U.S. airlines that improperly limit payments for lost bags were warned to comply with reimbursement rules, the Transportation Department said.
Some carriers pay lost-bag costs for only part of round-trips instead of the whole journey as required, the department said Friday. One policy denies payments for bags that are expected to be returned within a day, then limits reimbursements.
The warning may reflect a tougher regulatory stance from the Obama administration after lawmakers have said the agency should improve airline enforcement. The agency is giving the industry 90 days to comply.
“We expect airlines to comply with all of our regulations and will take enforcement action if they do not,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.
The policies in question involve payments for related expenses, such as replacing toiletries.
Federal policy states that carriers “shall not” limit liability to less than $3,300 for each passenger on lost, damaged or delayed bags, according to the department’s notice.
