While 2012 may have been the safest year in decades, the Department of Transportation levied a record number of fines against airlines for consumer rules violations, assessed 49 fines and $3,610,000 in penalties, up from 47/$3,264,000 in 2011, and 27/1,700,000 in 2010.
The airlines are not doing business in a significantly different manner, but there are substantially more rules, with more coming in 2013.
Tarmac Delay Rules and their issues have been discussed before. They tend to cause preemptive cancellations.
But the disclosure rules are confusing to implement for airlines. The whole reason that these rules were put into place was to try to make it less confusing for consumers, so in the end, everyone is confused.
Even with the myriad of options, airlines could certainly work to make things easier to understand.
Related articles
- DOT Issued Record-Setting Number Of Violations To Airlines In 2012 (consumerist.com)
- Two airlines get fines for long tarmac delays (usatoday.com)
- Canceled flights no longer mean you’re stranded (usatoday.com)
