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H.R. 2124House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

BOARD Fairly Act

Sponsored by Janice D. SchakowskyRep. Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL)
Introduced April 25, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 2:51 PM UTC

The BOARD Fairly Act directs the Secretary of Transportation to change the rules that govern denied boarding on flights. Within a year, airlines would be required to keep passengers with confirmed reservations on their flights and could not bump them to make room for another passenger, even an airline employee. Instead, airlines must first ask for volunteers and increase the compensation offer until someone agrees to give up their seat, while still allowing removal for safety or security reasons.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary of Transportation must revise the airline denied‑boarding regulation within one year of the law’s enactment.
  • Air carriers may not remove a passenger with a confirmed reservation to seat another passenger, including airline employees.
  • Airlines must first solicit volunteers to give up their seats and must keep raising the compensation offer until a volunteer accepts.
  • The rule does not limit an airline’s ability to remove a passenger for safety or security reasons.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Aviation Subcommittee

April 26, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 25, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

April 25, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Aviation Subcommittee

April 26, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 25, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2124

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 25, 2017

Ms. Schakowsky (for herself and Mr. Krishnamoorthi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Transportation to modify a regulation regarding denied boarding on an aircraft, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Bumping on Overbooked Airplanes Requires Dealing Fairly Act or the BOARD Fairly Act .

2.

Modification of denied boarding on an aircraft

(a)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall modify part 250 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, to ensure that an air carrier—

(1)

may not refuse to transport a passenger holding a confirmed reserved space on a flight to provide a seat for another passenger, regardless of whether such passenger is an employee of an air carrier;

(2)

negotiates and solicits a volunteer to relinquish his or her space before boarding the aircraft; and

(3)

if necessary, continues to increase the amount of compensation offered until a volunteer willingly accepts the offer in exchange for relinquishing a confirmed reserved space.

(b)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this Act restricts the ability of an air carrier to remove a passenger for safety or security reasons.