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(c) Elliott Publishing.

Smart Laws
Cheap Charlie · April 23, 2001

In the previous two columns, I have provided readers a way to find who their representatives are in the U.S. Congress and listed the members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

These are the most powerful people in Washington when it comes to airline performance and service. These are the only people who can ultimately prevail on the airline industry to clean up its act and really put customers first.

When you write to these members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, I have been told that the best form of communication is by letter or fax. E-mail communication tends to be lost or trivialized. So take the time to write, then use snail mail or your fax machine and get your message in your representative's hands.

Here is some some of the latest activity by the committee in their own press release wording dated March 15, 2001.

Here's the first press release regarding the Airline Customer Service Improvement Act:

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today approved by voice vote a substitute to S. 319, the Airline Customer Service Improvement Act. The substitute was offered by Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Fritz Hollings (D-SC), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and John Kerry (D-MA). The bill would ensure that air carriers meet their obligations under the Airline Customer Service Agreement by implementing the recent recommendations of the Department of Transportation's Inspector General.

"I am pleased the Committee has approved this bill that takes a first step in addressing consumer dissatisfaction with the airlines," McCain said. "The bill provides a baseline standard for treatment of airline passengers, especially when it comes to cancellations and delays. The Committee remains committed to working with the airline industry and the Department of Transportation on this issue, and I am encouraged by a letter sent yesterday by the airlines outlining the further voluntary steps they are taking to ensure good customer service."

The bill would do the following:
  • Require DOT to devote more resources to airline customer service.

  • Require DOT to issue a rulemaking increasing the compensation passengers receive from airlines when they are involuntarily bumped.

  • Require DOT to change the way it calculates mishandled baggage statistics so that only passengers who check bags are counted.

  • Require major airlines to disclose on time performance of flights when buying a ticket or making a reservation, and on the Internet.

  • Require major airlines to report to DOT within 90 days their efforts to establish targets for reducing chronically delayed flights.
The substitute amendment added the following provisions to strengthen customer protections:
  • Require the major airlines to incorporate their current customer service plans into their contract of carriage, which can be legally enforced by consumers, rather than the more general Airline Customer Service Commitment which was in the original bill.

  • Clarify the definitions of chronically-delayed and chronically-canceled flights.

  • Require DOT to prescribe regulations to establish minimum standards for emergency medical and first-aid equipment carried aboard aircraft with 30 or more seats.
And here's the release concerning the Aviation Competition Restoration Act. Please note that there is no overwhelming majority for this actions - the bill only passed the committee by a 12 to 10 margin. Your letters and faxes to your representatives are more important than ever:
The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today approved 12-10 a bill to enhance competition at dominated hub airports by creating more equitable access to airport facilities. S. 415, the Aviation Competition Restoration Act, was introduced by Senators Fritz Hollings (D-SC), Ranking Democrat of the Committee, and John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Committee, on February 28, and was cosponsored by Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Harry Reid (D-NV).

"The only way to fix the airline system is to inject a healthy dose of competition at major airports across the country," said Senator Hollings. "I guarantee that airlines - when forced to compete for customers - will lower fares and improve service. Expanding capacity by building new runways is important, but while these efforts may improve airline travel, there is no substitute for competition."

"Consolidation is a key challenge facing aviation policy makers today. We cannot be passive observers as the airline industry heads unchecked toward a structure and environment that will cripple competition at the expense of air travelers," McCain said. "Many of the major airlines benefit greatly from the slots that they were given many years ago at no cost. Those slots are one of many barriers to new entry and competition. This bill ensures that airports, which are public facilities, are open to competition. I am committed to working with members of this Committee to resolve any differences and make any improvements on the bill."

The bill would prohibit the hoarding of slots, gates, and other facilities at the 35 largest airports, to ensure that carriers have access if needed to increase competition.


Charlie Leocha is the Boston-based author of Travel Rights: Know the Rules of the Road and the Air Before You Go. Cheap Charlie appears every Monday on this site. E-mail him at leocha@aol.com or access his Web site.