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Home » News » Buttigieg Gives U.S. Airlines An “Ultimatum”
Law In TravelNews

Buttigieg Gives U.S. Airlines An “Ultimatum”

Matthew Klint Posted onAugust 20, 2022August 20, 2022 61 Comments

Buttigieg Consumer Protections

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has warned that if airlines do not improve upon their “unacceptable” performance in terms of operations and consumer protections, new regulations protecting passengers will become necessary.

Buttigieg Warns More Consumer Protections If Airlines Do Not Improve Customer Service On Their Own

In a letter to airline CEOs, Buttigieg began with this baseline:

“Americans expect when they purchase an airline ticket they will arrive at their destination safely, reliably, and affordably.”

While he acknowledges that not all delays and cancellations can be blamed on the airlines (“The Department also recognizes that it is not reasonable to expect 100% adherence to published schedules by carriers, due to bad weather, equipment failures, air traffic control issues, and sudden crew illness”), he asserts:

“Still, the level of disruption Americans have experienced this summer is unacceptable.”

Buttigieg points out that from January – June 2022, roughly 24% of U.S. domestic flights have been delayed and 3.2% have been canceled. To make it easier for consumers to understand their current rights when delays occurs within the airline’s control, the DOT is creating an interactive dashboard that provides air travelers a single venue where they can locate easily digestible, comparative summary information on the services or amenities that each of the large U.S. airlines provide in case of delay. That new section of the website will go live on September 2, 2022.

Finally, Buttigieg offers a warning to airlines:

[T]he Department is currently collecting comments on a proposed rule to clarify passengers’ access to refunds when they experience flight delays or cancelations. We are also contemplating options for rulemaking that would further expand the rights of airline passengers who experience disruptions.

“At a minimum” Buttigieg asks airlines to provide meal vouchers for delays of three hours or more and lodging accommodations for passengers who must wait overnight because of disruptions within the carrier’s control.

It seems to me that meal vouchers and lodging vouchers are absolutely the minimum airlines can do in case of long delays within their control (and most already do). Buttigieg’s “ultimatum” to carriers will not carry any teeth unless something more substantive, like cash compensation or obligatory cash refunds for delays of three hours or more, is threatened.

CONCLUSION

Buttigieg’s letter puts carriers on notice and does offer an ultimatum to improve customer service but the “at minimum” proposals (food and lodging) is hardly enough to cause carriers to make meaningful changes to their customer service models. Until harsher rules are proposed on paper, I doubt we will see any practical changes.

And until Air Traffic Control gets its act together, carriers will always have a defense for their poor performance (albeit a weak one)…

image: Gage Skidmore

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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61 Comments

  1. Debit Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 11:22 am

    Tickets bought come under contract law. In this relationship the airline have too much power compared to the passenger. The contract should not be one sided giving too much concession to the airline and none to the passenger. There is no need for new regulation but appoint special judges just for tickets that will break unfair contracts and severely penalize the more powerful party if they take undue advantage. Also make all rulings and settlements public, unlike something that a blogger did once.

    Airlines are utilities. They should provide for comfortable salary for their workers and adequate compensation for shareholders but not humongous profits.

    • Ray Reply
      August 22, 2022 at 3:53 am

      Most of the comments here are not clear enough. What does he know about running an Airline? People that Run airlines don’t even know how to run an airline. I work for an airline carrier and I deal with these issues on an every day basis. Yes the airlines will compensate and take care of passengers as long as it’s with in the airlines responsibility. Let’s be real Air traffic issues are not the airlines fault. Weather is not the airlines fault. The weather does not have to be in a particular city, it can be at departure point, destination point or in route! It’s an act of God. The only thing airlines are responsible is for maintenance delay or crew schedule delays. That with in an airlines responsibility. Airlines already take care of passengers due to these 2 main reason. Everything else will fall on the Passenger it’s an Airline not good will if you don’t have enough money to eat or lodging while you are traveling on an airlines how is that the airlines fault!? May be you should be driving instead of flying.

  2. Joseph Story Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 11:44 am

    The FAA and DOT needs to flex their regulatory muscles and crack down on the airlines with targeted regulations that resolve these issues. We already know Congress will not pass sufficient regulations unless pressed, so it is time for Mayor Pete to use his office to leave of legacy that forces airlines to better serve consumers instead of being at their mercy.

  3. SMR Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 11:46 am

    More regulations destroy all.. Airlines and passengers get absolutely blasted when the government steps in. Passengers in Europe must love how all those regulations have “helped” shape travel .

    • Joseph Story Reply
      August 20, 2022 at 12:00 pm

      Oh yes. Cheaper fares for all in Europe is such overregulation.

  4. Michael Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 11:49 am

    Pete’s weak letter is missing a major section. How about lost, misdirected, and damaged properly checked in baggage. This is especially true where liability lies when baggage is interlined. Another missing chapter in his letter is rights of handicapped passengers. Also unaccompanied minor procedures need substantial improvements as to animal transport.

  5. Stuart Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 12:06 pm

    It’s a slippery slope. I think Pete is doing well in firing a first shot off the bow without stirring up a fight. Airlines are being warned. And if it continues you can bet European style regulations will be coming.

  6. Koggerj Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 12:29 pm

    This queer is a disgrace to this nation.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      August 20, 2022 at 12:30 pm

      Unacceptable. Please don’t reduce him to that term. He should be judged, like anyone else, on his performance, not be reduced to his orientation.

      • Koggerj Reply
        August 20, 2022 at 1:55 pm

        His homosexuality is what defines him. He is nothing without it.

        • Matthew Klint Reply
          August 20, 2022 at 2:00 pm

          He’s a Harvard-educated Navy intelligence officer, veteran, and former mayor. I’ve met him and he’s smart and a genuinely nice guy. Frankly, I don’t agree with some of his positions, but he’s a respectable man and far more than just gay.

          • UA-NYC
            August 20, 2022 at 3:09 pm

            Matthew this low IQ bigoted chump is one of your more worthless posters as of late. You know, you don’t HAVE to let his ilk (Amy Fischer anyone?) have posting rights.

          • Scott_Texas
            August 22, 2022 at 10:13 pm

            True, but it is only his gender preference that checked that box which obtained his Cabinet position. If not for that he would be likely be running for another term as mayor. As with most of the current cabinet, prior experience was not required.

        • Aaron Reply
          August 20, 2022 at 3:08 pm

          Well, your hate seems to define who you are…and you are probably nothing without it.

          • Adam Simmons
            August 21, 2022 at 1:37 am

            Amen 🙂

          • koggerj
            August 21, 2022 at 10:42 pm

            40% of pedophiles are lgbt

          • Aaron
            August 22, 2022 at 8:36 am

            100% of what you just said is not true.

        • Gregg Reply
          August 22, 2022 at 11:11 pm

          How dare you? Nobody likes a bigot so shut-up!

      • JorgeGeorge Paez⁶ Reply
        August 20, 2022 at 5:05 pm

        Oh Matthew, how could you print his comment? It’s horrible. I see this guy stinking up VFTW a lot.
        Ugh…..

      • Jane Allen Reply
        September 17, 2022 at 5:57 am

        You presented my thoughts regarding Pete Buttigieg. I cannot understand why some people cannot address an issue without denigrating someone in such a way.
        I can understand disagreeing with something a person presents. I can’t understand the need to present their biases instead of staying on topic.
        I appreciate that you continued the discussion. I have a lot of respect for you.

    • Dave Reply
      August 20, 2022 at 1:57 pm

      You are a menace to society. Not sure why your hate speech hasn’t been removed.

    • DM DiSantis Reply
      August 20, 2022 at 3:26 pm

      You are truly brain-damaged

    • Charlie Reply
      August 20, 2022 at 3:29 pm

      You are truly brain-damaged

    • Malik on Wall Street Reply
      August 20, 2022 at 3:45 pm

      What are you doing? Get that attitude outta here

      Glad that @Matthew is responding to this and calling it out

    • JorgeGeorge Paez⁶ Reply
      August 20, 2022 at 5:11 pm

      TO MISTER KOGGERJ: oh, how witty and clever you are! Fortunately you don’t get to decide that about other people. No one does. Run along now and play with your little hetero normative toy soldiers…..

    • Rollie J Reply
      August 20, 2022 at 11:05 pm

      You, darling, have forced me to post for the first time. As a long time LALF reader, you post is fundamentally without thought or merit. I hope it is removed and you are tossed. More importantly, I hope you learn that people are more than their sexuality and gender.

      Please, go learn something. If not today, maybe tomorrow.

    • Jay Reply
      August 21, 2022 at 4:07 am

      People like you are disgrace to the world should be put in jail , Pete has done a much better job than his Republican predecessor
      Airlines need to be regulated and they need to compensate for failures to consumers

      • koggerj Reply
        August 21, 2022 at 10:43 pm

        not really. Petes’ only accomplishment in life is his sexuality.

        • Rene Reply
          August 25, 2022 at 8:30 pm

          Most people who focus in on others sexuality are secretly gay themselves but fighting it. Also, funny y’all talk about this cabinet being inexperienced. Ha! 45 waa amatuer hour.

    • Michael Reply
      August 21, 2022 at 1:47 pm

      I was wondering how many comments it would take before someone comments on Pete’s personal life. You obviously have never heard him speak, nor understand his background. You are also a homophobic coward because any man or woman comfortable in their own skin and intelligence would not take the time nor effort to attack someone as you chose.

      Comments like yours beg the question why? What are jealous of or do you envy? Why else would you attack someone in such a personal manner and not dispute the policy as other have? What are you hiding?

      Typical Republican/fascist attack…..when you have nothing to offer and are unable to compete with any new ideas or policies let’s make it personal and pivot to a subject that has nothing to do with the question at hand.

      The irony of people like yourself is that your real issues are transparent to anyone with half a brain except yourself.

      • Rocky Bindhamer Reply
        August 21, 2022 at 3:00 pm

        You should be wary of your assumptions as well. Growing up in the 1960s Bible belt many I encountered like that were Southern Dixiecrat White Trash Rednecks. The KKK came & burned crosses in our small town because. a black family had moved to town & dared to enroll their daughter at my grade school. She would be the top of our class. My family Elders served in WWII Europe Vs Real Fascists in the Axis.

      • koggerj Reply
        August 21, 2022 at 10:45 pm

        more left wing revisionism.
        Fascism has always come from the left. Every facist in history started as a leftist and the fascism we see today is comically referred to as “anti-fa”.

        People like you are harmful to society. There is nothing I envy about Buttegig other than his ability to fail upwards but that more given his special status.

        • Aaron Reply
          August 22, 2022 at 8:38 am

          “Fascism has always come from the left. Every facist in history started as a leftist and the fascism we see today is comically referred to as “anti-fa”.”

          Proof/source?

          • Koggerj
            August 22, 2022 at 11:53 am

            Reality and history

          • Aaron
            August 23, 2022 at 2:39 am

            So basically you offer nothing to back your claim. Typical.

  7. Jan Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 1:14 pm

    Lip service. Everybody knows airlines are going to do jackshet unless it’s actual law (i.e. EU261 style)

    With just a strongly worded letter, Pete continues to be useless.

    • JorgeGeorge Paez Reply
      August 20, 2022 at 5:24 pm

      “I’m going to write a STRONGLY worded memo and leave it in my draft folder!” (Old Saturday Night Live skit).

    • Billy Bob Reply
      August 21, 2022 at 12:58 am

      You post like a republican so you shouldn’t want Pete to do anything. Let the free market settle it. I’m sure the airlines can be trusted to do what’s best for consumers

      • koggerj Reply
        August 21, 2022 at 10:46 pm

        Republicans offer solutions to real problems not manufactured problems the democrats create.

  8. tcdtcd Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 2:42 pm

    Good first start. But I can’t help but think that Mayor Pete is way in over his head and grossly under qualified for his position.

    • Jan Reply
      August 20, 2022 at 6:46 pm

      He is, and he doesn’t have any positive accomplishments since assuming his position. The supply chain crisis, high fuel prices, summer airlines disaster; his failures are representative of the current administration. Granted, some of these aren’t completely his fault, but it all unraveled under his watch.

  9. rjb Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 5:58 pm

    Mayor Pete is a total failure as secretary of transportation. Nothing will happen and you all know it. Congress and the Biden Administration gave the airlines $54 billion and got nothing in return. if mayor Pete couldn’t negotiate something concrete in return for $54 billion in cash, he isn’t going to get anything with a sternly worded letter

    • ted pico Reply
      August 20, 2022 at 6:18 pm

      this was Trump and congress who gave the money.

    • UA-NYC Reply
      August 20, 2022 at 6:36 pm

      Majority of this happened under your favored Agent Orange’s reign. And a quarter of the funds must be repaid.

      Can’t expect a low information MAGA voter to look beyond the Newsmax headlines though.

      • koggerj Reply
        August 20, 2022 at 7:08 pm

        na it was a democrat failure as usual.

        • Matthew Klint Reply
          August 20, 2022 at 8:05 pm

          You see I don’t censor you or your comments directed generally or at public officials. But no personal attacks against other commenters.

          Please see this policy:

          https://liveandletsfly.com/comment-policy/

      • Billy Bob Reply
        August 21, 2022 at 12:54 am

        You’re talking to people that think Obama allowed 9/11 to happen. You’ll never convince them of something they don’t want to believe.

    • Rene Reply
      August 25, 2022 at 8:35 pm

      Try again! In the mean time, I’ll fix it for you. Trump and Congress gave the airlines.. not Biden, nice try at revisionist history.

  10. Cesar Rodriguez Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 8:05 pm

    WHAT DOES THIS GUY KNOW ABOUT TRANSPORTATION??? REALLY!!!

    • Chris@Oak Reply
      August 20, 2022 at 8:35 pm

      Transportation? He had his DC government paid handlers transport his bike in a mega carbon emitting SUV and then get it out for him to ride a few blocks for a photo opp promoting biking to work.

    • Matt McClure Reply
      August 20, 2022 at 9:17 pm

      Secretary Buttigieg was involved in a number of transportation issues in Indiana including a key role in pushing for double-track for the South Shore Line. He coordinated with state, regional, and federal agencies in this successful effort.

  11. Matt McClure Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 9:12 pm

    Secretary Buttigieg has already shown more interest and expertise in two years than his predecessor Elaine Chao did in a lifetime. Repeatedly since 9/11, airlines have received taxpayer-funded loans and grants without ever adopting a passenger bill of rights. It is payback time in ways beyond financial. The Secretary has been involved in Amtrak and could use to shake up their governance as well.

  12. George Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 11:45 pm

    Hey Pete,

    It is also time to stop the FAA sleeping with the airlines. (737 Max), this is how ruined Boeing, the airlines. When the FAA works with airlines to do check on their own this is what happens. The FAA needs to remove the A321 seats by the doors, this is very dangerous if there was a reason to evacuate the aircraft.

  13. JH Reply
    August 21, 2022 at 8:51 am

    Were there any sternly worded letters to the FAA, DOT, The NTSB, Mother Nature and every government controlled airport authority that they also bear blame for the airlines poor performance?

    For example…NY airspace was severely restricted last week because of a staffing shortage.

    Have we optimized airspace to allow a maximum number of arrivals and departures from major airports or are we still beholden to the NIMBYs?

    Are we opening up restricted airspace along the East Coast when it is not being used?

    And last but not least…how about we rescind Schumer’s ridiculous 1500 rule for new pilots.

  14. Steve Reply
    August 21, 2022 at 5:00 pm

    After all these months he finally sends a letter just in time for elections so it looks like this administration is doing something! Just like with the supply chain issue. He is not qualified for his position which was a purely political appointment

  15. bhn Reply
    August 21, 2022 at 9:14 pm

    Maybe the government shouldn’t have paid people to stay home and then act surprised when they don’t want to come back to work.

    • Billy Bob Reply
      August 21, 2022 at 10:07 pm

      I quit my job once I got that sweet government check. All I have to do is continue to only spend $4 a month on all my living expenses and I’ll never have to work again!

  16. Tony N Reply
    August 21, 2022 at 10:03 pm

    Airlines have less respect for people and treat us like cattle because we are at their mercy. Wish I could take a high-speed train.

  17. Tony N Reply
    August 21, 2022 at 10:07 pm

    I’m sure Matthew is having a lot of trouble monitoring our comments, and weeding out the bad ones. I’m sure eventually, there will be no more comment section just like ‘The Points Guy.’ So keep your comments easy-going, people.

    • Aaron Reply
      August 22, 2022 at 8:41 am

      The Points Guy doesn’t need the $$$ from comments given that each article has dozens of commission-based links. Plus I think too many people were taking shots at him being a coke head, and how nitpicky some of his reviewers are.

      Matthew doesn’t weed out comments anyway, because, free speech…

  18. Col. Jim Worrall Reply
    August 25, 2022 at 8:40 am

    Buttigieg is simply pandering to future voters. He still has aspirations for higher office. Buttigieg is a sociopath without principles. He supports whatever is popular with potential voters. The DOT won’t hold airlines accountable until they have new leadership that actually cares about the people.

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