U.S. pushes new rules for air passengers

You’ve already paid $15, $20, even $35 to check your bag on a flight. Then the airline loses it. You don’t even get your money back.

The government wants to change that, tackling two of the biggest complaints about the air travel industry — poor service and the explosion of fees — at once. Major airlines, which collect $3.3 billion in bag fees each year, are opposed.

The airlines charge $15 to $35 to check a bag, $20 to $45 to check a second and more for the third and beyond. Most airlines won’t provide a refund, even if it takes days to return a passenger’s suitcase. They say the rule would raise prices for everyone.

The Transportation Department wants to make airlines pay passengers more when they’re bumped off their flight, allow passengers to cancel reservations within 24 hours of booking with no penalty and require better disclosure of fees and surcharges.

Associated Press