The “Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights” would compensate passengers for problems out of their control.

Over the winter holidays, numerous travelers around the United States had their travel plans stymied when a spate of severe computer glitches forced numerous airlines to ground their flights indefinitely. Not only were many holiday plans ruined, but many travelers were stuck with useless flight tickets that they couldn’t get reimbursed for.

In an effort to lessen the potential impacts should something like this ever happen again, a group of US Senators have proposed new legislation to compensate airline passengers when their plans are ruined by problems out of their control. The “Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights,” proposed by Democrat Senators Edward Markey of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut would provide monetary compensation to passengers in the event of airline-side complications, such as oversold flights, last-minute cancellations, and lost or damaged luggage.

“This legislation will ensure fliers have the essential consumer protections they deserve,” Blumenthal said in a release announcing the bill. “This legislation will establish clear, enforceable rules for airlines to follow, putting consumers first and restoring sanity to the skies.

Democratic Senators Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal introduced the "passenger bill of rights," which would require airlines to pay passengers at least $1,350 if they're denied boarding because of an oversold flight. https://t.co/WlPTbs721v

— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) February 6, 2023

“The Southwest Airlines debacle is just the latest example of why we urgently need stronger passenger protections, as air travel has become more stressful, unpredictable, and uncomfortable for fliers.”

Besides the major financial recompense, the legislation also seeks to offer more flexible refunds for major flight delays, implement a minimum requirement for the size of passenger seats, and launch an investigation on violations of consumer protection laws.