October 15, 2015 | Kendall Creighton Website News Legislation Help! I’m Stranded Media Contact Help An Old Friend October 13, 2015 Dear Friends, How much discomfort can travelers stand? Every now and again we ask for your financial help in keeping us afloat. The fact is, that time is now! Help us keep the lights on. We need your donations for office expenses – the Hotline, bookkeeping, resources needed to cover the news and legislative efforts. Please donate at flyersrights.org/donate.php. Now, take a pre-FlyersRights-era stroll down memory lane to winters gone by, when bad weather repeatedly caused passengers on hundreds of flights to be stranded on airplanes that had pulled away from the gate but then sat idle on tarmacs, neither taking off nor returning to the terminal, for three, five, even 12 hours and more. From these attrocicities, FlyersRights was born. Despite a hard-fought battle with the airline industry, we achieved a federal rule setting fines of up to $27,000 per passenger for airlines that keep passengers stuck for over three hours on the tarmac. The impact of the rule change has been dramatic, with the number of flights suffering tarmac waits of more than three hours falling 97% (1,299 to 44) from 2008 through last year! Still, it’s a very important time for FlyersRights. The civil liberties of airline passengers has seen a steady and relentless erosion since 9/11. In August, FlyersRights filed a petition with the Transportation Department (DOT) to have the Federal Aviation Administration set minimum seat and passenger space standards. Airlines are fighting aggressively against us and want no restrictions on reducing seat size and legroom, leading to increased health and safety risks. Back in February, we petitioned the DOT to cap charges for changing flights to $100. We also filed legal papers that got DOT to correct its misinformation in its Fly Rights publication saying there was no delay compensation – when, in fact, the Montreal Convention and EU provide for up to $2600 for flight delays on international trips. Currently, we are about to file a rulemaking petition with DOT to require airlines to advise consumers of these rights rather than hiding them, or simply lying to passengers -saying they have no delay compensation rights. You need FlyersRights because the airlines and many members of Congress are battling passenger protections – and individuals have zero negotiating power. Either you accept the airlines’ rules or don’t fly. High quality consumer advocacy requires investment! Over the years we’ve achieved many goals: Transparancy – Airlines must disclosure all mandatory taxes and fees in published airfares, instead of simply putting asterisks with all the taxes and fees in the mouse print. Airlines must also disclose baggage fees. 24 Hour Hold – If you need to change or cancel a ticket within 24 hours of buying it, you can do so without penalty (assuming you’re booking at least 1 week before departure). You can also hold a reservation for 24 hours before paying for it. Route Changes – DOT now requires airlines to give you prompt notification of delays, cancellations and route changes. And if you don’t agree, you get a full refund of the fare (without any penalties, even for a nonrefundable fare) so you can rebook (at your own expense) a more suitable flight. Bumping – If airline bumps and rebooks you on flight that arrives at your destination within two hours (or between one and four hours for international destinations) of your originally scheduled arrival, then you are entitled to 200% of the one-way fare you paid to get to your final destination, up to $650. If your delay is more than two hours or if the airline doesn’t make alternate travel arrangements for you, your compensation doubles to 400% of your one-way fare, up to $1,300. Refreshments, Communication and Accommodation -The airline is required to provide to delayed passengers, free of charge: Meals and refreshments in proportion to waiting time Two phone calls or emails Hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and hotel, if a stay of one or more nights becomes necessary Lost Luggage – If the airline loses your checked bags, and it was domestic travel, the airline is required to reimburse you for up to $3300. Still, much more needs to be done for the rights of passengers who are being squeezed physically and financially as never before. Friends, FlyersRights is here for you, now we’re asking that you be there for us. Your generous contributions will lift us and our financial burden. THANK YOU Does your company offer a matching gifts for nonprofits program? Approved bythe IRS in June, 2011, the Flyers Rights Education Fund is the education and service arm of our organization. The Fund gives you a way to contribute to our airline passenger rights efforts through a tax-deductible 501(c)3 vehicle : For individuals, you’ll receive a write-off for your next tax return! The more you donate, the more you can write off. You can also send checks to either FlyersRights.org or Flyers Rights Education Fund at: 4411 Bee Ridge Rd. #274 Sarasota, FL 34233 Let’s Review: Flyersrights Hotline: 877-FLYERS6 (877-359-3776) Flyersrights Website: www.flyersrights.org Government Numbers: DOT Aviation Consumer Complaints Phone: 202-366-2220 DOT Aviation Consumer Complaints Email Address: airconsumer@dot.gov Congressional switchboard: 202-224-3121 Media Outlets to contact in case of Stranding: Jad Mouawad @ New York Times: @jadmouawad Ben Mutzabaugh @ USA Today Aviation Reporter: @TodayInTheSky Sheryl Jean @ Dallas Morning News: 214-977-8750 sjean@dallasnews.com @SJeanDallas John Hughes @ Bloomberg: 202-624-1819, @BloombergHughes To file a complaint in NY, airline passengers may contact the newly established: Office of the Airline Consumer Advocate New York State Consumer Protection Board 5 Empire State Plaza, Suite 2101, Albany, NY 12223 Phone Toll Free: 1-800-697-1220 https://www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection/form/complaintform.asp To file a complaint with the US Department of Transportation: Aviation Consumer Protection Division, C-75 U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE, Washington, DC 20590 202-366-2220 http://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/file-consumer-complaint Most Frequently Requested Airline Toll-Free Numbers: AIRTRAN AIRWAYS 800.247.8726 AIR CANADA 888.247.2262 ALASKA AIRLINES 800.426.0333 AMERICAN AIRLINES/ AMERICAN EAGLE 800.433.7300 AMERICAN TRANS AIR (ATA) 800.435.9282 CONTINENTAL AIRLINES 800.525.0280 DELTA AIRLINES 800.221.1212 FRONTIER AIRLINES 800.432.1359 NORTHWEST AIRLINES/ KLM/ MESABA AIRLINES 800.225.2525 UNITED AIRLINES/ UNITED EXPRESS 800.241.6522 US AIRWAYS 800.428.4322 WESTJET 800.538.5696 All Airline Toll-Free Numbers List: AER LINGUS 800.474.7424 AERO CALIFORNIA 800.237.6225 AEROFLOT 888.686.4949 AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS 800.333.0276 AEROMEXICO 800.237.6639 AIR CANADA 888.247.2262 CHINA AIRLINES 800.227.5118 AIR EUROPA 888.238.7672 AIR FRANCE 800.237.2747 AIR INDIA 800.223.7776 AIR JAMAICA 800.523.5585 AIR MAURITIUS 800.537.1182 AIR NEW ZEALAND 800.262.1234 AIR PACIFIC 800.227.4446 AIR PORTUGAL (TAP) 800.221.7370 AIR TAHITI NUE 877.824.4846 AIRTRAN 800.247.8726 AIR TRANSAT 877.872.6728 AIR ZIMBABWE 800.742.3006 ALASKA AIRLINES 800.426.0333 ALITALIA AIRLINES 800.223.5730 ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS 800.235.9262 ALOHA AIRLINES 800.367.5250 AMERICAN AIRLINES 800.433.7300 AMERICAN EAGLE 800.433.7300 AMERICAN TRANS AIR (ATA) 800.435.9282 ASIANA AIRLINES 800.227.4262 AUSTRIAN AIRLINES 800.843.0002 AVIANCA 800.284.2622 BAHAMAS AIR 800.222.4262 BRITISH AIRWAYS 800.247.9297 BRITISH MIDLAND 800.788.0555 BWIA 800.538.2942 CANJET 888.201.2289 CATHAY PACIFIC 800.233.2742 CAYMAN AIRLINES 800.422.9626 CHINA AIRLINES 800.227.5118 CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES 800.200.5118 CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES 888.338.8988 COLUMBIA PACIFIC AIRLINES 800.868.2904 CONTINENTAL AIRLINES 800.525.0280 DELTA AIRLINES 800.221.1212 EGYPT AIR 800.334.6787 EL AL ISRAEL 800.223.6700 EMIRATES AIR 800.777.3999 EVA AIRLINES 800.695.1188 FINNAIR 800.950.5000 FRONTIER AIRLINES 800.432.1359 GARUDA 800.342.7832 GULF AIR 888.359.4853 HAWAIIAN AIRLINES 800.367.5320 HARMONY AIRWAYS 866.868.6789 HORIZON AIR 800.547.9308 IBERIA AIRLINES 800.772.4642 ICELANDAIR 800.223.5500 JAPAN AIRLINES 800.525.3663 KLM ROYAL DUTCH 800.374.7747 KOREAN AIR 800.438.5000 KUWAIT AIRLINES 800.621.2175 LAN CHILE 866.435.9526 LACSA COSTA RICA 800.225.2272 LUFTHANSA 800.645.3880 MALAYSIAN AIRLINES 800.552.9264 MALEV HUNGARIAN AIRLINES 800.223.6884 MESA AIRLINES 800.637.2247 MESABA AIRLINES 800.225.2525 MEXICANA AIRLINES 800.531.7921 MIDWEST AIRLINES 800.452.2022 NORTHWEST AIRLINES 800.225.2525 OLYMPIC AIRWAYS 800.223.1226 PACIFIC COASTAL AIRLINES 800.663.2872 PAN AM CLIPPER CONNECTION 866.557.4242 PHILIPPINE AIRLINES 800.435.9725 QANTAS AIRLINES 800.227.4500 ROYAL AIR MAROC 800.344.6726 ROYAL JORDANIAN AIRLINES 800.223.0470 ROYAL NEPAL 800.266.3725 RYAN INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS 800.727.0457 SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES 800.221.2350 SINGAPORE AIRLINES 800.742.3333 SKYSERVICE 800.701.9448 SOUTH AFRICAN AIRLINES 800.722.9675 SUN COUNTRY 800.359.6786 SPIRIT AIRLINES 800.772.7117 SWISS INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES 877.359.7947 TACA AIRLINES 800.535.8780 THAI AIRWAYS 800.426.5204 UNITED AIRLINES 800.241.6522 UNITED EXPRESS 800.241.6522 US AIRWAYS 800.428.4322 VIRGIN ATLANTIC 800.862.8621 WESTJET 800.538.5696 Our Acclaim: Getting on a Plane? Put This Number in Your Phone: 1 (877) Flyers6 1 (877) 359-3776 The FlyersRights HOTLINE! We publish weekly newsletters. There’s no charge to receive any of them: FlyersRights is a nonprofit organization that depends on contributions from people like you! Check Out and Sign our petitions! Comments? Complaints? Criticisms? Send to the newsletter editor: kendallc@FlyersRights.org Twitter: @KendallFlyers