"Things Have Obviously Gotten Worse With Air Travel"
"It seems to be a sea change from where they've traditionally been, going back many years, at least to the first Obama administration," said Paul Hudson, founder of the consumer advocacy group Flyers Rights. "And certainly, the fact that things have obviously gotten worse with air travel, that is a big part of it."
Excerpt from TravelWeekly:
Government agencies propose sweeping changes for airlines
In rapid fire in recent weeks, the DOT and the FAA have put forward a spate of announcements and regulatory proposals that could lead to new protections for airline customers on issues ranging from refunds to seat sizes and seating policies.
With U.S. airlines facing withering public criticism for a summer full of poor operations, some industry observers view the timing of such announcements as politically driven.
"It's good politics to beat up on people your constituents hate," said Bryan Del Monte, president of the Aviation Agency, an advertising firm.
But analysts have mixed opinions on whether the proposals amount to a significant shift for government overseers who have been reluctant in recent years to impose their will on air carriers.
