US doubles compensation for bumped travellers 17 APR 2008: Passengers who get bumped off overbooked US airline flights are about to get a break. Starting next month they will be eligible for much higher compensation. Travellers bumped onto another flight that delays their arrival at their domestic destination more than two hours after their original arrival time get the most compensation - they will have to be paid the full price of their fare up to a maximum of $800.
If bumped passengers arrive less than two hours after their original arrival time, the new compensation limit for domestic flights is $400. The previous limits of $400 and $200 were set 30 years ago in 1978.
The arrival time limit is four hours for international flights.
Meanwhile, the department also announced several initiatives intended to decrease air travel delays, including a plan to reroute planes through Canadian air space to avoid summer storms.
The new bumped fliers rule also applies to more planes, covering most aircraft that carry more than 30 passengers instead of 60, as was the case previously.
Regional planes are now included because the number of flights using aircraft with between 31 and 60 seats increased by 13.5% between 2002 and 2006, according to government data.
``It's hard to compensate for a missed family occasion or business opportunity, but this rule will ensure flyers are more fairly reimbursed for their inconvenience,'' Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said in a statement.
|
