Passengers are entitled to increased compensation for denied boarding and lost luggage, plus no more involuntary deplaning.
1. More money if you’re bumped
The Department of Transportation has finalized its rule increasing monetary payouts when a passenger is denied boarding or his/her checked luggage is lost. The new rule also bans airlines from involuntarily deplaning a passenger who has already boarded.
-Higher payouts
The amount of money an airline is required to pay you for involuntarily denying you boarding depends on how long your delay is as a result. Previously, it was $675 (for a 1-2 hour domestic or a 1-4 hour international delay) or $1350 (for a 2+ hour domestic or a 4+ hour international delay). Now the payout will be $775 and $1550, respectively. In both cases, the rule applies only to flights within or departing from the USA.
-An airline can offer you more
The rule clarifies and specifies an airline can offer more than the minimum to induce passengers to give up their seats. Note: Airlines prefer to offer vouchers in lieu of cash. There was an instance of an airline offering $10,000 in a voucher rather than cash. You don’t have to accept vouchers instead of the cash minimum, but sometimes a higher voucher can be a better deal.
Airlines typically offer vouchers at check in or the gate area when they know someone will be bumped, so it’s often you versus fellow passengers to see who gives in first and takes the deal. Accepting $10,000 in airline vouchers could fund five transatlantic business class tickets during a sale, whereas $1550 in cash is unlikely to cover even one.
-How you can lose out
There are two caveats to the new rules. First, if weight and balance issues are cited by the pilots as a reason for the bumping, the airline is not required to pay denied boarding compensation.
Second, if the plane is swapped for a smaller aircraft for a “legitimate” (whatever that means) reason, compensation is also not due. Note: This doesn’t apply to flights of under 30 people.
If you find yourself presented with one of these situations, it’s a good idea to request documentation of the reason, in case the airline is trying to dodge its compensation responsibilities and you decide to file a DOT complaint.
2. No involuntary deplaning
Who can forget that moment in 2017 when an American doctor was dragged off a plane because the flight was overbooked? These latest rule changes make sure it won’t happen again. If you board the plane, you get to stay on the plane (assuming you aren’t otherwise misbehaving or the pilot deems it necessary for “safety, security, or health risk” reasons).
3. More money if your checked bag is lost
The maximum amount a passenger can claim for “mishandled” (lost) luggage is now $3500 (up from $3000).
Twist’s Take: More money for denied boarding and lost luggage and less risk of involuntary deplaning is a nice plus for airline passengers.
