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DOT fines four carriers for passenger rights violations
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) says it has fined Alaska Airlines (AS, Seattle Tacoma Int'l), American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth), United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare), and Southwest Airlines (WN, Dallas Love Field) for providing inaccurate information to passengers about how much compensation they could potentially receive for being denied boarding against their will, or “bumped” on oversold flights, and for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage. (www.ch-aviation.com) Plus d'info...
Me thinks we won't read about the "three dollars and 1/2 a ticket to anywhere" settlement.
60, that comment warmed my heart for just a glimmering moment. Felt just like P1 was back on the board.
The government basically just fined the passengers of these airlines for violating passenger rights. Ironic, huh? American and United combined made about $4.3 Billion in profits last year. Fining them $40,000 and $35,000 each is a joke. All these airlines will do is charge a couple dollars more for passenger tickets to cover this "expense". Nice going feds...
So what is your suggestion, how can the passengers be protected?
I suggest Americans can choose to fly on an airline that actually cares about customer service. This isn't Russia where there's only one state-run airline. In the free market, most people can choose--unless they fly out of a small airport with only a single provider. The "Bill of Rights" initiated by a liberal government mandating businesses operate in specific ways to provide customer service is unnecessary in a capitalism economy. In a socialistic, communist economy--yes. Which is the direction the US is rapidly headed with government over-regulation into EVERYTHING (including which restroom you WILL use).
