WASHINGTON — Frustrated airline passengers who have lost luggage, been forced off overbooked flights and been delayed on international flights may get some relief with new regulations announced by federal officials.
The Department of Transportation rules, most of which take effect in August, expand on a set of groundbreaking policies the department adopted last year to penalize airlines that keep passengers stuck on delayed domestic flights for more than three hours.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the fines for stranding passengers will be extended to international flights.
The rules also increase to $1,300 from $800 the maximum compensation airlines must pay a passenger who has been forced to give up a seat on an overbooked flight. Airlines also will be required to prominently disclose all extra fees on their websites and reimburse baggage charges to passengers whose bags are lost.
Passengers and passenger- rights groups praised the new rules, saying they were needed to keep airlines from mistreating passengers.
