Air Travel and Airline Passenger Rights FAQ

Questions:

• Where can I find information about the duties that the airline owes to me as a passenger?
• In what ways is an airline allowed to restrict my airline ticket?
• How do airlines calculate fares?
• Do airlines offer discounted tickets or let you change a ticket if you need to travel because of death or serious illness?
• What should I do if I lose my airline ticket?
• Does the airline have to compensate me if it bumps me off a flight because of overbooking?
• What about tarmac delays? Do airlines have to let passengers off of stranded planes?
• Am I entitled to compensation if my flight is delayed, diverted, or canceled?
• Am I entitled to compensation from the airline if my baggage is lost or damaged?
• I have a ticket on an airline that seems headed for bankruptcy. What can I do?
• Are there any legal protections for the credits I earn in a frequent flyer program?
• Does it pay to belong to more than one frequent flyer program?
• Can I give away or sell my frequent flyer awards?

Answer:

What about tarmac delays? Do airlines have to let passengers off of stranded planes?

It depends. Recent changes to U.S. Department of Transportation rules set limits on the amount of time airlines can keep passengers on board a delayed domestic flight. These regulations also spell out what airlines must provide to passengers during long delays -- i.e. water, food, and access to toilet facilities -- in order to make conditions as comfortable as possible.

Learn more in Nolo's article Tarmac Delays and Airline Passenger Rights.