The Biden administration is seeking the assistance of officials from 15 states to enforce consumer protection laws covering airline passengers, with California being one of the 15 states recruited. According to U.S. law, this authority is limited to the federal government.
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced this Tuesday that 15 states, including California, New York, and Illinois, will help ensure government enforcement activities keep up with current air travel developments.
Under an agreement announced by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the attorney general’s offices of these 15 states will be able to investigate complaints regarding airline services. If they believe a certain airline has violated the law or refused to cooperate with investigators, the states can refer the cases to the Department of Transportation for enforcement.
In return, the Department of Transportation (DOT) will allow states to use their consumer complaint systems and provide training to state employees to understand federal consumer laws covering airlines.
Buttigieg told reporters, “This cooperative relationship will greatly enhance the Department of Transportation’s ability to hold airlines accountable and protect passengers.”
Buttigieg stated that passengers whose flights are canceled often have to wait days to board alternative flights or pay higher fees to fly with another airline to get home.
“Such situations violate passengers’ rights, and we have seen too many cases like this.”
Other states that have signed this memorandum of understanding with the Department of Transportation include Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
The District of Columbia and two U.S. territories have also signed the agreement.
Buttigieg emphasized that this collaborative effort is a bipartisan initiative to protect consumers.
However, according to U.S. law, only the federal government has the authority to regulate consumer protection laws involving airlines. U.S. law does not require airlines to respond to investigations by state governments.
According to The Hill, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser stated that Congress should empower states to enforce laws protecting airline passengers.
“Consumers deserve fair treatment, knowing what they are getting and getting everything they have paid for when flying,” Weiser said. “Through collective efforts, we will improve passengers’ travel experiences and hold accountable airlines or ticket agents that harm consumers.”