Originally published on 4 August 2022. Kept as written; the law it describes may have moved since.
The Run-Down: NY AG Letitia James calls on the federal government to use its power to punish airlines for poor performance
- Lawmakers are specifically putting pressure on Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to make some moves
- James is pushing for investigations that could lead to fines if results show airlines knowingly booked fights with staffing concerns
Why You Should Care:
The dreaded text: “Flight 862 to Miami has been delayed”. We’ve all been there before and we know it’s the worst way to start a vacation. Being at the mercy of an airline that’s oversold tickets, over-promised expected flight times, and under-delivered on everything can cause stress, anxiety, and force passengers to miss important events or spend extra money to combat airline missteps.
Lately, flight delays or flat-out cancellations are at an all-time high. TSA wait times are rounding out at 4 hours in some locations. Traveling is becoming an even bigger headache than it may be worth.
Lawmakers know we’re fed up. Honestly, they themselves are fed up, too. They argue- it’s one thing to be delaying or canceling flights because of last-minute issues. But it’s a whole other problem, and potentially a legal mishap, to deliberately sell tickets to flights airlines know in advance will have to be delayed or canceled.
It seems airlines are writing a check their mouths can’t cash. And we’re all catching on. This latest push from James is proof that regulation, compliance, and outright customer service are values that still matter.