The FAA Reauthorization Act has passed, Learn why this matters for your rights
Monday, May 13th, 2024.
Gate Access
Happy Monday, Travel Friend! On May 9th, the Senate approved the bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act to reauthorize the FAA and the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) for five years. I see how some could get confused with all that’s been going on regarding passenger rights. My goal today is to explain the differences between the FAA Reauthorization Act and the U.S. Department of Transportation Rule and how they work together to protect your rights. Let’s get into it!
How Are They Different
The FAA Reauthorization Act
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act primarily deals with funding and policy regulations related to aviation and air travel in the United States. This includes everything from aircraft safety and maintenance standards to airline operations and passenger rights regulations.
This act specifically targets the aviation sector and includes provisions that may affect airlines, airports, pilots, air traffic controllers, and passengers. It outlines how federal funds are to be allocated within the FAA and sets guidelines for improving airport infrastructure, enhancing security measures, and increasing efficiency in air traffic control.
Reauthorization acts are typically passed every few years (usually five years) to update policies, adjust funding levels, and address new challenges in the aviation industry.
The U.S. Department of Transportation Rule
Announced as part of a broader initiative to enhance consumer protections, this final rule mandates that airlines automatically refund passengers for tickets and ancillary fees if the airline significantly changes or cancels a flight or if the passenger is unable to fly due to significant airline-caused inconveniences like delays.
This rule specifically targets airline practices regarding refunds and aims to ensure greater transparency and fairness in airline ticketing and ancillary services. It is more focused on consumer rights and airline accountability.
This rule enforces immediate actions from airlines to process refunds and affects how airlines manage their booking and cancellation policies. It is designed to directly benefit consumers and enhance their rights when traveling.
How They Work Together
The FAA Reauthorization Act and the Final Rule on Automatic Refunds complement each other in the broader regulatory framework governing aviation in the U.S., but they serve distinct purposes and operate at different levels of regulatory detail.
The FAA Reauthorization Act provides the legislative backbone, setting forth the broad mandates, funding, and authorization under which the Federal Aviation Administration operates.
The Final Rule on Automatic Refunds, on the other hand, is an example of how specific regulatory actions are implemented to address particular aspects of the legislative directives. It’s a detailed execution of the broader principles laid out in the FAA Reauthorization Act concerning consumer rights.
Does One Have More Power?
The FAA Reauthorization Act, being a legislative act, holds the fundamental authority. It determines what the FAA can do, how it can allocate its resources and the areas it needs to focus on, including consumer protection. Regulations like the Final Rule on Automatic Refunds derive their power from the authority and direction provided by such legislative acts.
While the FAA Reauthorization Act provides broad mandates, the specifics of how those mandates are enforced come through regulations like the Final Rule.
The bill will now go to the President and become law after he signs it.
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