H.R. 2617 – Choices for Stranded Passengers Act of 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 6:14 AM UTC

The Choices for Stranded Passengers Act of 2023 amends Title 49 to require airlines (including foreign carriers) operating aircraft with 31 or more seats to offer passengers who face a controllable significant delay or cancellation an alternative flight on another carrier at no extra cost, if that alternative gets them to their original destination sooner than waiting for the delayed or another flight by the same carrier. Passengers must be told about this right when they book and again when a delay or cancellation occurs, and they may instead choose free ground transport or a full refund.

Key Provisions

Airlines must provide alternate air carrier transportation at no charge when a delay of 3+ hours (domestic) or 6+ hours (international) is caused by the carrier and the alternate gets the passenger to the destination earlier than the original or another flight by the same carrier.
Passengers can decline the alternate flight and opt for free ground transportation or a full cash refund, including ancillary fees.
Carriers and ticket agents must make these rights clear and conspicuous at booking and in written notice when a qualifying delay or cancellation happens.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Aviation Subcommittee

April 14, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 13, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

April 13, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Aviation Subcommittee

April 14, 2023

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 2617 on the floor

1 Democrat

Sen. Charles E. SchumerD-NY · Dec 17, 2024

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the record the biennial report from the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 13, 2023

I

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2617

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 13, 2023

Ms. Porter introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend title 49, United States Code, to require air carriers to provide passengers experiencing a delay or cancellation with alternative transportation on another air carrier.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Choices for Stranded Passengers Act of 2023.

2.

Provision of alternative air carrier transportation for delays or cancellations

(a)

In general

Subchapter I of chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

41727.

Provision of alternative air carrier transportation for delays or cancellations

(a)

Alternative transportation

An air carrier or foreign air carrier shall provide a passenger on scheduled air transportation in an aircraft designed for 31 passenger seats or greater whose flight experiences a controllable significant delay or cancellation with alternate transportation on another air carrier or foreign air carrier at no additional charge in any case in which the passenger would reach the originally ticketed destination earlier than on—

(1)

the ticketed flight; or

(2)

another flight provided by the air carrier or foreign air carrier.

(b)

Exclusions

Subsection (a) shall not apply if the ticketed passenger voluntarily chooses—

(1)

alternative ground transportation, provided at no additional charge by the applicable air carrier or foreign air carrier; or

(2)

if such passenger chooses not to travel to the originally ticketed destination, a full cash refund for the ticket, including any ancillary fees, paid promptly, as determined by the Secretary.

(c)

Passenger rights

Air carriers, foreign air carriers, and ticket agents shall ensure that the rights of a passenger pursuant to this section are—

(1)

clear and conspicuous to the passenger at the time of booking; and

(2)

in the case of an air carrier or foreign air carrier, in written communication at the time a flight experiences a controllable significant delay or cancellation.

(d)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Controllable significant delay or cancellation

The term controllable significant delay or cancellation means a significant delay or cancellation that is caused by an air carrier or foreign air carrier.

(2)

Significant delay

In this section, the term significant delay means, with respect to air transportation, the departure or arrival at the originally ticketed destination associated with such transportation has changed—

(A)

in the case of air transportation within the United States, by 3 or more hours; or

(B)

in the case of air transportation to or from a location outside the United States, by 6 or more hours.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The analysis for subchapter I of chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

41727. Provision of alternative air carrier transportation for delays or cancellations.

.