If you’ve ever lost your luggage on a flight, you know the frustration that comes along with wondering where your personal belongings are. It turns out that most (at least 14) airlines in the United States have been shirking their duties to reimburse fliers within the proper time period.
The Department of Transportation has a little something to say about it, and has begun fining guilty airlines for their actions. Federal rules on reimbursing travelers involve paying each affected traveler within the first 24 hours of the incident. Since sometimes luggage shows up within this period, airlines have been sneaking by with skipping reimbursement for the first day, and avoiding hundreds of dollars by doing it.
The Department of Transportation fined Spirit Airlines $375,000 last month for violations of neglect for loss of domestic baggage. Although the incidents are rare- about 1 in 190 passengers – it’s still a significant personal inconvenience that the DOT recognizes.
Another issue needing to be remedied is false limits set for repayment. Some airlines have been telling passengers that their policy is to shell out a mere $25 a day, when in reality, the only legal policy or limit is set by the DOT, at $3,300 per passenger.
So, weary travelers, if you run into the unfortunate instance of losing your bags, rest assured that these recent fines should urge airlines to properly accommodate you.
© Cheapflights Ltd Andrea Mooney
