The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is proposing new rules that would require airlines to refund checked bag charges if the bags are unreasonably delayed.
The proposal, one of a number of consumer-protection changes to be proposed, would require a refund if bags are not delivered within 12 hours, or 25 hours on international flights. Many will question whether that long a time is a reasonable marker, but at present refunds are only required if the carrier loses the bag altogether.
The formal rule proposal will be issued soon, but there will be several months of time allowed for negotiation, followed by a public comment period before the new rule could come into effect, possibly by next summer. The airlines are expected to take a sharp opposing point of view; the fees represent billions each year, and they are concerned that a 12-hour rule might eventually become, say, a 2-hour rule.
One airline issue that is still waiting in the wings: Seat spacing and width standards. It is now just short of three years since Congress mandated FAA to establish seat pitch and width standards for U.S. air carriers, which have stealthily reduced both over the past few years, not only cramping passengers but possibly impeding safe evacuation. It’s been a year since FAA said it would be ready before the end of 2020. Still waiting.
Image: PHeymont/TravelGumbo
