Washington -- United States Representative Barbara Cubin (R-WY) has teamed up with Members across the aisle to take a stand for airline passengers across the nation.  Yesterday, Cubin introduced the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights, legislation that would require all airlines to provide an increased level of customer service. 

“Airline passengers should not be forced to simply accept the fate dealt to them when encountering a major disturbance in their travel plans,” Representative Cubin said.  “Airline passengers are consumers, and this bill would give them the legal right to a certain level of accountability from airline companies.”  

Cubin joined Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) to introduce the legislation following the latest in a series of incidents that left air passengers stranded on tarmacs for several hours.  Their bill outlines the standards of service airlines must incorporate in their “contracts of carriage,” legally binding agreements between passengers and airlines.

“Passengers should not be forced to sit out on a tarmac for hours and hours, without food or water, without functioning restrooms, and without a clue as to what’s going on,” Cubin stated.  “Unfortunately, this type of nightmare scenario is happening all too frequently.  This legislation will cut down on those situations by requiring that passengers are kept informed and provided a higher level of basic services.”

The standards established by the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights include allowing passengers to deplane after three hours on the tarmac.  Under the bill, airlines would be required to provide passengers with adequate food, safe drinking water, clean and sanitary facilities, air ventilation and a reasonable temperature while waiting on an aircraft. Airlines must also keep passengers fully informed about the timing and cause of flight delays and cancellations.

The bill also calls on the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to review airport policies and infrastructure to help ensure airlines can meet these new standards.

“Good-faith efforts by airlines to guarantee passenger rights have unfortunately proven to be inadequate, and this legislation will establish a set of decency standards without saddling the airline industry with an undue financial burden,” Cubin said.  “This bill will move both airlines and their customers down a path that ensures a better airline experience.” 

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Summary of the Airline Passengers Bill of Rights

Gives passengers the right to deplane after any ground delay of three hours or more, with two exceptions:

Allow two 30-minute exceptions if the pilot reasonably determines that a flight will depart not later than 30 minutes after the delay, or

 If the pilot reasonably determines that permitting a passenger to deplane would jeopardize passenger safety or security.

Requires airlines to provide passengers with adequate food, safe drinking water, sanitary facilities, air ventilation, and a reasonable temperature while waiting on an aircraft.

Requires airlines to frequently update passengers at the airport and aboard aircraft on the cause and timing of delays.

Requires airlines to disclose information on chronically delayed or cancelled flights at the time of ticket purchase.

Requires airlines to make every effort to return checked bags to passengers within 24 hours.

Requires airlines to draft and prominently display a Passenger Bill of Rights.

Requires airlines to make information on the lowest fares readily available to the traveling public.

Calls on the FAA to work with airlines to allow long-delayed flights to offload passengers who choose to disembark – without losing that flight’s position in the departure sequence.

Calls on DOT to:

 Review airline and airport emergency contingency plans to make sure that the plans will effectively address weather emergencies in a coordinated manner.

 Convene a meeting of air carriers, airport representatives and the FAA to discuss procedures to better respond to weather emergencies resulting in lengthy flight delays.

 Study the ability of air carriers to provide essential needs of passengers, including food and water in cases where the flight is diverted to an unscheduled airport due to an emergency or weather situation.

 Requires airlines to include this bill in their contract of carriage.