US: Overdue rule will help fliers choose on-time airlines
Six years ago I put forth a rather modest proposal to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The good news is that it has been approved for implementation by the DOT. The bad news is government moves slowly — the rule will take effect two years from now. Thankfully, however, it will help consumers make better decisions when selecting domestic airlines. Back in 2010, I served as the only consumer advocate on the DOT’s 19-person Future of Aviation Advisory Committee. For six months, we discussed and debated a wide variety of suggestions for improving air travel, and we included our recommendations in a final report. While serving on the FAAC, other members and I proposed several changes that the DOT (and its subsidiary, the FAA) did NOT adopt; I was particularly disappointed the FAA did not require mandatory restraints for children under 2 on US commercial flights. But one proposition I made has worked its way into becoming a federal rule. Last month, the DOT announced a number of new “enhanced protections for air travellers,” including a critical overhaul of the service rankings offered to consumers every month, as reported by US airlines.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2016-11-03/general/us-overdue-rule-will-help-fliers-choose-on-time-airlines
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US: Overdue rule will help fliers choose on-time airlines
Six years ago I put forth a rather modest proposal to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The good news is that it has been approved for implementation by the DOT. The bad news is government moves slowly — the rule will take effect two years from now. Thankfully, however, it will help consumers make better decisions when selecting domestic airlines. Back in 2010, I served as the only consumer advocate on the DOT’s 19-person Future of Aviation Advisory Committee. For six months, we discussed and debated a wide variety of suggestions for improving air travel, and we included our recommendations in a final report. While serving on the FAAC, other members and I proposed several changes that the DOT (and its subsidiary, the FAA) did NOT adopt; I was particularly disappointed the FAA did not require mandatory restraints for children under 2 on US commercial flights. But one proposition I made has worked its way into becoming a federal rule. Last month, the DOT announced a number of new “enhanced protections for air travellers,” including a critical overhaul of the service rankings offered to consumers every month, as reported by US airlines.<br/>
