<B>Airlines Must Provide Ticketless Info</B>
Consumer notices must be provided to ticketless passengers no later than checkin time at the airport on the first leg of their journey, according to a new Department of Transportation policy that takes effect May 22. The notices provide information to travelers on ticket refund penalties, death and injury limits on international flights, overbooking and baggage liability, among others. The notices are printed on traditional paper tickets or included as stuffers.
DOT suggested several scenarios: Carriers could keep notices at the checkin counters and departure gates so that passengers could take one; agents could hand a notice to each passenger; or carriers could post a sign briefly describing the nature of the notices and directing travelers to pick up a notice at the counter or gate.
But if a carrier provides notices in advance of the flight date, as many airlines now do by mail, DOT will not require the notices to be furnished a second time when the passenger checks in. DOT also suggested that airlines could publish the rules in newsletters mailed to members of a carrier's frequent flyer program or holders of the airline's affinity credit card or smart card, or on the carrier's Internet Website.
<A NAME="art2"><B>Room For Jumbo Jets?</B>
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, is questioning whether the nation's airports will be able to accommodate the new super jumbo aircraft under development by aircraft manufacturing companies. In letters to U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater and acting Department of Transportation inspector general Joyce Fleischman, McCain asked the officials to study the problem and issue a report proposing solutions and the amount of money needed to address these issues.
According to a statement from McCain, most major U.S. airports are not designed for the large-capacity jets; potential problems include maximum runway strength. Cost estimates exceed $1 billion to upgrade major facilities to handle these planes, he said.
New Asian airports already are prepared for the introduction of large aircraft, McCain said, placing additional pressure on the United States to upgrade its airports. "We must have a comprehensive plan to ensure that U.S. airports are ready to meet the demands of the 21st century," he said.