Hooray for air travelers... IT'S A START!

The Department of Transportation recently released a beefed-up version of its airline passenger's "Bill of Rights" requiring airlines to pay for lost luggage and disclose hidden fees... among other provisions.

The changes are significant... so we wanted to make sure that you knew them... no one else may tell you!

The new rules, first proposed by the DOT in June, had been posted in the Federal Register for public comment as they awaited formal approval.

Now they're set to go into effect August 23rd.

The rules state that planes are not allowed to sit on the tarmac for more than three hours after boarding.

Now, international flights will be included as well, though with a limit of four hours.

During that time, all grounded planes will now be required to provide basic services such as access to lavatories and water.

The new regulations will also require airlines to prominently disclose all fees on their websites, including those for baggage, meals, canceling or changing reservations and seat upgrades. 

BUMPING: Passengers bumped from overbooked flights will now be entitled to compensation worth twice the price of their ticket (up to $650) if the passenger is delayed for 1-2 hours.  Those who face longer delays after being bumped can receive up to $1,300 in compensation, according to the new terms.

This new bill of rights will also require airlines to hold reservations at the quoted fare without payment and allow consumers to cancel a reservation without penalty within at least 24 hours of purchase if the flight was booked a week or more before its departure.

Additionally, airlines will now be required to notify consumers of delays longer than 30 minutes and they won’t be able to impose post-purchase fare increases unless they are due to government-imposed taxes or fees.

So there you have it... August 23^rd – an important date for fliers.

KNOW THE NEW RULES... the airlines may not tell you!

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