Airlines in the United States are once again showing their true colors, lobbying the Trump Administration to gut consumer protections that keep them accountable.
Pathetic: US Airlines Lobby Trump Administration To Cut Consumer Protections
For years, airlines have fought back against transparency and passenger rights, but this latest move takes it to a new level. The industry wants to erase rules that ensure refunds, accountability, and basic service standards.
Current Rules vs. Proposed Changes
To understand what’s at stake, here’s a simple look at what protections you have today compared to what airlines are trying to take away tomorrow, as proposed by the Airlines for America (A4A), the lobbying arm of the US airline industry:
| Current Rule | Proposed Change |
|---|---|
| Airlines must report on-time performance, mishandled baggage, wheelchairs, complaints, and cancellations via DOT consumer reports. | Airlines want to scrap public reporting requirements, effectively self-police their performance with no public accountability. |
| Passengers are guaranteed refunds, compensation, and rebooking support for delays and cancellations per recent 2025 protections (e.g., legal definition of significant delay, live service). | Airlines propose rolling back protections, including timely refunds, rerouting obligations, and transparency around delays and cancellations. |
| Airlines must disclose all fees (checked bags, carry-on, seat selection, change fees) clearly at booking. | Airlines want to remove these disclosure requirements, making it harder for consumers to compare true prices. |
| Family seating protections require airlines to seat parents with children under 13 at no extra cost. | Airlines propose eliminating this mandate, leaving families subject to extra fees to sit together. |
| All-in pricing rules require airlines to show the full fare—including taxes and mandatory fees—upfront. | Airlines want to return to base fare advertising, burying taxes and fees until the final step of booking. |
| DOT is reviewing economy class seat sizes to ensure minimum standards for health and safety. | Airlines want to end government oversight of seat pitch and width, keeping authority to shrink seats further. |
This Is A Terrible Idea
The notion that airlines should be trusted to police themselves is laughable. These are the same companies that routinely bury fees, delay refunds, and leave passengers stranded during mass cancellations, all while benefiting from state and federal subsidies and infrastructure. Furthermore, airlines were the recipients of vast subsidies from taxpayers during the pandemic while other individuals and companies languished. Without federal oversight, consumer protections will evaporate overnight…we are not even talking about EU 261/2004 (the generous consumer protection offered to European passengers), but just a fundamental baseline of protections as I reflected above. Transparency matters: passengers deserve to know what they are buying and whether they can rely on an airline to get them from point A to point B without having to fight for a refund if their flight is severely delayed or cancelled.
As One Mile At A Time points out, it is “such a distortion of history” for airlines to argue they can be trusted to self-police “because airlines certainly weren’t forthcoming with refunds at first, until pressure was put on airlines to do the right thing.” I need not count up the numerous examples…
A Message To Trump Voters
A humble plea to those who support President Trump. This is not what you signed up for. The Trump movement was supposed to be about populism—putting ordinary Americans first, not giving giant corporations a free pass (“drain the swamp”). Handing the keys to the airlines and telling them to “self-police” is the definition of a swamp deal. Do you really want less transparency, fewer refunds, and more hidden fees? That’s what this rollback means and it would merely add long list of polices that go against the mandate, such as the “Big Beautiful Bill” which adds trillions of dollars to the federal deficit while cutting healthcare for “normal” Americans or failing to release the Epstein files for reasons that Elon Musk made clear…
While the Trump administration has stated it wants to eliminate 10 regulations for every regulation added, who will step up and argue that refusing to refund tickets, disclose fees, or report on-time performance undermines a “free market” system? Quite the contrary, the lack of transparency undermines our ability to make informed choices…there’s nothing “free” about it.
Can we all join together to say, no? No, airlines will not use public infrastructure and regulatory policy to the detriment of US taxpayers. That’s not putting “America First.”
CONCLUSION
Airlines have made record profits while simultaneously cutting back on service, shrinking seats, and inventing new fees at every turn. Now they want the government to look the other way. If consumer protections are gutted, passengers will pay the price, literally and figuratively. The DOT should reject this proposal outright. Accountability matters, and the idea that airlines will suddenly do the right thing when no one is watching is not just naïve, it’s dangerous.
image: Delta Air Lines
Now it’s transparent how A4A feels about the passengers that have brought profitability to these airlines, time for a passenger’s strike. See how they enjoy getting the shaft for a change.
Even if the recommendations are not implemented, it is a great insult.
DOT reviewing seat sizes is not necessary. Te big 3 (UA, DL, AA) do not pack seats as tight as Ryanair. None have the Boeing 737 Max 8 200.
On time performance might have resulted in AA preventing passengers from boarding at 15 minutes or preventing check-in at the kiosk when 2 minutes past cut off.
So a small number of these regulations clearly don’t help.
A very quick look at seatmaps shows that both UA and AA have the same seat pitch on their 737-800/Max 8 in Economy as Ryanair. DL is slightly more generous.
It is disappointing and going to happen. The Supreme Court is hell bent on dismantling the federal regulatory systems. It’s just a matter of time until this is gone too.
This is what you voted for .Lol !!
Not what I voted for…
Yea Matt voted for the DEI woman best known for s#cking Willie Brown off for a job and the potential groomer who may or may not be gay.
Meanwhile America dodged that bullet and is doing great.
Did you enjoy the USA being humiliated in China yesterday and then Trump making it worse with his embarrassing tweet?
How was the US humiliated in China yesterday? Because China put on a parade to celebrate a war that the US won?
I really don’t understand your infatuation with the confirmed child molester president. He raped underage girls and you are in love with the guy.
Actually I voted for mass deportations, and I’m sure as hell getting it baby!
No you’re not. The Biden administration deported more people it just wasn’t the constant train wreck reality TV show your leader puts on each day.
But it’s not about the actually number is it, it’s just about entertaining suckers who don’t know any better.
Gaslighting isn’t an argument Michael. Biden allowed 10 million illegals into the country and made no effort to get rid of them, nor the millions of illegals already in the country with violent criminal records.
Your ignorance is only matched by your smuggery.
Then why are you still here, you immigrant?. You arent American. GET OUT!
“A humble plea to those who support President Trump. This is not what you signed up for.“
::insert “you sure about that?” gif::
Exactly! These idiots knew exactly what they were signing up for and boy are they going to get it, and get it for generations to come. High unemployment, sky high prices, no jobs, and probably another pandemic with no vaccines this time to contain it.
But at least they can claim that they were able to stop trans people from using the girls bathroom!
I’m going to sit back and enjoy the carnage. Trump and his comrades will not stop until they run the world into the ground, and the Republican lawmakers and their subjects will do nothing to stop it.
Trumpism is a departure from Reagan conservatism (and his own first term) in several ways including a pushback against corporatism and “free trade” as well as appealing to working class instead of merely the business entrepreneurs. It’s amusing that airlines have, like many corporations, tended to be woke more often than not but now cozy up to the right for a quick profit.
I think we need to rethink how our partisan right/left political dichotomy in that we can redraw the lines but it would be useful if some on the left do so as well: When/If Trump does something good, acknowledge it because partisan politics leads to ignoring legitimate concerns from the center left as irrelevant since they are the opposition regardless.
I’m not largely independent not because I like being independent, but rather the coalitions of both side have severe schisms for me. I’d like to see not just a 3rd party, but even 5 total similar to what’s in place in Europe.
You’re in bed w/ Pure Stupid Evil. Ick. I’ll bet you’re a big fan of Roman Polanski’s, too, eh? Say, how well did YOU know Epstein?
Good luck explaining your poor choices when you meet your Maker.
You can see Criminal Trump giving into the wishes of business over consumers on every occasion, indeed, before too long passengers may have to compensate airlines for delays and the inconvenience of having to run a delayed service such is the mad world of Trumpton.
Better be careful there Jimmy, your “great” country is throwing people in jail for what they post online.
All that hate of yours is going to catch up with you, obviously unless all those terrorists you let into your sh#thole country get you first.
Oh, you’re believing the Trump and Vance nonsense again. How very sad.
In any event, you don’t know where I live, it’s certainly not in Trumpton though.
My question is, is this just a proposal from A4A or something that Trump has actually agreed to do? We get the usual barrage of anti-Trump losers complaining about him as we do every other post but has anything actually changed?
If not, then I would suggest using social media, or your phone, or even an old fashion letter to make your wishes known to Trump, rather than the usual drivel of impotent orange hitler rage we see so often throughout these comments sections.
I don’t disagree.
Wondering if you are against what A4A is proposing?
Of course, and no way I would trust airlines to self-police.
I don’t think normal Americans are thinking about the Epstein files. I don’t hear people talking about that while in the checkout line in Target.
This is a GREAT idea and is what I voted for. Every American has the opportunity to buy stock in these companies and root for them to make every dollar possible. And the consumer has the opportunity to avoid flying if they don’t like the rules. The marketplace will decide if the rates go overall, not regulations.
Pass this quickly and get back to the real important stuff like sending every beaner here illegally back! Along with ending birthright citizenship and stopping the pervs from telling kids they can change their gender.
Trump is doing exactly what we voted for.
I hope you are trolling.
Not at all, there is nothing wrong with the proposals and most won’t affect me, you or most of us here. Point by point.
Who even looks at On time or mishandling of baggage stats? Waste of time and money and certainly isn’t helping “accountability”.
Flights get cancelled, sh#t happens, flight credit is fine.
The disclosure of all fees is unnecessary. Same with All in pricing. Maybe people need to take some responsibility and do the math when comparing options. They don’t need their hand held.
The free seat selection for families ending is the one I most hope happens. You want to sit together, pay for the seat. Or drive.
As for seat size, again the marketplace will dictate when seats are too small.
Just not sure why anyone would be against something that might make the airlines more profitable and really affects so few of us. Also long term, avoid them needing any government bailout money.
I totally disagree that the disclosure of all fees is unnecessary. Airlines should always list the full price you will pay for a ticket, same for hotels so you can really compare “apples to apples”. I find Delta’s new way of pricing absolutely disgusting and deceiving. You go to their website and when you look for tickets it will price as Main, Comfort, Premium Select and Delta One. Fine, These are 4 different types of seats so I am OK with them pricing that way. Now, the problem is when you select Main, that is very deceiving since then it opens another window showing 3 different types of Main, each one with some “benefits” which will cost you way more. So, when you are comparing a coach ticket on Delta with a coach ticket on another airline, you can no longer make a fair comparison since the tickets offer very different benefits.
Foe example, I can fly coach (Delta Main) to South America for $2,800 but I can’t change the flight, I can’t select seats, I don’t earn miles, I board last, etc… OR I can select Delta Main Classic for $3,200 or Delta Main Extra for $3,600 which will allow me to select my seats, change my ticket, etc…. Well, that $2,800 fare is not comparable to another airline that doesn’t overcharge for things that are basic.
Same goes to hotels, show me the full price you will charge my credit card and not a BS rate that doesn’t exist.
LOL…no, he’s not. And what’s even more frightening is he’s proud of his stupidity and likes to where it on his/her sleeve. Most Americans are like Dave Edwards…..most Americans are uneducated idiots, and have no interest in changing that.
Trumpism is proof of that, and has begun the fall of the American Empire.
Dave, you know you’re my favorite commenter here, but I have to disagree with you. Airlines are some of the scuzziest companies out there, and you know that if there are no rules that force them to provide compensation for delays or cancellations, disclosing all fees up front, and showing full fares when booking, they won’t do it. You also know that if there is no requirement to do it, then NONE of them will do it, and the consumer would be forced to put up with that nonsense or not fly at all, which isn’t fair.
Almost every company is scummy and sleazy including airlines. I just don’t see these rules as helping most and I’m never in favor of rules and regulations on everything that doesn’t affect safety.
On the compensation for delays, I got an email yesterday from AA unsolicited apologizing for my delay on Sunday with 7500 miles for my troubles. I’m sure I got it because of my EP status but still shows they do care about certain customers occasionally.
Besides, what in life is fair?
Why do you support rules and regulations on safety? You said, “Every American has the opportunity to buy stock in these companies and root for them to make every dollar possible. And the consumer has the opportunity to avoid flying if they don’t like the rules. The marketplace will decide if the rates go overall, not regulations.” Why doesn’t that apply to whether airlines skip maintenance? After all, if they are a for-profit corporation, the last thing they are going to want to do is have one of their expensive plans crash…
That’s an easy one, safety is live and death obviously and so important it’s best to have more eyes on it along with follow up on R & R’s. Yes I trust the airlines but you are also correct that without oversight corners might be cut, especially in situations like we are seeing with Spirit and financial difficulties.
Totally different subject than if some parent is crying he has to pay for a seat to be with his kid.
NO WONDER! GOD HELP US!
I’m of two minds on EU/UK 261 – style compensation. I appreciate that in the EU/UK, when the airline fails, I get very specific compensation fairly quickly (well, most of the time – I’ve had to file some complaints about delays). But on the other hand, for delays flying international J or F out of the US, I’ve been treated a lot better, with more dollar compensation, than I would be in the EU. I once got $3K for being bounced to a connecting flight to the EU that made me only 6 hours late or so. I’d hate to see that drop if they only conform to the rule. Would be better for the economy passengers, I suppose.
THE MOMENT THE ELECTION WAS OVER SEEING THE CEO’S OF THE BIG THREE KISSING THE BUTT OF THE PRESIDENT ELECT WAS POSITIVELY DISGUSTING. GOD HELP US!
Re: “plea to those who support President Trump. This is not what you signed up for.” You’re absolutely correct but unfortunately those who support Trump are so stupid and gullible and uneducated that they don’t know they’re “cutting off their nose to spite their face”.
Re: “Can we all join together to say, no?” Sure we can but it will have zero effect. As soon as the airlines decide how much they’ll “pay” Trump (under the table, over the table, campaign donations) Trump’s support will be a done deal. Only hope is if we can elect a congress that has the spine to stand up to Trump instead of rubber stamping everything. Only surprise these days is that we haven’t yet invaded Greenland/Denmark and Panama.
Trump could have been a terrific president had he been elected in Russia or China or Hungary; those countries love lying, stupid, corrupt, narcissistic autocrats.
Douchebag Dave Edwards Sch*tt Hsuan, proving with your every (too frequent) comment that your nicknames are absolutely accurate and completely deserved and that you have nothing better to do with your pathetic waste-of-oxygen lives than to post abhorrent and revolting comments here over and over again every single day. Thank you for confirming once again that you and other MAGAs are stupid hateful racist morons. Trolling or not, the extent and frequency of your comments are indicative of severe psychiatric and/or addiction problems. Your insults, undoubtedly projection, speak much more to your lack of character than to anyone you attack. Hope you both get deported back to whatever rocks you crawled out from you SHPOSs.
This very clearly illustrates why the USA needs a stronger version of EC261 enshrined into law.
Ask not what companies can do for you. Ask what you can do for companies. Our job as Americans is to work long hours so we can pay taxes and help companies profit. If airlines are required to do things like pay us cash refunds for cancelled flights, and waive seating fees for parents who want to travel with their 3-year-old, then they won’t have as much money for stock buybacks and political contributions.
Throughout this administration, industry titans like Scott Kirby have “honored” President Trump repeatedly, and his company should be rewarded for that.
Look at Europe. They have very strict “consumer” protections, and the fares are out of control. It’s not uncommon to see three-hour flights cost as much as $20, even $30. We can’t have that here because in America, we believe in the free market. A free market where an oligarchy of five airlines pay politicians to direct public funds and make decisions on public infrastructure so that the corporation making the payment, and nobody else, benefits.
Those who support Trump are pathetic and stupid and will result in the suffering and death of millions of Americans . Your stupidity will ruin us all. Truly truly awful people.
We are HAPPY to earn your hatred, asshole.
Get out of my country you immigrant. Go back where you came from
Happy to be an asshole. Better that than to be in love with a child rapist president whose alter you worship at. One has to either be satanic or a true idiot to be kissing his ass the way you do: unfortunately your stupidity has consequences m for the rest of us.
At least I give a damn about someone other than myself.
How did this get to the “death of millions of Americans” because of Trump???
The Repugnants have always been for big business. Leopards eating faces come to mind
Bad move by Comrade Trump.