I used to love to travel.  Up until 9-11.  When the rules changed.  Getting to the airport hours before the flight, the abrogation of controls that the government had on the airlines (which let them put a slew more passengers on the same planes, making it impossible to enjoy the flight as we are cramped together), and a slew of other inconveniences.

But, it’s more than that.   There used to be a rule- one that meant the airlines were more accountable to us when they elected to cancel a flight.

That was called Rule 240.  That rule meant when an airline capriciously canceled or delayed a flight, we could get access to another carrier’s flight to our destination- without having to go home and come back another day.  (I was the King of Rule 240 for about 5 years, when my cross-country commute routinely ran into problems.)

Nowadays, that rule doesn’t exist.  And, the airlines- who need to be prosecuted for fraud (I will explain about this later) cancel flights because they lack pilots or flight attendants to provide transportation.  They also no longer keep a spare aircraft at airports, so when an incoming flight is delayed, they were still able to take off on time.

Why must the airlines be prosecuted?  Because they took government funds during the pandemic to KEEP their staff fully employed.  Instead of doing that, the airlines proffered them early retirement.  Which is why they no longer have the requisite staff.

(We also have the problem that TSA and the FAA lack sufficient controllers and inspectors to get us to our destinations on time.   That situation also must be corrected.)

But, it looks like we also have a Transportation Secretary who is willing to take action.  Secretary Pete Buttigieg clearly recognizes that air travel is replete with delays and cancelations.  And, he’s finally doing something about it.

A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) will require the airlines to SPEEDILY issue refunds when they delay or cancel our flights.  Moreover, the definition of a delayed or canceled flight is now detailed.   For example, a “canceled flight” is one that is “published in the carrier’s Computer Reservation System at the time of the ticket sale but not operated by the carrier.”  (That means a flight canceled completely or one three hours late regardless of circumstances will require a refund within seven [7] business days.  The airline can try an issue a voucher- but they must explain that a refund is available- to the customer.)  Most importantly- the reason for the cancelation- weather, air traffic hold, mechanical, pandemic, lack of crew- makes no difference.  A refund is required!

The airlines, of course, feel that if you bought a non-refundable ticket, you should be screwed.  Even if it’s their fault for cancelation.  They want everyone to buy a fully refundable ticket to be covered by this rule. (DOT logically exercised its middle finger to this proposal.   The consumer had no participation in the cancelation and is therefore entitled to the refund.)

And, that’s not all Pete has developed.  Nope.  We now have what is called the Airline Customer Service Dashboard.   This yield information about “controllable” (airline caused) cancelations and delays.  Now, that doesn’t mean that the airlines are going to reinstitute Rule 240- because from the current list, it’s pretty obvious a slew of them have little inclination to “reaccommodate” us by booking another flight on their airline at no additional cost to us or even placing us on a competitor’s flight.

Allegiant and Frontier have decided that they will rebook us only on their own carrier.  Nor will Frontier provide a hotel when they cause us to spend an extra night due to their cancelation.   But, at least some of the major carriers will provide food vouchers and hotel rooms when there are long delays or scratched evening/night flights.  (NOTE:  The language on the Airline Customer Service Dashboard is in English and easily understood; there is no need to scour the contract of carriage on the airline website to hope we can figure out what the terms of reaccommodation may be.)

So, things are looking up.   At least for those of us who travel on the major airlines.

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