DOT fines 4 airlines for compensation information

The Department of Transportation is fining four big U.S. airlines for not providing accurate notices explaining compensation for mishandled luggage and involuntarily “bumped” passengers.

The agency announced fines for American Airlines ($45,000), Alaska Airlines ($40,000), Southwest Airlines ($40,000) and United Airlines ($35,000) on Friday.

“We are committed to ensuring that air travelers know the rules and have accurate information about compensation when they are bumped from flights and for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage,” Transportation secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement.

The agency’s rules require carriers to outline potential compensation to passengers who get “bumped” from oversold flights.

Federal requirements also prohibit U.S. airlines from limiting their liability from lost, damaged or delayed bags to an amount less than $3,500. Carriers must provide customers with proper notice of the baggage liability limit on or with their tickets.

The DOT said it conducted airport inspections that found that not all gate or counter agents of the fined airlines had updated and accurate information for fliers with a bumped flight or mishandled bag.

The agency said its effort is part “of an unprecedented series of inspections, ‘Task Force Lightning,’ conducted at airports nationwide by the Department’s Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings.”

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