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Senators Speak out Over DOT Luggage Decision

Committee Democrats want reconsideration of new rules for luggage accountability.

Eight Democrats on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee are pushing back on a decision by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao which would allow airlines to delay the implementation of new rules on luggage and disabled passengers. USA Today reports the group sent a letter to the head of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), asking for a reconsideration of their delay that would push back luggage reporting rules for another year.

As reported first by FlyerTalk, the new rules announced by the Obama Administration would force airlines to announce the actual number of checked luggage mishandled against all checked luggage accepted by a carrier. In addition, the regulations forced airlines to report how many times wheelchairs belonging to flyers were mishandled.

However, after current president Donald Trump ordered a review of “new and pending regulation,” the orders were delayed in March until 2018, allowing airlines another year to prepare before the reporting requirements go into effect. The move came at the request of trade group Airlines for America and Delta Air Lines.

The eight senators petitioning for an overview, led by committee member Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), claimed the DOT needed to give interested individuals time to comment on the proposed delay. Groups including Airports Council International-North America and Southwest Airlines both agree the new standards would benefit disabled passengers aboard commercial flights.

“Delaying these rules will do nothing to help injured veterans and the disabled,” Nelson told USA Today. “If veterans are having problems with airlines mishandling and damaging their wheelchairs, it makes no sense why we can’t get a full accounting of what’s going on.”

The consumer advocates are not the only ones supporting the new regulation. Southwest Airlines agreed that the new procedures would help create a better standard for passengers.

[Photo: Shutterstock]

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WillTravel4Food April 5, 2017

This is a SecDOT action, not from the FAA. Showing the FAA logo and name is incorrect. This is outside the FAA's regulatory authority. You should be doing a better job selecting your stock photos so that they actually represent what's in the story.