects few will actually see it because airlines seek unpaid volunteers first. He recommends travelers take note of their worth and prepare to negotiate wisely when they volunteer to give up their seats. For instance, if you're bumped off the last flight of the day, it's perfectly reasonable, he said, to expect to be rebooked the next day, get a voucher for future travel, payment for the night's lodging and any food you're going to need in the meantime.[31] Most air travelers know that airlines sometimes overbook flights and offer passengers money and tickets to voluntarily catch a later flight.[19] Fliers who were bumped voluntarily rose just 0.4 percent, to more than 621,000 passengers, from 2006 to 2007, as the overall number of air travelers climbed 3.5 percent. Those who were removed involuntarily from their flights jumped 15.6 percent, to nearly 64,000 passengers.[9] "A lot of the people we are hearing from are people who have been bumped," said Kate Hanni of Napa, the founder of the Coalition for an Airline Passengers Bill of Rights, a consumer group lobbying for legislation that provides protections for air travelers. "This is real money, in their hands, not something to shake a stick at. That's progress."[14] With airlines tightening capacity, more and more complaints come from travelers who are involuntarily bumped, said Kate Hanni, founder of the Coalition for an Aviation Passenger Bill of Rights.[18]
When too many people do appear, the airlines first offer compensation for passengers who voluntarily want to be bumped. This often is in the form of money, free tickets, upgrades, a night's stay in a local hotel. If not enough people voluntarily bump themselves, then the airlines must resort to booting people off involuntarily.[10] In fourth quarter 2007, the top 20 U.S. airlines carried 138.2 million passengers. Of those, 11,365 were bumped involuntarily of them, or 0.82 per 10,000 passengers.[36]
The current rule covers planes with 60 or more seats. • Passengers arrange for their check or voucher at the airline's gate after they are bumped.[18] If it seems pushy, remember you are likely being bumped for a higher-paying passenger, perhaps someone who purchased after you. Because the airlines have perfected the science of knowing what percentage will be no-shows, they overbook flights to guarantee full planes.[31]
A passenger with a $300 ticket who is bumped from a domestic flight and delayed for more than two hours would receive $600.[19] If the rescheduled flight exceeds two hours for a domestic flight or four hours for an international trip, the passenger can collect up to $800.[11]
If bumped passengers arrive less than two hours late, the limit is $400.[5]
About one in 10,000 passengers get bumped from flights, according to the Transportation Department.[24] The Transportation Department wants to auction operating rights for flights, called slots, which are limited and mainly controlled by major airlines.[34] The Department of Transportation proposed cutting 2% of flights and auctioning off a huge portion of the daily flight "slots" airlines use at the airport.[37]
The number of eager volunteers like Ms. Grearson has been flat -- and with good reason. Budget-conscious airlines are offering fewer flights with fewer available seats, meaning more missed connections and more hours slumped in those uncomfortable airport chairs. The rewards are less rewarding than they once were.[9] Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Comair and Delta were the worst offenders, in that order. A vast majority of passengers, or 621,717, however, voluntarily gave up their seats on overbooked flights. There are currently no comments for this blog entry.[15] According to the survey, the rates of passengers bumped from overbooked flights and bags lost, stolen or damaged also jumped in last year.[6] The number of fliers bumped by airlines is small, about 1 per 10,000 passengers last year, though the number grew from 2006. "We believe this isn't really going to help passengers," said Roger Cohen, president of the Regional Airline Association.[30]
Last year brought passenger frustration to a boil with a near-record number of flight delays.[30] Regional planes are now included because the number of flights using aircraft with between 31 and 60 seats increased by 13.5 percent between 2002 and 2006, according to government data. More than 31 percent of commercial flights in the U.S. arrived late, were canceled or diverted in February, according to government data released earlier this month, and last year's on-time arrival results were the second worst in history.[20] From 1978 to 2006, the systemwide load factor (the percentage of seats filled) for U.S. airlines increased from 61.5 percent to 79.2 percent, with most of the increase taking place in 1994, according to the Department of Transportation.[14] Southwest, which operates half the flights at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, had the seventh-highest rate of involuntary bumps among the 18 U.S. airlines last summer.[18] SFO officials said that despite myriad problems facing U.S. airlines, the airport has reached an all-time high of international travel, topping a previous record set in 2000.[42]
A new website called Delaycast has just gone into beta. As the name suggests, it's a website that forecasts flight delays so that you can optimize your travel time. Run by analytical professionals with a strong base in statistics, they run historical flight performance details into advance predictive mathematical models to understand flight delay patterns. Like this they predict future flight patterns basis the airport you are flying from and the time of your flight. [38] The agency also announced several initiatives yesterday intended to decrease air travel delays that stem from congested New York-area airports.[43]
While meant to provide some relief to delayed passengers, the rules are expected to raise fares. "It will have the perverse effect of helping (airlines') bottom lines and it will lead to higher (ticket) prices," said Bob Harrell of New York-based travel and aviation consulting firm Harrell Associates. Industry groups oppose the auctions because it "will create winners and losers within their membership. (and) a lot of uncertainty," said Daniel Petree, dean of the College of Business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla.[5] While meant to provide some financial relief to passengers, the rule could wind up raising fares. Groups representing both large and regional carriers blanched at the decision and said their members may have no choice but to bump up ticket prices and end service to smaller cities.[43]
Ticket prices are expected to spike as a result of another rule designed to ease congestion tied to the New York-area's clogged airports.[5] "People with the most expensive tickets will benefit from the new bumping rule.[30]
The new rule covers planes with 30 seats or more, while the previous regulation applied only to planes with 60 or more seats.[12] Previously the rule applied only to passengers on planes with 60 or more seats. The increase, scheduled to take effect next month, is the first in 30 years and comes as denied boardings have increased annually since 2004, reaching their highest rate in 10 years in 2007.[18]
In 2007, nearly 40,000 passengers were involuntarily denied boardings on 18 of the nation's largest airlines, according to the DOT's Air Travel Consumer Report.[15] The DOT says the proposal will encourage lower fares by helping newer, low- cost airlines gain access to coveted LaGuardia slots, and will cut congestion by spurring airlines to fly more passengers on fewer aircraft.[28] "We are taking steps to improve the travel experience, cut delays and lower fares in one of America's busiest aviation markets," Peters said in a press release. The proposals would make some landing slots available by auctioning them off to the highest bidder. It would guarantee that existing operators at LaGuardia would retain some of their slots for a 10-year period.[40] "While the status quo at LaGuardia has led to stagnant service, delays and unnecessarily high fares, open access and competition will help give flyers more choices, fewer delays and lower fares," Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said in a statement.[28] For LaGuardia, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters prefers "market-based'' auctions to ease congestion rather than flight caps that have been in place since 1968.[12]
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said the changes are aimed at improving passengers' flying experience.[40] "Our plan strikes a sound balance between protecting investments by incumbent carriers and ensuring that all airlines have the ability to fly to," Secretary Mary Peters said.[22] May, whose airline trade group represents all major carriers that serve LaGuardia, said the department's legal authority to impose the plan is "`highly suspect.''[12]
The department contends that airlines contribute to air and ground traffic congestion by using smaller planes at LaGuardia.[10] Atlantic Southeast Airlines had the most denied boardings, followed by Comair and its partner Delta Air Lines, according to government data. Airlines could end up raising fares if the higher payments induce them to cut back on overselling their planes, said Daniel M. Kasper, managing director of LECG, a Cambridge, Mass., consulting firm that tracks the industry.[18] Bigger airlines at LaGuadia include U.S. Airways Group Inc, American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp, and Delta Air Lines Inc. Regulators conclude that reducing some access for big airlines will force them to fly more people on bigger planes, reducing congestion.[34] Delta Air Lines Inc. is second, with 11 percent of the traffic, followed by U.S. Airways Group Inc. at 9 percent, UAL Corp.' s United Airlines at 7 percent and Northwest Airlines Corp. at 6 percent.[12]
Over the next five years, 8 percent of the additional slots currently used by an airline would be made available to any carrier via an auction. [1] Above that amount, 10% of a carrier's slots would be withdrawn over the next five years. Most of those slots would be auctioned off to other airlines, but a portion - one-fifth - would be retired in the interest of easing congestion.[28] Over the next five years, 8% of the additional slots currently used by a carrier would be auctioned off, with an additional 2% retired to cut delays.[22]
Under the first option, all air carriers would be given up to 20 slots a day for the 10 year life of the rule.[1] Under the first, airlines would be given 20 daily slots over the 10-year duration of the rule.[22]
Adding an expense to the flight slots would force the airlines to switch to larger planes, according to Peters.[10] If you're involuntarily bumped from a flight starting in May, the airlines are going to have to double what they pay for your trouble.[31] That, however, was done for administrative reasons and was not related to fuel costs, the airline said. Airport spokeswoman Kandace Bender said she is not worried about Jet Airways or Emirates Airlines delaying the start of the new flights.[42] The plan "ultimately would reduce choices for customers, make flying more expensive and cut service to small cities that otherwise have no flights to New York City,'' the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the airport's operator, said today in a statement.[12] The first gives planes more flexibility to use alternative routes to avoid sever weather, including use of an 'escape route' into Canadian airspace for New York flights needing to fly around thunderstorms and high winds. The second opens a second westbound route for aircraft, paralleling the current heavily traveled primary route out of New York.[2]
New York State tried to address the issue of uncomfortable delays with a passenger bill of rights.[30] Many delays at BWI last summer were tied to delays at LaGuardia and the New York area's two other main airports, John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty.[18] New York officials want the Bush administration to abandon the auction proposal and instead order the Federal Aviation Administration to boost the number of air traffic controllers at LaGuardia and modernize the controllers' aging equipment.[37] New York Governor David Paterson called the LaGuardia plan "woefully misguided.'' New Yorkers shouldn't have to shoulder higher costs, he said in a statement.[12] "The FAA's misguided plan to sell takeoff and landing slots to the highest bidder won't make your plane take off faster, it will just cost New Yorkers more to fly and throw LaGuardia Airport into chaos," Schumer complained.[37] Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., called it "misguided" and said selling slots "to the highest bidder won't make your plane take off faster, it will just cost New Yorkers more to fly and throw LaGuardia Airport into chaos."[20]
LaGuardia is one of the nation's busiest airports - and one of the most plagued by chronic delays, even though the number of daily flights was capped by the government 40 years ago. [37] The plan calls for reducing the number of landings and takeoffs at LaGuardia, the most delayed airport last year, from 75 per hour to 74.[24]
When it does happen -- 43 times out of more than 21 million passengers last year -- JetBlue gives the displaced traveler $1,000.[9] If travelers don't make it to their destination in those time frames, airlines would have to pay up to $800.[30]
Since 1978, airlines have been required to pay $200 and $400 reimbursements for domestic and international flights, respectively.[21] The Bush administration also has doubled potential penalties for the airlines for bumping passengers off flights.[37] CEDAR RAPIDS - It's not fun when an airline bumps a passenger from a crowded flight.[35]
Passengers bumped off overbooked flights will soon be eligible to receive twice as much compensation for the inconvenience.[21] The government said the increase in bumped passengers is in large part due to the fact that flights are fuller.[14]
The rate of people being bumped from flights increased in 2007 for the third straight year, according to the Department of Transportation.[14] I voluntarily bumped myself from a LAX to Taipei flight last year for a night's stay at a great hotel (not that big of a deal since I live in LA anyways), $500 cash and a flight to Taipei in the morning.[10]
Inguaggiato said that travelers insurance does not help passengers with delayed or canceled flights. "Insurance is for sickness or death," she said. She said travelers with non-refundable tickets won't be able to get their money back, but will be able to reuse the ticket for up to a year after the date of issue.[33] The National Business Travel Association said compensation limits should be even higher, because business travelers regularly pay expensive fares and book peak flights that are more likely to be oversold.[18] The compensation would be determined by the value of the ticket, raising another complaint by some who don't think it is fair that a vacationer with a discount seat would get less than a business traveler paying full fare. "This is a joke," said Terry Trippler, owner of TripplerTravel.com, an online travel agency.[30]
"By overbooking - that actually has the effect of holding ticket prices down a bit," Kasper said. "Going out with more empty seats will put pressure on them to raise prices across the board." Any increases would come as airlines are raising various fees, such as charging for a second piece of checked luggage and imposing fuel surcharges. Smaller regional carriers with legacy airlines said the change will particularly weigh on them. Regional carriers, such as Delta Connection carrier Comair, might be forced to drop service to less popular destinations, said Roger Cohen, spokesman for the Regional Airline Association. "It's certainly going to hurt," Cohen said. [18] The rate of involuntarily bumpings reached an 11-year high in 2007, 1.12 per 10,000 passengers, as airlines flew fuller planes to gain efficiency amid rising fuel prices.[12] The state law required airlines to give water, food, clean toilets and fresh air to passengers stuck in delayed planes.[30]
The airlines persuaded another 113,904 to leave voluntarily, or 8.24 per 10,000. Combining the voluntary and involuntary bumps, just over 9 passengers per 10,000 gave up their seats because of overbooking. Or to put it another way, the airlines bumped about one out of every 1,103 passengers.[36] Passengers want less harried travel at the nation's busiest airports. "Regulators do these things the airlines are not doing," Harrell said. "And they do them because they're getting complaints."[5] More than 60 American Airlines pilots picketed Tuesday at Los Angeles International Airport to demand better service for passengers.[44]
If your delay occurs on a trip to or from an airport that's a big hub for your airline, other lines may have few seats to accommodate you. Given those realities, what should you do when faced with a widespread, systemic delay? Here are my suggestions.[39] If the delay occurs at your home airport - and if at all feasible - postpone your entire trip for at least two weeks, better a month. It can take an airline more than a week to return to normal after a really serious systemic delay.[39] In 2007, the three New York-area airports had the lowest on-time arrival rates, and aviation officials say delays there cascade throughout the system and cause 75 percent of all delays.[5]
Talk of how to solve New York'''s airport congestion problems has been floating around for the past year in various forms.[25] Secretary Mary E. Peters said two new airspace routes will be opened out of New York.[18] The first involves new and greater flexibility for aircraft to use alternative routes in the sky to avoid severe weather. This includes a new routing alternative that provides an 'escape route' into Canadian airspace from the New York metropolitan area so airlines can fly around summer thunderstorms and high winds.[1] The FAA will open a second westbound route for aircraft, akin to adding another interstate highway lane in the sky. This would in effect provide a parallel route along a heavily-traveled aviation corridor, helping cut westbound delays from the New York area.[1]
Fortunately, systemic delays don't happen often. Whether they are due to fleetwide mechanical problems or an extended spell of bad weather, they have a huge impact. No governmental rules apply to airline delays, as they do to overbooking. [39] Payments will depend on the ticket price and length of delay and will be in addition to the value of the ticket. The rule will be extended to aircraft seating 30 or more, having previously been restricted to those seating 60 or more.[22]
The new rule also orders to redesign the route through Canadian air space to avoid risk caused by summer storms.[6] The rule, which takes effect next month, marks the first boost in the payments since 1978. "It's about time they increased these amounts,'' said David Stempler, president of the Air Travelers Association in Potomac, Maryland. "We support this.''[12]
Business traveler Brian Renda said that increasing compensation limits wasn't a solution for corporate customers. They need to arrive at their business destination on time, regardless of the payout, he said.[18] The so-called denied boarding compensation limits will also now apply to flights seating 30 people or more.[40] Airline routinely overbook some flights with the expectation that a certain percentage of people won't show up.[10] Don't fly on more popular days and times, as those are more likely to have full or overbooked flights. Become a frequent flier or premier member, because airlines are not likely to mistreat their best customers.[9] For a long time, I bought the argument that the deregulation of the airlines through competion provided us with more and better flights and service.[26]
American was also cited for having the worst on-time performance records among major airline carriers, with more than 26,000 canceled or delayed flights in 2007, according to the Airline Quality Rating Survey.[44] Now the cost in total has gone up a lot (including bankrupt airlines and the lack of food and the lack of comfort in the seats and the flight cancellaltions etc.) Those of you that have never flown when the airlines made money will not know how good it was.[26] Overbooking flights is a common practice for airlines, which want to be able to fill the seats of no-show customers.[18]
"Without overbooking, no-shows would cause almost all fully booked flights to leave with empty seats," Bill Owen, the lead schedule planner for Southwest Airlines, wrote in an October post on the company's blog.[18] Sure option 2: Accommodation on your original airline's next available flight.[39] Take a look at the "no-show" factors of overbooked flights to see why airlines have no choice but to overbook.[36]
The second option would require the airlines to auction off 20% of their slots over five years, over and above the guaranteed level of 20 slots per day.[28] President George W. Bush last year proposed to raise denied boarding compensation caused by airline oversales following mounting public outcry over airline service ( BTNonline, Nov. 15, 2007).[16] According to DOT figures, denied boardings steadily have increased since 2001, reaching a record high last year of 1.12 for every 10,000 passengers.[16]
Like the auction proposal, DOT says that plan aims to encourage carriers to use larger planes that can accommodate more passengers, thus easing traffic.[28] The department also announced several initiatives intended to decrease air travel delays, including a plan to reroute planes through Canadian air space to avoid summer storms.[8] Anything longer and the payout jumps to $800, all part of the Department of Transportation's commitment to improving the U.S. travel experience.[31] Now, even with leisure travel being our only reason to fly, we dread going through the experience and will take the costlier drive of 800 to 1,000 miles each way just to avoid it when we have the time to do so. Our vast country and low density means passenger rail will remain both unpractical and uneconomic in the U.S. with exception of the Eastern high-density corridor.[26]
WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. -- The week after thousands of flights were cancelled across the country for inspections, stranding passengers, experts are offering advice for smooth travel.[33] More than one-in-four flights, or 29 percent, were delayed or canceled, affecting 163 million passengers.[34]
DOT is now weighing a separate proposal to allow airports to charge additional landing fees on flights that operate at peak times.[28] "The airlines and the Port Authority have worked in close cooperation with DOT in recommending concrete steps to add capacity and better manage schedule demands," ATA President and CEO James May said. "While DOT is moving on 17 of those recommendations, which we appreciate, they are ignoring 60 others while wasting time and precious financial resources in 'experimenting' with increased costs to drive down demand. This proposal means fewer choices, higher costs and a reduction in service to smaller communities."[22] Gribbin briefed reporters on the proposal during a Wednesday conference call. At a DOT briefing of industry Wednesday, airline representatives questioned whether the department has the legal authority to force the sale of the slots, and use the proceeds at its discretion, according to one participant.[28]
The proposal prompted criticism from airlines and the operator of the airport, setting up a showdown between government and industry in the final year of the Bush administration.[24] WASHINGTON (AP) — Like almost everything else related to air travel in recent weeks, government proposals unveiled Wednesday rankled airlines and could be bittersweet for an already sour traveling public.[5] The LaGuardia plan is "truly mystifying, with the airline industry in a financial meltdown due to overwhelming fuel prices," said James May, president of the Air Transport Association.[13]
Airline trade groups had resisted the increase, which comes at a time when the beleaguered industry is grappling with record fuel prices and resulting bankruptcies and mergers.[18] United cited the same factors that have caused several popular airlines to hike ticket prices, reduce the number of free luggage or even cease operations: skyrocketing jet fuel costs and the slumping U.S. economy.[42] Reimbursement doubled for bumped flyers Your guide to cheap airline tickets & hot airfare deals.[21]
Addressing airline delays "is more important," said Joe Brancatelli, editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a business travel Web site.[30] Thrifty travelers are finding that the offers come with a big hassle in securing another flight. "That's what's causing a larger delay and more expense for individual clients in the long run," said Rick Sicilio, owner of Classic Travel in Plum. "They are missing the whole day."[9] Travelers caught in an extensive airline delay - such as those systemic delays caused by grounding of an entire fleet of aircraft - have very few specific, legally defined "rights."[39]
If the delay puts you at your destination two hours later than you expected, you're due a cool $400.[31] The new requirement would boost that to the full fare price up to $800.[35] The new guidelines come at a time when Department of Transportation data reveal that involuntary bumping is rising rapidly.[9] Voluntary bumpings outnumbered involuntary ones by nearly 10-to-1 last year, according to Transportation Department statistics.[12]
DOT said it also would make the rules applicable to aircraft that seat between 30 and 60 people, which previously had been exempt from the denied boarding standards. [16] The Senate Commerce Committee approved language Boxer and others prepared as part of the FAA reauthorization in May. It awaits a vote by the Senate Finance Committee, and Boxer last week called for prompt action on the bill. Hanni said she is encouraged a vote may be pending. "People are not going to take it anymore," she said of passengers being inconvenienced for hours at a time.[14] You improve your odds of getting a seat by checking in online 24 hours in advance. "That way the airlines know you have your boarding pass and at least intend to fly," Headley said.[31] With load factors hovering at 80 percent and more, your original airline could take several days to find a replacement seat.[39]
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2. RTTNews - Forex News top stories, Forex Trading, European Market Update, Currency Market Update, Forex trading.
3. Good News For Passengers Bumped From Flights - Most Popular News Story - WMTW Portland
4. Today's THV - KTHV Little Rock News Article
5. The Associated Press: Bumped fliers get more cash, but fares may rise
6. U.S. adopts measures to reduce air travel delays_English_Xinhua
7. CityNews: More Compensation If You Get Bumped Off A U.S. Flight
8. Metro - Payday for bumped travellers
9. U.S. helping bumped fliers
10. TG Daily - Government orders airlines to double involuntary bump compensation
11. New York Post
12. Bloomberg.com: Worldwide
13. Airlines ordered to pay more to people bumped off flights - The Boston Globe
14. Bumped passengers to get bumped-up payments
15. Bumped passengers could get up to $800
16. DOT To Raise Denied Boarding Compensation
17. Auction Of Landing And Departure Slots At La Guardia Proposed [] - RTTNews, Today's Top Stories, Global Newswires, ToDay's Top News,Global Business news .
18. Bumped travelers to get more cash -- baltimoresun.com
19. Doing the bump - Los Angeles Times
20. The Associated Press: DOT doubles compensation available for bumped fliers
21. Reimbursement doubled for bumped flyers
22. ATW: DOT doubles maximum bumping penalties, proposes LaGuardia slot auctions
23. Free Preview - WSJ.com
24. Airlines resist U.S. plan to unclog LaGuardia - USATODAY.com
25. More attempts to ease NY airport congestion
26. Compensation for bumped airline passengers going up - Los Angeles Times
27. The Associated Press: DOT doubles compensation available for bumped fliers
28. UPDATE: DOT Floats Auction Plan For LaGuardia Landing Slots
29. Flight compensation set to increase
30. Bumped fliers to get more -- chicagotribune.com
31. Payout to bumped airline passengers to double : Business News : Commercial Appeal
32. NY Governor Paterson Statement Regarding Recent Action Creating Flight Auctions For Laguardia Airport | All American Patriots
33. DOT, Agents Offer Tips For Smooth Flying - Money News Story - WFSB Hartford
34. U.S. proposes to auction some slots at NY LaGuardia | U.S. | Reuters
35. Better Compensation when Bumped from a Flight | KCRG-TV9 Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Local News
36. AIRLINE BIZ Blog | The Dallas Morning News
37. Chuck, PA say FAA's plan to auction air slots no deal for fliers
38. New website: Delaycast - Gadling
39. Huge airline delay? Your options are few
40. DOT Increases Pay-Out Limits For Bumped Passengers
41. Get bumped, get paid! - National News - Tampa Bays Local News
42. United requests delay for China flights - Examiner.com
43. Airlines to double payout for bumped - - Breaking News, Political News & National Security News - The Washington Times
44. American Airlines pilots stand united - The Daily Breeze
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