By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Friday that major U.S. airlines have refused to commit to increasing travel benefits for military personnel, in the latest clash between the Biden administration and air carriers.
Buttigieg in April urged airlines to do more for military personnel and promised to raise the issue at a panel, but said major airlines, including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines, had refused to “make clear commitments and enforceable with U.S. military personnel and their families.”
Airlines, which employ large numbers of military veterans, insist they go beyond what the USDOT is measuring benefits for, but some say they don’t want to add those benefits to customer service plans, which would open them up to enforcement action. from USDOT if they failed to meet these commitments.
Airlines for America, a trade group representing the largest U.S. passenger airlines, said the dashboard “shows only a fraction of what airlines offer to service members” and said it “does not reflect the numerous benefits airlines airlines already offer it.”
The panel measures whether airlines will voluntarily commit to waive cancellation and change fees and guarantee full refunds for military personnel and family members who cancel or reschedule travel plans due to military orders; offering free baggage and the lowest fare for flights to visit military personnel recently injured in the line of duty.
“Military members and their families make extraordinary commitments and sacrifices for this country and deserve support and recognition every time they fly,” Buttigieg said.
Six of the 10 airlines did not receive green marks from the USDOT, including the three largest airlines along with Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue Airways.
Allegiant and Spirit Airlines received four checks and Frontier three.
Southwest Airlines received two checkmarks due to its existing baggage policies and change fees that apply to all passengers.
Airlines and the Biden administration have repeatedly clashed on several customer service fronts.
Earlier this month, major airlines sued USDOT over a new rule requiring advance disclosure of airline fees.
Airlines for America filed a lawsuit last month over USDOT rules requiring airlines and ticket agents to disclose service fees along with airfare, saying it would help consumers avoid unnecessary or unexpected fees. .
USDOT has created other dashboards since 2022 measuring the customer service benefits of other airlines and was directed by Congress to create a new one on airlines’ minimum seat sizes.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
