I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5291 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide enhanced consumer 
protection for air passengers, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 19, 2016 
Mr. THOMPSON of California introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide enhanced 
consumer protection for air passengers, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Airline Consumer Protection Act of 2016’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
Sec. 3. References to title 49, United States Code. 
Sec. 4. Causes of airline delays or cancellations. 
Sec. 5. Involuntary changes to itineraries. 
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Sec. 6. Additional consumer protections. 
Sec. 7. Addressing the needs of families of passengers involved in aircraft acci-
dents. 
Sec. 8. Emergency medical kits. 
Sec. 9. Travelers with disabilities. 
Sec. 10. Extension of Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection. 
Sec. 11. Extension of competitive access reports. 
Sec. 12. Refunds for delayed baggage. 
Sec. 13. Refunds for other fees that are not honored by a covered air carrier. 
Sec. 14. Disclosure of fees to consumers. 
Sec. 15. Seat assignments. 
Sec. 16. Child seating. 
Sec. 17. Consumer complaint process improvement. 
Sec. 18. Online access to aviation consumer protection information. 
Sec. 19. Study on in cabin wheelchair restraint systems. 
Sec. 20. Training policies regarding assistance for persons with disabilities. 
Sec. 21. Advisory committee on the air travel needs of passengers with disabil-
ities. 
Sec. 22. Report on covered air carrier change and cancellation fees. 
Sec. 23. Enforcement of aviation consumer protection rules. 
Sec. 24. Regulations relating to space for passengers on aircraft. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, the following definitions apply: 
(1) 
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’’ means the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives. 
(2) COVERED AIR CARRIER.—The term ‘‘cov-
ered air carrier’’ means an air carrier or a foreign 
air carrier as those terms are defined in section 
40102(a) of title 49, United States Code. 
(3) ONLINE SERVICE.—The term ‘‘online serv-
ice’’ means any service available over the Internet, 
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or that connects to the Internet or a wide-area net-
work. 
(4) TICKET AGENT.—The term ‘‘ticket agent’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 40102(a) 
of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 3. REFERENCES TO TITLE 49, UNITED STATES CODE. 
Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in 
this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms 
of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provi-
sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a 
section or other provision of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 4. CAUSES OF AIRLINE DELAYS OR CANCELLATIONS. 
(a) REVIEW.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall review the categorization of 
delays and cancellations with respect to air carriers 
that are required to report such data. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the re-
view under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall con-
sider, at a minimum— 
(A) whether delays and cancellations at-
tributed by an air carrier to weather were un-
avoidable due to an operational or air traffic 
control issue, or due to the air carrier’s pref-
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erence in determining which flights to delay or 
cancel during a weather event; 
(B) whether and to what extent delays and 
cancellations attributed by an air carrier to 
weather disproportionately impact service to 
smaller airports and communities; and 
(C) whether it is an unfair or deceptive 
practice in violation of section 41712 of title 
49, United States Code, for an air carrier to in-
form a passenger that a flight is delayed or 
cancelled due to weather, without any other 
context or explanation for the delay or cancella-
tion, when the air carrier has discretion as to 
which flights to delay or cancel. 
(3) ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AVIATION CON-
SUMER PROTECTION.—The Secretary may use the 
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protec-
tion, established under section 411 of the FAA Mod-
ernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 
42301 prec. note), to assist in conducting the review 
and providing recommendations. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
the review under subsection (a) is complete, the Secretary 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
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a report on the review under subsection (a), including any 
recommendations. 
(c) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed as affecting the decision of an air car-
rier to maximize its system capacity during weather-re-
lated events to accommodate the greatest number of pas-
sengers. 
SEC. 5. INVOLUNTARY CHANGES TO ITINERARIES. 
(a) REVIEW.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall review whether it is an unfair 
or deceptive practice in violation of section 41712 of 
title 49, United States Code, for an air carrier to 
change the itinerary of a passenger, more than 24 
hours before departure, if the new itinerary involves 
additional stops or departs 3 hours earlier or later 
and compensation or other more suitable air trans-
portation is not offered. 
(2) ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AVIATION CON-
SUMER PROTECTION.—The Secretary may use the 
Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protec-
tion, established under section 411 of the FAA Mod-
ernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 
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(b) FOREIGN AIR CARRIERS PROVIDING FOREIGN 
AIR TRANSPORTATION.—Section 41313 is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘a major’’ and 
inserting ‘‘any’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘a sig-
nificant’’ and inserting ‘‘any’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘a sig-
nificant’’ and inserting ‘‘any’’; 
(C) in paragraph (16), by striking ‘‘major’’ 
and inserting ‘‘any’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (17)(A), by striking ‘‘sig-
nificant’’ and inserting ‘‘any’’. 
(c) NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD.— 
Section 1136(a) is amended by striking ‘‘aircraft accident 
within the United States involving an air carrier or foreign 
air carrier and resulting in a major loss of life’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘aircraft accident involving an air carrier or foreign 
air carrier, resulting in any loss of life, and for which the 
National Transportation Safety Board will serve as the 
lead investigative agency’’. 
SEC. 8. EMERGENCY MEDICAL KITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration shall evaluate and re-
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vise, as appropriate, the regulations under part 121 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations, regarding the emergency 
medical equipment requirements, including the contents of 
the first-aid kit, applicable to all certificate holders oper-
ating passenger-carrying airplanes under that part. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—The Administrator shall con-
sider whether the minimum contents of approved emer-
gency medical kits, including approved first-aid kits, in-
clude appropriate medications and equipment to meet the 
emergency medical needs of children, including consider-
ation of an epinephrine auto-injector, as appropriate. 
SEC. 9. TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall— 
(1) conduct a study of airport accessibility best 
practices for individuals with disabilities, limited mo-
bility, or visual or hearing impairments; and 
(2) submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report on the study, including the Comp-
troller General’s findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The study under subsection (a) 
shall include accessibility best practices beyond those rec-
ommended under the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 
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(42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.), Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 
U.S.C. 701 et seq.), Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (100 
Stat. 1080; Public Law 99–435), or Americans with Dis-
abilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), that im-
prove infrastructure and communications, such as with re-
gard to wayfinding, amenities, and passenger care. 
SEC. 10. EXTENSION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AVIA-
TION CONSUMER PROTECTION. 
(a) TERMINATION.—Section 411(h) of the FAA Mod-
ernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–95; 
49 U.S.C. 42301 prec. note) is amended by striking 
‘‘March 30, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 
(b) FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.—Section 411 of the 
FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 
112–95; 49 U.S.C. 42301 prec. note) is further amend-
ed— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub-
section (i); and 
(2) by inserting before subsection (i), the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(h) CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE.—Begin-
ning on the date of enactment of the Airline Consumer 
Protection Act of 2016, each member of the advisory com-
mittee who is not a government employee shall disclose, 
on an annual basis, any potential conflicts of interest, in-
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cluding financial conflicts of interest, to the Secretary in 
such form and manner as prescribed by the Secretary.’’. 
(c) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Section 411(g) of the FAA 
Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112– 
95; 49 U.S.C. 42301 prec. note) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘of the first 2 calendar years be-
ginning after the date of enactment of this Act’’ and 
inserting ‘‘calendar year’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘and post on the Department 
of Transportation Web site’’ after ‘‘Congress’’. 
SEC. 11. EXTENSION OF COMPETITIVE ACCESS REPORTS. 
Section 47107(r)(3) is amended by striking ‘‘April 1, 
2016’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2017’’. 
SEC. 12. REFUNDS FOR DELAYED BAGGAGE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall issue final regulations to require a covered air 
carrier to promptly provide an automatic refund to a pas-
senger in the amount of any applicable ancillary fees paid 
if the covered air carrier has charged the passenger an 
ancillary fee for checked baggage but the covered air car-
rier fails to deliver the checked baggage to the passenger 
not later than 6 hours after the arrival of a domestic flight 
or 12 hours after the arrival of an international flight. 
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(b) EXCEPTION.—If as part of the rulemaking the 
Secretary makes a determination on the record that a re-
quirement under subsection (a) is unfeasible and will neg-
atively affect consumers in certain cases, the Secretary 
may modify 1 or both of the deadlines in that subsection 
for such cases, except that— 
(1) the deadline relating to a domestic flight 
may not exceed 12 hours after the arrival of the do-
mestic flight; and 
(2) the deadline relating to an international 
flight may not exceed 24 hours after the arrival of 
the domestic flight. 
SEC. 13. REFUNDS FOR OTHER FEES THAT ARE NOT HON-
ORED BY A COVERED AIR CARRIER. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall promulgate regulations that require each cov-
ered air carrier to promptly provide an automatic refund 
to a passenger of any ancillary fees paid for services that 
the passenger does not receive, including on the pas-
senger’s scheduled flight or, if rescheduled, a subsequent 
replacement itinerary. 
(b) CANCELLED FLIGHTS.—As part of the rule under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall require each covered air 
carrier to promptly provide an automatic refund to a pas-
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senger of any ancillary fees paid for services that the pas-
senger does not receive for a flight cancelled by the pas-
senger. 
SEC. 14. DISCLOSURE OF FEES TO CONSUMERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall issue final regulations requiring— 
(1) each covered air carrier to disclose to a con-
sumer the baggage fee, cancellation fee, change fee, 
ticketing fee, and seat selection fee of that covered 
air carrier in a standardized format; and 
(2) notwithstanding the manner in which infor-
mation regarding the fees described in paragraph 
(1) is collected, each ticket agent to disclose to a 
consumer such fees of a covered air carrier in the 
standardized format described in paragraph (1). 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The regulations under sub-
section (a) shall require that each disclosure— 
(1) if ticketing is done on an Internet Web site 
or other online service— 
(A) be prominently displayed to the con-
sumer prior to the point of purchase; and 
(B) set forth the fees described in sub-
section (a)(1) in clear and plain language and 
a font of easily readable size; and 
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(2) if ticketing is done on the telephone, be ex-
pressly stated to the consumer during the telephone 
call and prior to the point of purchase. 
SEC. 15. SEAT ASSIGNMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall complete such actions as may be necessary 
to require each covered air carrier and ticket agent to dis-
close to a consumer that seat selection for which a fee 
is charged is an optional service, and that if a consumer 
does not pay for a seat assignment, a seat will be assigned 
to the consumer from available inventory at the time the 
consumer checks in for the flight or prior to departure. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The disclosure under sub-
section (a) shall— 
(1) if ticketing is done on an Internet Web site 
or other online service, be prominently displayed to 
the consumer on that Internet Web site or online 
service during the selection of seating or prior to the 
point of purchase; and 
(2) if ticketing is done on the telephone, be ex-
pressly stated to the consumer during the telephone 
call and prior to the point of purchase. 
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SEC. 16. CHILD SEATING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall complete such actions as may be necessary 
to require each covered air carrier and ticket agent to dis-
close to a consumer that if a reservation includes a child 
under the age of 13 traveling with an accompanying pas-
senger who is age 13 or older— 
(1) whether adjoining seats are available at no 
additional cost at the time of purchase; and 
(2) if not, what the covered air carrier’s policy 
is for accommodating adjoining seat requests at the 
time the consumer checks in for the flight or prior 
to departure. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The disclosure under sub-
section (a) shall— 
(1) if ticketing is done on an Internet Web site 
or other online service, be prominently displayed to 
the consumer on that Internet Web site or online 
service during the selection of seating or prior to the 
point of purchase; and 
(2) if ticketing is done on the telephone, be ex-
pressly stated to the consumer during the telephone 
call and prior to the point of purchase. 
SEC. 17. CONSUMER COMPLAINT PROCESS IMPROVEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 42302 is amended— 
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(1) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as 
subsections (c) and (d), respectively; 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a), the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) POINT OF SALE.—Each air carrier, foreign air 
carrier, and ticket agent shall inform each consumer of 
a carrier service, at the point of sale, that the consumer 
can file a complaint about that service with the carrier 
and with the Aviation Consumer Protection Division of the 
Department of Transportation.’’; 
(3) by amending subsection (c), as redesig-
nated, to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) INTERNET WEB SITE OR OTHER ONLINE SERV-
ICE NOTICE.—Each air carrier and foreign air carrier 
shall include on its Internet Web site, any related mobile 
device application, and online service— 
‘‘(1) the hotline telephone number established 
under subsection (a) or for the Aviation Consumer 
Protection Division of the Department of Transpor-
tation; 
‘‘(2) an active link and the email address, tele-
phone number, and mailing address of the air car-
rier or foreign air carrier, as applicable, for a con-
sumer to submit a complaint to the carrier about the 
quality of service; 
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‘‘(3) notice that the consumer can file a com-
plaint with the Aviation Consumer Protection Divi-
sion of the Department of Transportation; 
‘‘(4) an active link to the Internet Web site of 
the Aviation Consumer Protection Division of the 
Department of Transportation for a consumer to file 
a complaint; and 
‘‘(5) the active link described in paragraph (2) 
on the same Internet Web site page as the active 
link described in paragraph (4).’’; and 
(4) in subsection (d), as redesignated— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘An air carrier or foreign air carrier 
providing scheduled air transportation using 
any aircraft that as originally designed has a 
passenger capacity of 30 or more passenger 
seats’’ and inserting ‘‘Each air carrier and for-
eign air carrier’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘air car-
rier’’ and inserting ‘‘carrier’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘air car-
rier’’ and inserting ‘‘carrier’’. 
(b) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall promulgate regulations to implement the re-
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quirements of section 42302 of title 49, United States 
Code, as amended. 
SEC. 18. ONLINE ACCESS TO AVIATION CONSUMER PRO-
TECTION INFORMATION. 
(a) INTERNET WEB SITE.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall— 
(1) complete an evaluation of the aviation con-
sumer protection portion of the Department of 
Transportation’s public Internet Web site to identify 
any changes to the user interface that will improve 
usability, accessibility, consumer satisfaction, and 
Web site performance; 
(2) in completing the evaluation under para-
graph (1)— 
(A) consider the best practices of other 
Federal agencies with effective Web sites; and 
(B) consult with the Federal Web Man-
agers Council; 
(3) develop a plan, including an implementation 
timeline, for— 
(A) making the changes identified under 
paragraph (1); and 
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(B) making any necessary changes to that 
portion of the Web site that will enable a con-
sumer— 
(i) to access information regarding 
each complaint filed with the Aviation Con-
sumer Protection Division of the Depart-
ment of Transportation; 
(ii) to search the complaints described 
in clause (i) by the name of the air carrier 
and the type of complaint; and 
(iii) to determine the date a complaint 
was filed and the date a complaint was re-
solved; and 
(4) submit the evaluation and plan to the ap-
propriate committees of Congress. 
(b) MOBILE APPLICATION SOFTWARE.—Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Transportation shall— 
(1) implement a program to develop application 
software for wireless devices that will enable a user 
to access information and perform activities related 
to aviation consumer protection, such as— 
(A) information regarding airline pas-
senger protections, including protections related 
to lost baggage and baggage fees, disclosure of 
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additional fees, bumping, and tarmac delays; 
and 
(B) file an aviation consumer complaint, 
including a safety and security, airline service, 
disability and discrimination, or privacy com-
plaint, with the Aviation Consumer Protection 
Division of the Department of Transportation; 
and 
(2) make the application software available to 
the public at no cost. 
SEC. 19. STUDY ON IN CABIN WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINT SYS-
TEMS. 
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Architectural and Transportation 
Barriers Compliance Board, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Transportation, shall conduct a study to deter-
mine the ways in which particular individuals with signifi-
cant disabilities who use wheelchairs, including power 
wheelchairs, can be accommodated through in cabin wheel-
chair restraint systems. 
SEC. 20. TRAINING POLICIES REGARDING ASSISTANCE FOR 
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 270 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
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of the United States shall submit to Congress a report 
describing— 
(1) each air carrier’s training policy for its per-
sonnel and contractors regarding assistance for per-
sons with disabilities, as required by Department of 
Transportation regulations; 
(2) any variations among the air carriers in the 
policies described in paragraph (1); 
(3) how the training policies are implemented to 
meet the Department of Transportation regulations; 
(4) how frequently an air carrier must train 
new employees and contractors due to turnover in 
positions that require such training; 
(5) how frequently, in the prior 10 years, the 
Department of Transportation has requested, after 
reviewing a training policy, that an air carrier take 
corrective action; and 
(6) the action taken by an air carrier under 
paragraph (5). 
(b) BEST PRACTICES.—After the date the report is 
submitted under subsection (a), the Secretary of Trans-
portation, based on the findings of the report, shall de-
velop and disseminate to air carriers such best practices 
as the Secretary considers necessary to improve the train-
ing policies. 
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SEC. 21. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE AIR TRAVEL 
NEEDS OF PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish an advisory committee for the air 
travel needs of passengers with disabilities (referred to in 
this section as the ‘‘Advisory Committee’’). 
(b) DUTIES.—The Advisory Committee shall advise 
the Secretary with regard to the implementation of the 
Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (Public Law 99–435; 100 
Stat. 1080), including— 
(1) assessing the disability-related access bar-
riers encountered by passengers with disabilities; 
(2) determining the extent to which the pro-
grams and activities of the Department of Transpor-
tation are addressing the barriers described in para-
graph (1); 
(3) recommending improvements to the air 
travel experience of passengers with disabilities; and 
(4) such activities as the Secretary considers 
necessary to carry out this section. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee 
shall be comprised of at least 1 representative of 
each of the following groups: 
(A) Passengers with disabilities. 
(B) National disability organizations. 
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(C) Air carriers. 
(D) Airport operators. 
(E) Contractor service providers. 
(2) APPOINTMENT.—The Secretary of Trans-
portation shall appoint each member of the Advisory 
Committee. 
(3) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Advisory 
Committee shall be filled in the manner in which the 
original appointment was made. 
(d) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall designate, from among the members appointed under 
subsection (c), an individual to serve as chairperson of the 
Advisory Committee. 
(e) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members of the advisory 
committee shall serve without pay, but shall receive travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in ac-
cordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(f) REPORTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than February 1 
of each year, the Advisory Committee shall submit 
to the Secretary of Transportation a report on the 
needs of passengers with disabilities in air travel, in-
cluding— 
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(A) an assessment of disability-related ac-
cess barriers, both those that were evident in 
the preceding year and those that will likely be 
an issue in the next 5 years; 
(B) an evaluation of the extent to which 
the Department of Transportation’s programs 
and activities are eliminating disability-related 
access barriers; 
(C) a description of the Advisory Commit-
tee’s actions during the prior calendar year; 
(D) a description of activities that the Ad-
visory Committee proposed to undertake in the 
succeeding calendar year; and 
(E) any recommendations for legislation, 
administrative action, or other action that the 
Advisory Committee considers appropriate. 
(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 60 
days after the date the Secretary receives the report 
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall submit 
to Congress a copy of the report, including any addi-
tional findings or recommendations that the Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
(g) TERMINATION.—The Advisory Committee shall 
terminate 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act. 
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SEC. 22. REPORT ON COVERED AIR CARRIER CHANGE AND 
CANCELLATION FEES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study of existing airline in-
dustry change and cancellation fees and the current indus-
try practice for handling changes to or cancellation of 
ticketed travel on covered air carriers. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the study, the 
Comptroller General shall consider, at a minimum— 
(1) whether and how each covered air carrier 
calculates its change fees and cancellation fees; and 
(2) the relationship between the cost of the 
ticket and the date of change or cancellation as com-
pared to the date of travel. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
on the study, including the Comptroller General’s findings, 
conclusions, and recommendations. 
SEC. 23. ENFORCEMENT OF AVIATION CONSUMER PROTEC-
TION RULES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study to consider and evalu-
ate Department of Transportation enforcement of aviation 
consumer protection rules. 
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(b) CONTENTS.—The study under subsection (a) 
shall include an evaluation of— 
(1) available enforcement mechanisms; 
(2) any obstacles to enforcement; and 
(3) trends in Department of Transportation en-
forcement actions. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
on the study, including the Comptroller General’s findings, 
conclusions, and recommendations. 
SEC. 24. REGULATIONS RELATING TO SPACE FOR PAS-
SENGERS ON AIRCRAFT. 
(a) MORATORIUM
ON REDUCTIONS
TO AIRCRAFT 
SEAT SIZE.—Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall prohibit any air carrier from 
reducing the size, width, padding, or pitch of seats on pas-
senger aircraft operated by the air carrier, the amount of 
leg room per seat on such aircraft, or the width of aisles 
on such aircraft. 
(b) REGULATIONS RELATING TO SPACE FOR PAS-
SENGERS ON AIRCRAFT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall prescribe regulations— 
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(1) establishing minimum standards for space 
for passengers on passenger aircraft, including the 
size, width, padding, and pitch of seats, the amount 
of leg room per seat, and the width of aisles on such 
aircraft for the safety, health, and comfort of pas-
sengers; and 
(2) requiring each air carrier to prominently 
display on the Web site of the air carrier the amount 
of space available for each passenger on passenger 
aircraft operated by the air carrier, including the 
size, width, padding, and pitch of seats, the amount 
of leg room per seat, and the width of aisles on such 
aircraft. 
(c) CONSULTATIONS.—In prescribing the regulations 
required by subsection (b), the Administrator shall consult 
with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, passenger 
advocacy organizations, physicians, and ergonomic engi-
neers. 
(d) END
OF MORATORIUM.—Subsection (a) shall 
cease to be effective on the effective date of the regulations 
prescribed under subsection (b). 
(e) AIR CARRIER DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘air carrier’’ means an air carrier (as defined in sec-
tion 40102 of title 49, United States Code) that trans-
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ports passengers by aircraft as a common carrier for com-
pensation. 
Æ 
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