H.R. 2617 – Reading Mode

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.

Short title

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

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.