Boxer, Snowe Praise New Airline Disclosure Requirements

The office of Sen. Barbara A. Boxer, D-Calif., issued the following news release:

U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, today praised new requirements from the Department of Transportation (DOT) ensuring airlines and ticket agents disclose ticket, baggage, and airport fees associated with a ticket purchase at the outset, rather than on the final purchase screen. The new DOT rule also allows passengers to either hold a reservation without payment or cancel a booking without a penalty for a 24-hour period, as long as the reservation is made at least one week before the departure date. It also improves airlines' notifications to passengers of travel delays or cancellations. These changes will take effect this week.

"Air passengers should be able to determine the full price of their ticket, including all taxes and baggage fees, before they purchase it, not after the fact," said Senators Boxer and Snowe. "Today's new rule from the Department of Transportation will help ensure more informed decision-making by the traveling public. Moving forward, we remain committed to working with our colleagues to pass the FAA Reauthorization Act, which includes critical provisions of our Airline Passenger Bill of Rights."

BACKGROUND: Senators Snowe and Boxer authored legislation that would establish an Airline Passengers Bill of Rights - language that is incorporated in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Authorization Bill that is currently stalled as lawmakers work to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. The Department of Transportation began implementing key parts of the Boxer-Snowe Airline Passenger Bill of Rights last year, but the bill passed by the Senate would codify those protections into law. The protections include the so-called "three-hour rule," which requires airlines to give passengers the option of returning to the terminal if they have been stuck on a plane for longer than three hours.

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