Rolling into a summer of crowded skies and overbooked flights, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has stood up for customers by slapping Delta Air Lines for violating federal regulations regarding bumping travelers.
The DOT fined Delta $750,000 and ordered the airline to cease and desist further violations.
Under DOT regulations, airlines must offer to pay volunteers to give up their seats and can only bump passengers if no one steps up.
Passengers also are entitled to a written statement describing their rights and explaining the process the airline uses to choose whom to bump.
In most cases, passengers bumped involuntarily are entitled to cash compensation of up to $1,300, depending on the value of their tickets and the length of time they are delayed.
The DOT said Delta can use up to $425,000 of the penalty to buy electronic tablets to record consumers’ decisions on whether they agreed to leave a flight and accept compensation, and to train Delta personnel on how to use the tablets.
