H.R.3653 - Obligating Notification for Travelers about Interruptions from Maintenance and Employee Issues Act; ON TIME Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.3653, the "ON TIME Act," aims to amend Title 49 of the United States Code, mandating air carriers to disclose estimated delay times due to maintenance or crew rest issues. The bill requires airlines to provide immediate notice to passengers affected by such delays, including an estimated duration or an indication that an estimate is unavailable. Updated notices with estimates must be provided as soon as they become available.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill is to increase transparency and improve communication between air carriers and passengers regarding flight delays caused by maintenance or crew rest. Passengers will receive more timely and accurate information about the expected duration of delays. This should allow passengers to make informed decisions about their travel plans.
Potential Benefits
- Improved Passenger Experience: Provides passengers with timely information about delays, reducing uncertainty and frustration.
- Enhanced Transparency: Requires airlines to be more transparent about the causes and expected duration of delays.
- Better Travel Planning: Allows passengers to adjust their travel plans based on accurate delay information.
- Increased Accountability: Holds airlines accountable for providing timely and accurate delay information.
- Standardized Notification: Ensures consistent notification methods (public address, display boards, text, email, mobile app).
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for Inaccurate Estimates: Initial estimates may be inaccurate, leading to further frustration if the delay extends beyond the initial projection.
- Compliance Costs: Airlines may incur costs to implement the required notification systems.
- Enforcement Challenges: Ensuring consistent and accurate compliance across all airlines may be challenging.
- Limited Scope: The bill only addresses delays due to maintenance or crew rest issues, not other potential causes of delays.
- Possible Gaming of the System: Airlines might provide overly conservative estimates to avoid penalties, which could still inconvenience passengers.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) of the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce. Air travel falls under interstate commerce, and the bill aims to regulate the practices of air carriers to improve passenger experience. The bill does not appear to infringe upon any individual liberties or rights protected by the Constitution or its amendments.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).