Teri Ann

Teri Ann

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Air Travel Might Get Easier & More Comfortable!

Courtesy of After What Congress Did at 2:52 A.M. Saturday, Life May Change Radically for Airline Passengers and Flight Attendants. Here Are the Details - If it's passed as expected before Sept. 30, the 1,200-page bill, released on a weekend in the middle of the night, would mean sweeping changes for airline travel--plus some other things.

1. No more "Dr. Dao incidents."

The CEO of United Airlines says he wants to be reminded every day of how a passenger was roughly removed from a flight to make room for a United employee in 2017. The new bill should make sure it can't happen again, as it "prohibits involuntary bumping of passengers who have boarded a plane," according to The Washington Post.

2. Minimum legroom and seat width

Airline passengers will welcome this one. The FAA will be "required to set new minimum requirements for seats on airplanes ... possibly giving passengers a break from ever-shrinking legroom and cramped quarters," as The Detroit News puts it.

3. More rest time for flight attendants.

This one is something the flight attendants' unions have wanted for some time: "For the first time in more than two decades the legislation mandates longer rest periods for flight attendants between duty days," according to The Wall Street Journal.

4. No dogs in overhead bins.

Makes it "makes it unlawful for any person to place a live animal in an overhead storage compartment," according to Reuters. Of course this is in response to the outcry after a dog died on a United flight in March.

5. No mobile phone calls during flight.

You can't do this now anyway, but this bill would make using your cell phone to make a call during flight a violation of federal law.

6. No e-cigarettes.

Similarly: this would take an existing prohibition, and make it federal law.

7. Required refunds.

Airlines would be required to "refund passengers for services they paid for but did not receive," according to Reuters. This sounds like it could be far-reaching, like if your in-flight entertainment system doesn't work, or the premium seat you booked isn't available, you might be entitled to at least a partial refund.

8. Check your stroller.

"The bill requires airlines to allow passengers to check strollers if they are traveling with a small child," Reuters says.

9. No more deceptions.

This one is amazing. From Reuters again: "The bill will require regulators to determine if it is unfair or deceptive for airlines to tell passengers 'that a flight is delayed or canceled due to weather alone when other factors are involved.'"

10. Pregnant women first.

The Department of Transportation will now have authority to require airlines to let pregnant women board planes early.

11. Clamping down on sexual misconduct.

Doesn't sound like a lot of teeth to this one, but at least it's mentioned. The law will "creat[e] a task force to review practices," according to the Journal, regarding sexual harassment and misconduct among airline employees.

12. Tougher penalties.

The bill "increases civil penalties for interfering with cabin or flight crew members." (The Journal, again.)

13. Supersonic booms.

More than 15 years after the last flight of the Concorde, the bill will require the FAA to consider whether supersonic airplanes should be able to fly over the continental U.S.

14. Drones!

There are all kinds of provisions for commercial drones included, among them a provision that requires the FAA to "existing rules to accommodate regular flights of package-delivery drones."

15. Hurricane Florence relief

It's not clear what this has to do with the FAA per se, but the bill apparently contains a $1.68 billion immediate allocation for disaster relief in the wake of the hurricane earlier this month.

16. Spaceports!

It requires the FAA to set up an "Office of Spaceports," according to Reuters, which will "provide guidance, support licensing for spaceports, and promote infrastructure improvements for future space travel."

17. A complaints department

Finally, the bill "requires the DOT to establish an aviation consumer advocate to help consumers resolve air travel complaints,"


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