In the dot, changes slowly go – The recommendations of the 10 -year advisory committee are still ignored.
Seal of transport department
Earlier this week, I wrote about laws that were passed in 2016, 2018 and 2024, but still no action has been taken by the Transport Department (DOT). This is not an isolated incident. Dot changes slowly go, very slowly.
I was the first consumer member of the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Safety. Most of our suggestions for the dot are still only suggestions. They are heard only from consumer advocates. The dot considers them when regularly rubbed.
Surprisingly, why no consumer initiative is included in the annual list of DOT Advanced? Or, why are so many only printed late during the term of a dot secretary as NPRMS? Hek, former Secretary Budigieg was regularly reminded of the rules that would make it through the Congress, as they already had. Consumer groups reminded the Secretary of DOT in individual meetings and in regular newspapers and newspapers. Everyone was of no use. At least secretary Chao was personally honest with me. I knew we have a difficult road.
These are the draft recommendations of the 2015 Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Safety. Consumers are still waiting for action by dot. The cell phone call was banned from the aircraft during flight as a result of an action by Dot about inflite mobile electronic communication.
Some dot changes have been taken, but others are still necessary and ignored
Recommendation: Recommend that the dot ensures that its policies for fair and equitable gates and slot access encourage competition.
A change here can change the scenario of the airline competition. However, the largest airlines hate to remove any precious slot. Today, two airlines control the tech-off and landing in New York Lagardia Airport-American Airlines (AA) and Delta. An airline controls the take-off and half of the landing slot at the Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC-AA.
Worse, after a study and evidence, which led to the recommendation of ACACP, dot foil competition. During the most recent epidemics shutdowns and cutting of flights, a side agreement keeps the slot-control waves unchanged, guaranteeing no changes in the competition. Not only the dot changes move slowly, but they also come back.
Recommendation: Recommend that FAA realistic tests “90-second withdrawal test” can be completed in a special aircraft type when FAA certifies the aircraft.
Today, after more than a decade of ACACP recommendations, the public is still waiting for the correct withdrawal test. The Congress made action mandatory in the second. Directing 577 of FAA Revision Bill, FAA to issue rules. They should “establish a minimum dimension for passenger seats.” The language of the bill requires a minimum for the safety of the passengers required for the seats, width and length required.
Airlines today uses lul in passenger traffic due to flights due to slow down flights to pack more seats in airlines. Dot does not mention possible changes in seat sizes based on the test being tested right now.
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Recommendation: Recommend that dot secretary sends a letter to the airlines, urging them to disclose seat dimensions on their websites.
The DOT Secretary has not sent such a letter. And the airlines have not disclosed seat dimensions on their websites.
Recommendation: It should be recommended that the DOT Secretary sent a letter to the Airlines with a copy to the IG said that the airlines should provide a transparent notice about fundamental changes in loyal/prize programs (ie how you earn or fry miles).
Again, at the risk of looking like a broken record, nothing has happened. The DOT Secretary has not written any such letter. In addition, there has been no change in the transparency of the rules of the airline continuously flying. The DOT claims that he has very little control over the programs, as passengers sign all the rights of the marks earned to the airlines. And, whether they should disagree with airline tasks, passengers face a federal judicial system to navigate. Airline passengers do not have any state and local judicial rights other than courts of small claims.
Recommendation: Recommend that the dot needs to be changed/canceled to be clear and displayed/appearing in the booking path before ticket purchases.
If anyone really knows a specific airline change fee and cancellation fee, I am waiting for an education. I know that there is no cancellation/change fee explained as part of the booking path. The cancellation fee is more complicated than ever.
First of all, these fees depend on what kind of airfare makes a purchase. There are different rules of second, international or domestic airlines. Third, the purchase date of the ticket determines which contract of the train rules implements. Fourth, it depends on whether the airline cancels the flight or does the passenger. There is no rule as to what happens with the aerial fare and fees of the passenger, the government should shut down the airspace. The fifth, the passenger should accept the airline credit or scrip, there are no similar rules about how long the credit for the passenger is available.
Recommendation: Urge FTCs for the need to include all compulsory hotel fees in published room rates.
The dot secretary did not write any such letter. FTC did not make any changes in the disclosure of “compulsory hotel fee”. Travelers United, AG from Columbia district, and Nebraska AG have filed cases against MGM Resorts, Marriott Corporation and Hilton Hotels respectively. However, all sides now wait after about 100 months, now. In addition, on compulsory hotel fee consumer grievances, Travelers United has taken several big hotels to court. This is an expensive and long process.
The FTC has again started a study of drip pricing, stating that the compulsory housing fee hurts consumers. And the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of Protection (CFPB) has also started dealing with hidden and poor-decorated banking and financial charges, such as overdraft and loan fee. When the fees are opaque and are not sufficiently disclosed, these consumers show more awareness about the loss.
The only area where the dot has control of these fees, when they are part of an air fare/hotel package. However, when the resort fees are collected separately and paid in the hotel, all the rules of the dot have no effect.
Bottom line: Never work about possible changes in aviation policies. Remember that the Congress does not speak anything so loudly as money with the Congress. However, in some cases, consumers get what they want when advocates work closely with the airlines that allow something to do. They Also want
Charlie Leoha is the chairman of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, with the stakeholders of the industry on Congress, Transport Department and travel issues over the last 14 years. He was the first consumer representative of the Advisory Committee for Aviation Conservative Safety appointed by the Transport Secretary from 2012 to 2018.
