118 S178 IS: Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights
U.S. Senate
2023-01-31
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights
.(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Definitions.TITLE I—Passenger protectionsSec. 101. Rules regarding compensation provided to passengers.Sec. 102. Minimum compensation provided to passengers involuntarily denied boarding.Sec. 103. Delays and cancellations.Sec. 104. Unfair and deceptive attribution of delays and cancellations to force majeure events.Sec. 105. Interline agreements and protections.Sec. 106. Protections relating to space for passengers on aircraft.Sec. 107. Availability of lavatories on passenger aircraft.Sec. 108. Availability of potable water on passenger aircraft.Sec. 109. Training on rights of passengers.Sec. 110. Report on quality and safety of food and water on passenger aircraft.Sec. 111. Report on sufficiency of available flight crews and aircraft.TITLE II—Consumer protectionsSec. 201. Protections relating to the imposition of fees that are not reasonable and proportional to the costs incurred.Sec. 202. Protections relating to disclosure of flight information.Sec. 203. Transparency in pricing of tickets in air transportation.Sec. 204. Disclosure of lowest fares for air transportation.Sec. 205. Frequent flyer programs fairness and transparency.Sec. 206. Refunds for lost, damaged, delayed, or pilfered baggage.Sec. 207. Passenger rights transparency.Sec. 208. Private right of action against unfair and deceptive practices.Sec. 209. Fairness and transparency in contracts of carriage.Sec. 210. Private right of action for discrimination claims against air carriers.Sec. 211. No preemption of consumer protection claims.Sec. 212. Invalidation of pre-dispute arbitration and class-action waiver clauses in certain contracts relating to passenger air transportation.Sec. 213. Consumer complaint process improvement.TITLE III—Penalties for air carriersSec. 301. Increase in civil penalty for violations of passenger protection laws.Sec. 302. Report on imposition of civil penalties.Sec. 303. Study of distribution of civil penalties to consumers.Sec. 304. Prohibition on negotiation of reductions in civil penalties.TITLE IV—Competitiveness of air carriersSec. 401. Analysis of air carrier mergers.2.Except as otherwise specifically provided, in this Act:(1)The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.(2)Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer ProtectionThe term Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection means the advisory committee established under section 411 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 42301 note prec.).(3)The term air carrier means an air carrier or foreign air carrier, as those terms are defined in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code.(4)The term air transportation has the meaning given that term in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code.(5)The term ancillary fee, with respect to a fee imposed by an air carrier, means any fee for an optional service, including any fee for a first or second checked bag or a carry-on bag, cancellation of an itinerary, changes in an itinerary, seat assignment, or advance boarding.(6)Appropriate committees of CongressThe term appropriate committees of Congress means the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.(7)Passenger air transportationThe term passenger air transportation means, with respect to the transportation of passengers by aircraft as a common carrier for compensation, foreign air transportation, interstate air transportation, and intrastate air transportation, as such terms are defined in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code. (8)The term purchase, with respect to a ticket for travel in air transportation, means the purchase of a ticket using cash or credit or using miles awarded through the frequent flyer program of an air carrier.(9)The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.(10)The term ticket agent has the meaning given that term in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code.<enum>I</enum><header>Passenger protections</header><section id="id7B22B50B0E954C06B234D812F37D2A01"><enum>101.</enum><header>Rules regarding compensation provided to passengers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8E3EB1489DB148618DECC0D5A7367766"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">allowing an air carrier to offer compensation to a passenger to incentivize the passenger to relinquish the passenger's seat on a flight operated by the air carrier;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3F0CBAEA860241BBBF1A3353EDD33010"><enum>(2)</enum><text>prohibiting an air carrier from imposing a cap on the amount of compensation the air carrier can provide to a passenger in exchange for the passenger relinquishing a seat; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idC7030E346357488E9562448CE257D391"><enum>(3)</enum><text>requiring an air carrier to provide any compensation provided to a passenger in exchange for the passenger relinquishing a seat in the form of cash.</text></paragraph></section><section id="id9DBB7A4005D84E57B700ED4E57FF6BC6"><enum>102.</enum><header>Minimum compensation provided to passengers involuntarily denied boarding</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, notwithstanding section 425(e)(2) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, issue a final rule to revise part 250 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, to establish that $1,350 is the minimum level of compensation an air carrier or foreign air carrier must pay to a passenger who is involuntarily denied boarding as the result of an oversold flight.</text></section><section id="id35e604ad952742ddbd33e5fe6c18ae33"><enum>103.</enum><header>Delays and cancellations</header><subsection id="id615E3CDBDE2D40EF80AF5B9F9F685364"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations requiring, if a passenger’s flight is delayed or cancelled for any reason within the control of the air carrier (including crew scheduling, routine maintenance, functioning of information technology systems, passenger service issues, issues related to baggage services, issues related to ground handling of aircraft, or other reasons as specified by the Secretary) and—</text><paragraph id="id4BF0F524AC3949209143F399AD54EBB4"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the passenger’s arrival at the passenger's destination is delayed by more than 1 hour and less than 4 hours after the originally scheduled arrival of the passenger, the air carrier—</text><subparagraph id="id4D2F5BAC4E6C437888E57EBE787E621C"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to automatically refund to the passenger the amount the passenger paid for the ticket; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3F73FA51E48F40B7B4AF40DCC4D529C2"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to find a seat for the passenger on another flight operated by the air carrier, on a flight operated by another air carrier, or on an alternative means of transportation, at no additional expense to the passenger, that results in the passenger arriving at the passenger's destination not later than 4 hours after the original scheduled arrival time;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id954099ea1e91454ba2667131cc462f40"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the passenger’s arrival at the passenger's destination is delayed by more than 4 hours after the originally scheduled arrival of the passenger, the air carrier—</text><subparagraph id="idF0C22BC5E18A44F0B9572D22F89F2606"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to automatically refund to the passenger the amount the passenger paid for the ticket;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id0ABDB2451D9D4729B320994B50EBA34F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to find a seat for the passenger on another flight operated by the air carrier, on a flight operated by another air carrier, or on an alternative means of transportation, at no additional expense to the passenger, at the earliest available opportunity, if the passenger so chooses;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id229D420DB4244996AFF630E9E44FA6B7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to provide compensation to the passenger of $1,350 cash; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id23aca3c5afff4a9f9d04e6e8dc4830e9"><enum>(D)</enum><text>to provide a passenger with an amount equal to the cost of a meal; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3BE0EE0FFA2B4D9AA14A1FAB1CE2C7FE"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the passenger's departure is delayed until the next day, the air carrier to provide the passenger with an amount equal to the cost of hotel lodging, in addition to the requirements of paragraph (2).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id44f1745ceeae40e7b6d14e79245ea14f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Savings provision</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the authority of an air carrier to maximize its system capacity during weather-related events to accommodate the greatest number of passengers.</text></subsection></section><section id="idE7C3223073004168AF214A090F8A0558"><enum>104.</enum><header>Unfair and deceptive attribution of delays and cancellations to force majeure events</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 41712 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCBE0D2907DA34361A7E6DB5F3BDAA631"><subsection id="id8255FA16EA9C45BFB28EC1FEA168B069"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Attribution of delays and cancellations to force majeure events</header><text>It shall be an unfair or deceptive practice under subsection (a) for an air carrier or foreign air carrier to attribute the delay or cancellation of a flight operated by the carrier or by another air carrier or foreign air carrier with which the carrier has a codesharing or other joint marketing arrangement to a force majeure event unless the delay or cancellation is caused by an event not within the control of the air carrier operating the flight, such as weather, an act of God, or a war or other hostilities.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="idc28d7283363a4ebf96b623c2b43e9964"><enum>105.</enum><header>Interline agreements and protections</header><subsection id="id2f862d59a47b465db56fd77b142ee0f4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations—</text><paragraph id="id17F3ABEA8DD74032AF4F39FAA4EF4D0C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to facilitate interline agreements and related practices between air carriers and providers of other modes of transportation; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id599DE326CBE248318508541455F7A67A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to establish a complaint and remediation process through which parties may submit complaints and resolve disputes regarding the establishment and implementation of interline agreements.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idA0D85FB797854E21A5738704114EB65B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Interline agreements</header><text>The regulations prescribed pursuant to subsection (a)(1) shall—</text><paragraph id="id48bca4eb102a45689970991ed986b529"><enum>(1)</enum><text>include provisions to prevent air carriers and other transportation providers from significantly hindering or preventing willing air carriers or other transportation providers from entering into interline agreements or conducting related practices;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd4a6b45328224097a0c99d7e69af6d05"><enum>(2)</enum><text>require air carriers to explicitly notify passengers when they are eligible to be provided transportation by another air carrier or a provider of another mode of transportation;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0e9b206e1eeb4246b9c055898fb92814"><enum>(3)</enum><text>after an eligible passenger is notified under paragraph (2), require air carriers to attempt to provide to the passenger transportation through another air carrier or a provider of another mode of transportation, upon the passenger’s request, if the air carrier has an interline agreement with the other air carrier or transportation provider;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4521c9d665634650983c2c3024d6135f"><enum>(4)</enum><text>prohibit air carriers and other transportation providers from unduly or improperly influencing the decision of a partner, subsidiary, or vendor to enter into an interline agreement, the terms or conditions of such an agreement, or related practices;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide1854e07642f4640b66556b556d0ecf8"><enum>(5)</enum><text>account for operational records, seat availability, and capacity; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id49ca92afac5b4bd0bbfc9e42124d0171"><enum>(6)</enum><text>promote competition and the public interest.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id808b17534596486480221d66f2c1f1f7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Complaint and remediation process</header><text>The complaint and remediation processes established pursuant to subsection (a)(2) may provide for appropriate penalties and remedies for violations of an interline agreement.</text></subsection></section><section id="HE2C0E3955BBB434C9AC8EB5A8F4DD28F"><enum>106.</enum><header>Protections relating to space for passengers on aircraft</header><subsection id="id2488ca7aab7443c2ac7e25bb9e74fa2e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Moratorium on reductions to aircraft seat size</header><paragraph id="id27A3AB0960854ACBB492FAE131CA615F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall prohibit any air carrier from reducing the size, width, or pitch of seats on passenger aircraft operated by the air carrier, the amount of leg room per seat on such aircraft, or the width of aisles on such aircraft.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idF1081ADEFF2B45AF9A0B95BD6712E219"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Termination</header><text>The prohibition under paragraph (1) shall terminate on the date on which the regulations required by subsection (b) take effect.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H000E6CE4B8ED4D0687D4F58B6F7ECCC8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Regulations relating to space for passengers on aircraft</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and after providing notice and an opportunity for comment, the Administrator shall issue regulations—</text><paragraph id="idD0720948E27A4C31B6135BA81FD36A77"><enum>(1)</enum><text>establishing minimum dimensions for passenger seats on aircraft operated by air carriers in interstate air transportation or intrastate air transportation, including the size, width, and pitch of seats, the amount of leg room, and the width of aisles on such aircraft for the safety and health of passengers; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H24918726A5494468B9C3EF4D11712A0F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>requiring each air carrier to prominently display on a publicly available internet website of the air carrier the amount of space available for each passenger on passenger aircraft operated by the air carrier or by another air carrier with which the air carrier has a codesharing or other joint marketing arrangement, including the size, width, and pitch of seats, the amount of leg room, and the width of aisles on such aircraft.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H74FC862B5B9F41B591BB5085A9A5DD6A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Consultations</header><text>In prescribing the regulations required under subsection (b), the Administrator shall consult with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, passenger advocacy organizations, physicians, and ergonomic engineers.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF955A2D333C840798C514113EED672A1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Conforming repeal</header><text>Section 577 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 is repealed.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="id5dba8ba72fc94f6d92a3e94a176fd919"><enum>107.</enum><header>Availability of lavatories on passenger aircraft</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id992AC47C944A4AB688AB72A2C75F4C1D"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/49/417">chapter 417</external-xref> of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4A1FC1ECE87D4F63B258789FD72D6163"><section id="idB2FE99A32B4D4ED7815EDB358E013738"><enum>41727.</enum><header>Availability of lavatories on passenger aircraft</header><subsection commented="no" id="id55287D996B624312B68FA576B7C6BF6C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each air carrier and foreign air carrier shall ensure that each passenger aircraft operated by the air carrier or foreign air carrier maintains sufficient functional lavatories (as determined by the Secretary of Transportation) that—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="id682ACE96CB3C44DCB8D78BCBF1D15848"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">are available for use, free of charge, any time passengers are on board the aircraft; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idAAC886FD3F1D41F5BED81D769F1DFC8F"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">can accommodate individuals with disabilities.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id823575FE5F58417EA6DB6D033867700A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Disability defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>disability</term> has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/12102">42 U.S.C. 12102</external-xref>).</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="idDC04C1F779C6439D92F9A2D37ED9DD8E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights</short-title>, the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id47D3575A33204BC5B02F0F15E3E10D33"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The analysis for chapter 417 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 41726 the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC2B6E37EC0B54802A76DF3B88DAE7133"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">41727. Availability of lavatories on passenger aircraft.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="id06AC86155592478C8EF01482E2362228"><enum>108.</enum><header>Availability of potable water on passenger aircraft</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id998EA6B3DF4B49A1832484517731156F"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/49/417">chapter 417</external-xref> of title 49, United States Code, as amended by section 107(a), is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC9E5619EF08A46F8995D628080728976"><section id="id6C0AEA9BE2E146988F9605DFF1B8A60B"><enum>41728.</enum><header>Availability of potable water on passenger aircraft</header><subsection id="id0CCCDD7455544A31849D8D8EB864F1D3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each air carrier and foreign air carrier shall ensure that potable water is available, free of charge, to passengers on board aircraft operated by the air carrier or foreign air carrier.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4E2ACDD4C343453CA3BF73C8A6067510"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Regulations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights</short-title>, the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE543A45F5002439588A20C69E2D364D2"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The analysis for chapter 417 of such title, as amended by section 107(b), is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 41727 the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id752AE8782ABB47B98E8B8F827A30BAB5"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">41728. Availability of potable water on passenger aircraft.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="id983be08496534629a47eb6eee036df0b"><enum>109.</enum><header>Training on rights of passengers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations requiring an air carrier to provide, not less frequently than every 180 days, training on the rights of passengers to employees and representatives of the air carrier that directly interact with passengers, including ticket agents, gate agents, pilots, and flight attendants.</text></section><section id="idab7349b62f0b465d8007edb2c58336f6"><enum>110.</enum><header>Report on quality and safety of food and water on passenger aircraft</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report assessing the quality and safety of food and potable water on passenger aircraft.</text></section><section commented="no" id="id7e44920f66924b55b6a71e35f8d66fed"><enum>111.</enum><header>Report on sufficiency of available flight crews and aircraft</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report assessing—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="idF9F257B2A1CD4384BD8B3F55183A047C"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether air carriers ensure that sufficient flight crews and aircraft are available for scheduled flights; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id96E48EB3D3324F6CB0045A3B79D6B055"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the extent to which not having sufficient flight crews and aircraft available affects arrival and departure times.</text></paragraph></section><enum>II</enum><header>Consumer protections</header><section id="idCFEDDB5BE36D443195278CE16F74B9D0"><enum>201.</enum><header>Protections relating to the imposition of fees that are not reasonable and proportional to the costs incurred</header><subsection id="idEB8BEF49D08741B79B86C4C8A6D86A1F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations—</text><paragraph id="idAF4B920CFE754FAF9DB84CE1FCA52C06"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">prohibiting an air carrier from imposing fees described in subsection (b) that are unreasonable or disproportional to the costs incurred by the air carrier; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idF2930A2C05464102A45112305029ED54"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">establishing standards for assessing whether such fees are reasonable and proportional to the costs incurred by the air carrier.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3BC6EDAFE03D473E81330D0B97B31922"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Fees described</header><text>The fees described in this subsection are—</text><paragraph id="id150E2AD2A7AD45DAAFD71216AC848F80"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any fee for a change or cancellation of a reservation for a flight in passenger air transportation;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idCA5FA786F24B4F06AC340811E5EA0276"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any fee relating to checked baggage or carry-on baggage to be transported on a flight in passenger air transportation;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idca244e4fb6bd4affa02e0e17f4246579"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any fee relating to the choice or assignment of seats on a flight in passenger air transportation; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id936DB1FCE1AF42E6A03D3C3C98804969"><enum>(4)</enum><text>any other fee imposed by an air carrier relating to a flight in passenger air transportation.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id211D40B7EBCC44CEBF327D9C8C826977"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>In establishing the standards required under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall consider—</text><paragraph id="id4F89DBC83310431AB3DC29E4AC2F3276"><enum>(1)</enum><text>with respect to a fee described in subsection (b)(1) imposed by an air carrier for a change or cancellation of a flight reservation—</text><subparagraph id="ideeb5535acf3d4bd8af46416662e14f77"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any net benefit or cost to the air carrier from the change or cancellation, taking into consideration—</text><clause id="idB0035B32EE0F48D398674CDFF540D5BE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the ability of the air carrier to anticipate the expected average number of cancellations and changes and make reservations accordingly;</text></clause><clause id="idA672D1A488E54C928F68108E716EFFC7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the ability of the air carrier to fill a seat made available by a change or cancellation;</text></clause><clause id="id54FC74F957B54C0AAD0DC5AAFBEB8041"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>any difference in the fare likely to be paid for a ticket sold to another passenger for a seat made available by the change or cancellation, as compared to the fare that was paid by the passenger for the seat for which the reservation was changed or canceled; and</text></clause><clause id="idB29A4ACFF84B401B9B285FF0F6B7BBE5"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the likelihood that the passenger changing or cancelling the reservation will, as a result, fill a seat on another flight by the same air carrier;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc0d9ae5705d241169bca48f277dae023"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the costs of processing the change or cancellation electronically; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3796a5e94dd0440bbb940e7fd57c12d6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any related labor costs;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0A002D976D3144A5ADEC3B9E5CAC1087"><enum>(2)</enum><text>with respect to a fee described in subsection (b)(2) imposed by an air carrier relating to checked baggage—</text><subparagraph id="id56B2CB1B6BFB4E918018FD162131A314"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the costs of processing checked baggage electronically; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA0299850AD4A47D5914E2CCEC5B5BB1C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any related labor costs;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id80DA986A18774E4F8A25265DCE7B8A30"><enum>(3)</enum><text>with respect to a fee described in subsection (b)(3) imposed by an air carrier relating to the choice or assignment of seats on a flight in passenger air transportation, ensuring that a passenger traveling with children who are 13 years of age or younger are able to be seated with those children at no additional charge to the passenger traveling with such children or to any other passenger traveling on the flight involved; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id006510B5E6D749DE97B3AF1BE57E6EB5"><enum>(4)</enum><text>any other considerations the Secretary considers appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC36E2103D3E24CC7AAEBE67E585573D1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Updated regulations</header><text>The Secretary shall update the standards required under subsection (a)(2) not less frequently than every 3 years.</text></subsection></section><section id="idE466B2244944487C835B2B259B1719F3"><enum>202.</enum><header>Protections relating to disclosure of flight information</header><subsection id="idC78196CA8E4142DDB544DEE9507C7CF3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Prohibition on limiting access of consumer to information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations prohibiting an air carrier from limiting the access of consumers to information relating to schedules, fares, fees, and taxes relating to flights in passenger air transportation.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF1023839AEB945C0A05DB1F4924FADA4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prohibition on withholding information</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations prohibiting an air carrier, through a global distribution system or otherwise, from withholding flight, fare, scheduling, availability, and other information published by air carriers from consumers and online travel agents and metasearch engines that provide flight search tools.</text></subsection></section><section id="id37f2a82277e14414843258ab31627417"><enum>203.</enum><header>Transparency in pricing of tickets in air transportation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations requiring—</text><paragraph id="id15a2ca6f86f64420a375f56264114a26"><enum>(1)</enum><text>air carriers to provide useable, current, and accurate information in a user-friendly, accessible form, with respect to fares, applicable taxes, and ancillary fees to ticket agents, online travel agents, and metasearch engines that provide flight search tools;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id297d23a80cff45f28acc360b925a20f3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>air carriers to allow consumers to purchase tickets and pay for applicable taxes and ancillary fees through ticket agents, online travel agents, and metasearch engines that provide flight search tools;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id68323a6b3a634e438ba130a1fc8a821b"><enum>(3)</enum><text>air carriers, ticket agents, online travel agents, and metasearch engines that provide flight search tools to disclose all applicable taxes and any ancillary fees charged by an air carrier with respect to a fare that are applicable to the services identified by the purchaser, at any point at which the fare is shown in whole or in part; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf83bdd08abbc42d8916dba23ec1f1172"><enum>(4)</enum><text>air carriers, ticket agents, online travel agents, and metasearch engines that provide flight search tools, in any telephonic communication with a prospective consumer in the United States regarding the cost of air transportation, to inform the consumer of all applicable taxes and any ancillary fees charged by an air carrier in relation to the air transportation and associated services requested by the consumer, at any point at which the cost of the air transportation is disclosed in whole or in part.</text></paragraph></section><section id="ide7a46d22f2014a7d8b66d63bf350ecb3"><enum>204.</enum><header>Disclosure of lowest fares for air transportation</header><subsection id="id3c83007a74cb41f29862304364f6d1e7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 41712(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="idF1CB2335881B4F37B8856201A11C85BB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id71DA6370D7114A71BA7B6F18F7F0264B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idC4C5401243184A18B5F481670B5F2150"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC3C4C8E2714A4A92A913CB601302B745"><subparagraph id="id0c77b3ce38b1400dbdbd993902879f14"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the lowest available fare options for the flight and for each flight segment of the flight, if applicable.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3039e26d75194b388e76d9b13c41467d"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out section 41712(c)(1)(C) of title 49, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(3).</text></subsection></section><section id="id7944cd51e96c4398892d95bb8a9e9d2c"><enum>205.</enum><header>Frequent flyer programs fairness and transparency</header><subsection id="idd015473b9caf44d59b12c77a10282706"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 41712(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida15ea28bed4a47acab2247e40fd93388"><paragraph id="id704593572ef64a719a4b8a5e1facc9a5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Frequent flyer programs</header><text>It shall be an unfair or deceptive practice under subsection (a) for any air carrier or foreign air carrier that offers a frequent flyer program—</text><subparagraph id="idbd6da1ecad3d4bf5af4d7cdbb4bd197b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to materially change the terms or conditions of the frequent flyer program without providing reasonable notice to consumers; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id155dc44b9f8d451d8d0867b027a90be7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to unfairly reduce or eliminate benefits earned by members of the frequent flyer program.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id7f18a2de798d427e940dccaed3811b3e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Regulations</header><paragraph id="ide11e08b716ea4af680cfa01399d417a0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out section 41712(c)(3) of title 49, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd97e11e477494e5ba8ab28afd34374db"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>In prescribing the regulations required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—</text><subparagraph id="ida73e375244e4484c994ad0876472c09f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>take into consideration—</text><clause id="id2a7f993d06674a35bd80afb8f46712c3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the significance of the change to the frequent flyer program’s terms and conditions; and</text></clause><clause id="ided24898ff14144ecbb3eee57f3514fae"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the amount of time between the notification provided to a consumer and the date on which the change takes effect; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6854194052274edd8b6de2421d37d19a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>require each air carrier that offers a frequent flyer program to disclose, in a standardized format, when offering or enrolling consumers into the program, accurate information regarding the program’s rules, including—</text><clause id="id9eae1406a6a94fc5b8aeff757023c561"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the rate at which credits are earned;</text></clause><clause id="id40fe9bf843a849e883c8867bd84f39ae"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the minimum number of credits earned per flight;</text></clause><clause id="id3aa0101200244c50bd822006fa1bad14"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the number of credits needed for each award;</text></clause><clause id="idd4ac3d228a5a48ab9b2f9d87cfae3c44"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>any applicable deadlines for redeeming credits;</text></clause><clause id="ide41389317c6c4e95a4ad966d35c5a826"><enum>(v)</enum><text>any restrictions on the transferability of earned credit and awards;</text></clause><clause id="id1208f883117e4363af3fd363ef799859"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>other conditions and limitations of the program;</text></clause><clause id="idbb834786908e4cf2b30524450d6cdf48"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>the percentage of successful redemptions; and</text></clause><clause id="id981b1361dfb8409dafb830de3d33e5be"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>frequent flyer seats made available in the top origin and destination markets.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id8E9EF1E96E694A68ADB0811BD05D156A"><enum>206.</enum><header>Refunds for lost, damaged, delayed, or pilfered baggage</header><subsection id="idAAC21298DABB424A9ADCBC0C44CFEB21"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations requiring an air carrier—</text><paragraph id="idDAB2640BDBBD4A33A31EF15DACFAC07C"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to promptly provide an automatic refund to a passenger in the amount of any ancillary fee charged by the air carrier for checked baggage if the passenger's checked baggage arrives damaged; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9021AA6866D445EBA2BC410440453928"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to provide notification to a passenger who is impacted by lost, damaged, delayed, or pilfered baggage, through the passenger's chosen method of communication, of the procedure by which the passenger shall obtain a refund and the amount of the refund.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id854733202F894A7681613F8EDFB276A0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Inclusion in contract of carriage</header><text>An air carrier shall include the requirements under subsection (a) in the air carrier's contract of carriage.</text></subsection></section><section id="ida170d513bfac495a8b4ee82a767dab21"><enum>207.</enum><header>Passenger rights transparency</header><subsection id="idf82de5efc76a454fa4aa50423162dddf"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations requiring air carriers to notify passengers of their rights and eligibility for refunds, compensation, and protections required by law, including by an air carrier’s contract of carriage, or otherwise available to passengers.</text></subsection><subsection id="id1d8ba8f9a2b64ea291dc05e9648e9a6f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>In prescribing the regulations under subsection (a), the Secretary shall require air carriers—</text><paragraph id="id6a466a642b654cbfb4c61d0c0241a7ac"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to promptly and expressly notify eligible passengers and the public of their eligibility for refunds, compensation, and protections not later than 30 minutes after the air carrier becomes aware that such passengers have become eligible for such refunds, compensation, and protections;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc3d7b4109bb741dbb935540187e2b759"><enum>(2)</enum><text>if such air carriers permit passengers and other interested persons to subscribe to flight status notification services—</text><subparagraph id="idB784146A0D4A41BCB9686B1F1F3282D8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to deliver refunds, compensation, and protection notifications to subscribers to such services, by whatever means the air carrier offers that the subscriber chooses; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2d87f423be874d44849f8c53b5f16763"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to incorporate commitments with respect to such services into their customer service plans;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="iddc7a52a261814685a9bb491bb65c588c"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to continuously display information and eligibility requirements for refunds, compensation, and protections, including refunds, compensation, and protections relating to—</text><subparagraph id="id90F5CAA7CEF948F4981E74415ACF6848"><enum>(A)</enum><text>denied boarding and delays and cancellations (including on international flights); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4FA596BD069F42EAB76DC8952E29C7B7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>lost, damaged, or delayed luggage; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id83c4244442984700b7d05e2bee80eeee"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to prominently display passengers' rights and contact information for the Department of Transportation’s consumer complaint system on boarding passes, computer-generated boarding passes, and ticketed itineraries, and at boarding gates and ticket counters.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idadfc5f3241e44393970f75b6e54ab139"><enum>208.</enum><header>Private right of action against unfair and deceptive practices</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 41712 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by section 104, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id04F5A092AF0142EF8F97AC35D446AA58"><subsection id="id45ed46092d3b4b6bb3fbde6367f17460"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Private right of action</header><paragraph id="idA66944BF9F444521B768A80CE12AF846"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Any individual who purchases a ticket for air transportation and is aggrieved by an action prohibited under this section may file a civil action for damages and injunctive relief in an appropriate district court of the United States or a State court located in the State in which—</text><subparagraph id="idA94C9411051541058F86890FAE129CF2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the unlawful action is alleged to have been committed; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3EA7CDB622834AB1B71E2E36033CA81B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the aggrieved individual resides.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA6134DE1FE8C49D8B5ABE4FB6DA5DBEB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Enforcement by a state</header><text>The attorney general of any State, as parens patriae, may bring a civil action to enforce the provisions of this section in—</text><subparagraph id="id2BFF2A258C0A4310AEA1B5EF5873BD02"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any district court of the United States in that State; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBB8C1D39CDCA44D8B65A8238FFDBCC8F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any State court that is located in that State and has jurisdiction over the defendant.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="idf5339bb5de144923b8a18d5071ede5f0"><enum>209.</enum><header>Fairness and transparency in contracts of carriage</header><subsection id="id566911AFD42C4498AAF16BC14BBB593F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (a) of section 429(a) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCA3FF977FE274B47A9280346511D0DE9"><paragraph id="id8b2b779c9ed74b56b9056513f9e0e7ca"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Family seating policies, including seating policies for children under the age of 2.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd5ddc4e576e24919b9afb92cbf4169d9"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Interline agreements and protections.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id74566ACF7D754AC092371072BA0A112E"><enum>(9)</enum><text>Such other terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="idB93750193B534717A4CB4AE497EAC556"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Resubmission</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall require each air carrier to—</text><paragraph id="id95AC0B412BF349BCA8FD8BBD866C8A35"><enum>(1)</enum><text>resubmit the summarized 1-page document described in such section 429 to take into account the amendment made by subsection (a); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id063683443B354A4AB7C0C8314B39F5C8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>make available such revised document in a prominent location on its website pursuant to subsection (b) of such section 429.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id3515CC9001044CF88EF13DCF7F2E8E00"><enum>210.</enum><header>Private right of action for discrimination claims against air carriers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 41705 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb92a0592217841bdbd0b05e576852082"><subsection id="idfaf40912c9b0497381d147242b501cd3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Civil action</header><paragraph id="id9a0a526f2b884011a617004fa524825b"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Any individual who purchases a ticket for air transportation and is aggrieved by a violation by an air carrier of this section or a regulation prescribed under this section may, not later than 2 years after the date of the violation, bring a civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd77e741566ac4df6aac75e5c1b216c5f"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Relief</header><text>In a civil action brought under paragraph (1) in which the plaintiff prevails—</text><subparagraph id="idD32473C8DEAC4ADB844D2FED5A44B3D8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the plaintiff may obtain equitable and legal relief, including compensatory and punitive damages; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id78C31A941700428D8C6C55C6D68F9727"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the court shall award reasonable attorney’s fees, reasonable expert fees, and the costs of the action to the plaintiff.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7f4e9df1c2d34716a12c2fd6435265cc"><enum>(3)</enum><header>No requirement for exhaustion of remedies</header><text>An individual described in paragraph (1) is not required to exhaust administrative complaint procedures before filing a civil action under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id95140adcc0564905910f875aa0cac303"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to invalidate or limit other Federal or State laws affording to people with disabilities greater legal rights or protections than those granted in this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="id990a87fa176c4c1290badebeae4ba27c"><enum>211.</enum><header>No preemption of consumer protection claims</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 41713(b)(4) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4B9AE6E47A354AABBC609A3577AC1E0D"><subparagraph id="id7c7f977dbfce4c8da5ff995aba3b8791"><enum>(D)</enum><header>No preemption of consumer protection claims</header><text>Nothing in subparagraphs (A) through (C) may be construed—</text><clause id="id824C2B74318C4021BD065029EFCA8805"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to preempt, displace, or supplant any action for civil damages or injunctive relief based on a State consumer protection statute; or</text></clause><clause id="id0449701E502142CEBDBE2E0C766F36BA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to restrict the authority of any government entity, including an attorney general of a State, from bringing a legal claim on behalf of the citizens of the State.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="id207B3EC75DD145CDA7CF17CC23C6EA10"><enum>212.</enum><header>Invalidation of pre-dispute arbitration and class-action waiver clauses in certain contracts relating to passenger air transportation</header><subsection id="idc332a07e4e5340b1bcfed5314da92f51"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Arbitration</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, arbitration may be used to settle a controversy arising from or relating to a provision of a contract described in subsection (c) only if, after the controversy arises, all parties to the controversy consent in writing to use arbitration to settle the controversy.</text></subsection><subsection id="id23c949dfd6cf4adf8b5b0702a9eed404"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Class actions</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an agreement waiving the right of a person to bring, or otherwise prohibiting a person from bringing, a claim regarding a dispute relating to a provision of a contract described in subsection (c) as a class action that had not arisen before the date on which the agreement is executed shall not be enforceable and shall have no force or effect.</text></subsection><subsection id="idC37127DEF1064D7A98036C5F43BC073C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Contracts described</header><text>A contract described in this subsection is a contract—</text><paragraph id="idCD5139457FF94AB8ACB5177A8E75BB06"><enum>(1)</enum><text>for the purchase of a ticket for passenger air transportation;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idF8060849EA7841F1B951EDC6B3CE678A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>setting forth the terms of a reward program of an air carrier; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id67E60C016A664DDFB58484FDE485F3C8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>setting forth the terms under which an air carrier will provide a credit product.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2c0f59da2ab64012803e46fda050eec9"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>Subsections (a) and (b) shall apply with respect to contracts entered into or renewed on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text></subsection><subsection id="id3301FE32052D473BB2BF008BFD15767C"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph commented="no" id="idDB3FF3A6C52142B79964730D57D89220"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Credit product</header><subparagraph commented="no" id="id5988E53CBD4C4067BE5B0F5090BA25DF"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>credit product</term> means a plan offered by, or in partnership with, an air carrier—</text><clause commented="no" id="id73D0C41D29834BF9AAFC79EB535E186D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>under which the creditor reasonably contemplates repeated transactions;</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="id101B60A2639F4C888681CCA811EBAF94"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that prescribes the terms of such transactions; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="idC9A4B44D59184875BB1F08FE9A0F9FC9"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>that provides for a finance charge that may be computed from time to time on the outstanding unpaid balance.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id41C2E6DF5CB6480FA77A92BD64639E76"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusion</header><text>A credit plan or open-end consumer credit plan that is a credit product within the meaning of subparagraph (A) is a credit product even if credit information is verified from time to time.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id64E83F45B31E4643814D44B360FD26A4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Passenger air transportation</header><text>The term <term>passenger air transportation</term> means the transportation of passengers and their property by aircraft.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5F2C5D7660AA4D21A3141F457EA9D790"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Reward program</header><text>The term <term>reward program</term> means any reward program offered by an air carrier, including a frequent flyer program, under which a consumer earns mileage or other credits from the air carrier that can be exchanged for goods, services, or other benefits.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="iddb5593d2-2f7e-4bb8-8fab-ae5e560289fb"><enum>213.</enum><header>Consumer complaint process improvement</header><subsection id="id31f0ea81-d76a-4274-a2bc-017c63f6d857"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 42302 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by section 423 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, is amended—</text><paragraph id="id585F97A71EFE4FA4A599670F6FB2EF9E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBED3AD62E95548C88AEEAD91DC9CE536"><subsection id="id20D24DFF1672448F94A61BE2DEC61521"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Internet website or other online service notice</header><text>Each air carrier and foreign air carrier shall include on a publicly available internet website, any related mobile device application, and online service—</text><paragraph id="idBA166669E5A7417F8B0F388DFF5EC6E9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the hotline telephone number established under subsection (a) or the telephone number for the Aviation Consumer Protection Division of the Department of Transportation;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idF9EC2207F828497A9936FC2640143003"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an active link and the email address, telephone number, and mailing address of the air carrier or foreign air carrier, as applicable, for a consumer to submit a complaint to the carrier about the quality of service;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8573D72E56D64FACAB2CA4A31D4C7887"><enum>(3)</enum><text>notice that the consumer can file a complaint with the Aviation Consumer Protection Division of the Department of Transportation;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idE9BD3799002E479A9CEED0E0AC854469"><enum>(4)</enum><text>an active link to the internet website of the Aviation Consumer Protection Division of the Department of Transportation for a consumer to file a complaint; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8B15009F238446ECB69C8EA76DACF880"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the active link described in paragraph (2) on the same internet website page as the active link described in paragraph (4).</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="ida330eb7b-2f74-4da9-a0e1-5f42a73e975f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subsections:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id436E1C031B6F47F58FFC7E865E9FC928"><subsection id="idc5d7371f-7e77-439e-8ef5-e02ad132545f"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Point of sale</header><text>Each air carrier, foreign air carrier, and ticket agent shall inform each consumer of a carrier service, at the point of sale, that the consumer can file a complaint about that service with the carrier and with the Aviation Consumer Protection Division of the Department of Transportation.</text></subsection><subsection id="id071B24AD8CD549D0A6BB1470D29E1C9C"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Reporting Requirement</header><text>Upon receipt of any complaint, an air carrier shall send the content of the complaint to the Aviation Consumer Protection Division of the Department of Transportation.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb02dbe4d-6969-4071-b0b2-0f5e5d6afdc8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations to implement the requirements of section 42302 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a).</text></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Penalties for air carriers</header><section commented="no" id="id55C38220868744DB9BB14AA92756BA98"><enum>301.</enum><header>Increase in civil penalty for violations of passenger protection laws</header><subsection commented="no" id="id0F75ED11907142688AB020A5A9ABAA1E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 46301(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id96570C7BB4C64C53A245EE0437109958"><paragraph commented="no" id="id4FCC9F36D3804A199E3D7C2E3ABD2782" indent="up1"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Violations of passenger protection laws</header><text>The maximum civil penalty specified under paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a violation of a law relating to the treatment of passengers in air transportation.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id4E2DCC8FB39649AFBF214767931E1F57"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall specify in regulations the provisions of law to which paragraph (8) of section 46301(a) of title 49, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), applies.</text></subsection></section><section id="id5A1E0C0C818A47DCBA34365FAC7F89D4"><enum>302.</enum><header>Report on imposition of civil penalties</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report—</text><paragraph id="idC554BE7FEAF448089FBE27D754ED6C51"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">listing all complaints received from passengers alleging violations of passenger protection laws;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3BB7129E2CE54D778A9FCF8A56B20222"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identifying which of such complaints the Secretary investigated; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9DE6A27977BA43008996CB87CE7EFC02"><enum>(3)</enum><text>if the Secretary chose not to pursue the imposition of civil penalties with respect to such complaints, a description of the reasoning of the Secretary for doing so.</text></paragraph></section><section id="id7A3CE979276240B19E182BC29AC24585"><enum>303.</enum><header>Study of distribution of civil penalties to consumers</header><subsection id="idC39CC948AACB4A9080A795A529224A32"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report—</text><paragraph id="id331EB61CC58946EDB3BE8D27A0D03122"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assessing the feasibility and advisability of distributing a civil penalty imposed on an air carrier for a violation of a law relating to the treatment of passengers in air transportation to the passengers affected by the violation; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id08B8718BD9C2457299E774CC68CE64A1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identifying any provisions of law that would need to be amended to permit such distributions.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idC96C2EAABF6B47CBA482F3F0068F78A9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consultations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall consult with consumer advocacy organizations and the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection in developing the report required by subsection (a).</text></subsection></section><section id="id5B102C6D2B1A43BA99E5A60E58946D4C"><enum>304.</enum><header>Prohibition on negotiation of reductions in civil penalties</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations prohibiting an air carrier from negotiating with the Federal Aviation Administration for a reduction in a civil penalty imposed for a violation of a law relating to the treatment of passengers in air transportation.</text></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Competitiveness of air carriers</header><section id="idfb0d77278e1048d1a6953ae344969236"><enum>401.</enum><header>Analysis of air carrier mergers</header><subsection id="ida29d1b32f07444edb17d1ef316509ae5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a post hoc analysis of the effect on the public interest and the state of competition and choice in the air transportation industry as a result of consolidation of air carriers that occurred on or after January 1, 2000, and before the date of the enactment of this Act.</text></subsection><subsection id="id3b29dd78e4cb4a3280aed68b43a552fd"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>In conducting the analysis required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall consider the extent to which—</text><paragraph id="id43C24809C95A438881F5B8263071B730"><enum>(1)</enum><text>fares are reasonable and proportional to the costs of the services provided; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id555BEE741EA64735BD2301FC42EE1273"><enum>(2)</enum><text>between January 1, 2000, and the date of the enactment of this Act—</text><subparagraph id="id8aa8e114678f468d831f0ed627a292fe"><enum>(A)</enum><text>fares have changed;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id886d22afa9c949d2a4ad3862577e1e95"><enum>(B)</enum><text>competition and consumer choice have changed;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id38f77ecaf7bc4a2691da54e163c23b84"><enum>(C)</enum><text>fees imposed by air carriers, including ancillary fees, have changed;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idface3258edb643f384ba8245c22e791e"><enum>(D)</enum><text>configuration of routes has changed and the extent to which the availability of choices on those routes has changed;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id42d8f9f00dff433fb5524c95ac92dad0"><enum>(E)</enum><text>operational performance has improved; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida4d7fdab088a44ccbcd0bfa63e7aa878"><enum>(F)</enum><text>investment in aircraft, amenities, and workforce has changed.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>