Even as the Biden administration prepares to leave office in just over a month, it’s getting the ball rolling on possible new rules that could mean compensation for passengers when a flight is canceled, changed or delayed and it’s the airline’s fault.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking Thursday that could eventually require carriers to compensate passengers at least $200 when their flight is disrupted by three hours or more, in cases where the disruption is deemed the airline’s responsibility.<\/p>\n
Passengers could be eligible for higher compensation levels when there’s a longer disruption.<\/p>\n
The proposed rules, if ultimately finalized, would bring U.S. passenger rights more closely in line with those afforded to consumers across the Atlantic under the provision known as EU261.<\/a><\/p>\n “This action we’re announcing is another step forward into a better era for commercial air travel\u2014where the flying public is better protected and passengers aren’t expected to bear the cost of disruptions caused by airlines,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement announcing the news.<\/p>\n Here’s the catch, though: Thursday’s notice of proposed rulemaking only starts the consideration process for the potential passenger compensation rules. At a minimum, the public would get 60 days to weigh in before the DOT would take any further action.<\/p>\n 60 days from now, it will be early February \u2014 and the nation will be weeks into the administration of President-elect Donald Trump.<\/p>\n That means the incoming Trump administration would, ultimately, have the final say on how \u2014 and whether \u2014 to proceed.<\/p>\n
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