Airlines Fined

From USA Today:
"Airlines fined up to $550K for disabilities complaints"

 

Three European airlines – Air France, British Airways and Lufthansa – were penalized up to a combined $550,000 for dealing improperly with complaints from disabled travelers, the U.S. Transportation Department announced Thursday  The cases involved the airlines not following U.S. rules for responding to numerous complaints received from 2012 to 2015. The airlines were supposed to either admit or deny that they violated rules for dealing with disabled travelers. Then the airlines were supposed to advise travelers how to ask the Transportation Department to investigate. But Air France and British Airways each failed to summarize the facts of the complaints, explicitly admit or deny violations, or advise travelers to pursue enforcement with the department. Lufthansa also didn’t tell their passengers about the option for a department investigation, and instead referred them to an attachment called “Travel Tips” with department contact information. “When air travelers file complaints with airlines, they deserve prompt and complete responses that appropriately answer their specific concerns,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said.  Each of the airlines responded that they take their responsibilities seriously to comply with U.S. policies for travelers with disabilities. The airlines each agreed to penalties, although they will be paid in different ways. Air France agreed to pay the government $140,000 in installments, to receive a credit of $55,000 for vouchers and frequent-flier miles for travelers who filed complaints in 2013, and to spend $5,000 for survey asking customers how they rate the airline for disabilities service. British Airways agreed to pay the government $75,000 within a month, and another $75,000 if it doesn’t handle complaints properly during the next year. Lufthansa agreed to pay $100,000 within a month, and another $100,000 if it doesn’t handle complaints properly during the next year.

 

 

^ Laws of any kind are only effective if they are enforced and it's great to see the US Government punishing these airlines for their treatment of the disabled. Flying nowadays for a non-disabled person is chaotic, stressful and unpleasant. It is even more so for a disabled person. There needs to be enforcement of these kinds of laws in all aspects of society so that people will finally start to understand that they have to treat people a certain way - if not morally than at least legally. ^

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2016/04/14/airlines-fined-up-550k-disabilities-complaints/83048236/