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Passenger bill of rights on its way

January 29, 2007

I just got off the phone with Kate Hanni of the Coalition for Airline Passenger’s Bill of Rights, and she told me that a press conference is planned for Wednesday with Rep. Mike Thompson in Washington at which a passenger’s bill of rights will be introduced.

Hanni says the congressman’s legal staff was working most of the weekend to craft the legislation. “It’s going to contain every element of our original bill of rights,” she told me. “It will also have some consequences in it — what happens when an airline doesn’t do what it’s supposed to.”

I have a call in to Thompson’s office to confirm the details. As soon as I have a copy of the legislation, I’ll post it on this blog.

I’ve floated the idea of a bill of rights past a couple of knowledgeable people, and the consensus is that any new law needs to have teeth similar to the European Union’s comprehensive airline passenger rights rules. Those would include big penalties for non-compliance and increased requirements for reporting violations to the Department of Transportation.

You know what, folks? It’s starting to get interesting.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

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