Airline Customer Service Improvement Act

Summary

Airline Customer Service Improvement Act - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to increase Department of Transportation (DOT) resources allocated to providing: (1) airline passenger consumer protection and related services; and (2) oversight and enforcement of laws and regulations that provide protection for air travelers. Amends Federal aviation law to require each large air carrier to incorporate the provisions of the Airline Customer Service Commitment executed by the Air Transport Association on June 17, 1999, in its contract of carriage. Requires each large air carrier to institute the following specified practices, including to: (1) include fares available at the air carrier's ticket offices and airport ticket service counters (including notifying customers that lower fares may be available on the Internet) when quoting the lowest fare available to passengers; (2) disclose, without being requested, the on-time performance and cancellation rate for a chronically-delayed or canceled flight whenever a customer makes a reservation or purchases a ticket; (3) establish a plan with respect to passengers who must unexpectedly remain overnight during a trip due to flight delays, cancellations, or diversions; (4) establish a customer service quality assurance and performance measurement system; (5) establish realistic targets for reducing chronically-delayed and canceled flights; (6) establish a toll-free telephone number that passengers may use to check on the status of checked baggage that was not delivered on arrival at the passenger's destination; (7) monitor its efforts to improve services provided to passengers with disabilities and special needs; and (8) if it has a frequent flyer program, make available to the public a comprehensive report of frequent flyer redemption information in their customer literature and annual reports. Provides for improved DOT statistics with respect to missing passenger baggage and chronically delayed or canceled flights. Requires the Secretary to initiate a rulemaking to amend DOT regulations to: (1) establish a uniform check-in deadline and to require air carriers to disclose their policies on how such deadlines apply to passengers making connections; and (2) increase the maximum amount of denied boarding compensation for passengers denied boarding involuntarily (bumped).

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Timeline

1. 13 February 2001

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1344-1345)

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 13 February 2001

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1344)

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 13 February 2001

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 15 March 2001

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

   Source: Committee

5. 26 April 2001

   Calendars

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 35.

   Source: Calendars

6. 26 April 2001

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with an amendment. With written report No. 107-13.

   Source: Committee

7. 26 April 2001

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with an amendment. With written report No. 107-13.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Reported to Senate · 26 April 2001 · Official file
• Introduced in Senate · 13 February 2001 · Official file

Documents

6 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 26 April 2001

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate (PDF)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 26 April 2001

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 26 April 2001

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 13 February 2001

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 13 February 2001

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 13 February 2001

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME-2] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV] · D · Cosponsor
• Ron Wyden · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Corzine, Jon S. [D-NJ] · D · Cosponsor
• · sscm00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Airline Customer Service Improvement Act
• related to ← Fair Treatment of Airline Passengers Act