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FlyersRights.org is a United States–based
not-for-profit organization A not-for-profit or non-for-profit organization (NFPO) is a Legal Entity, legal entity that does not distribute surplus funds to its members and is formed to fulfill specific objectives. While not-for-profit organizations and Nonprofit organ ...
that advocates for the rights and interests of airline passengers. It maintains a staffed office in
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
for advocacy before all three branches of the
US Federal Government The Federal Government of the United States of America (U.S. federal government or U.S. government) is the national government of the United States. The U.S. federal government is composed of three distinct branches: legislative, execut ...
. It operates a toll-free telephone Hotline, an email helpline for individual air travelers and a website with a 'Know Your Rights' online guide. It issues research and policy papers, conducts surveys, sponsors
online petition An online petition (or Internet petition, or e-petition) is a form of petition which is signed online, usually through a form on a website. Visitors to the online petition sign the petition by adding their details such as name and email address. T ...
s, maintains an active website and social media presence, provides expert advice on aviation consumer issues to public policy makers and opinion leaders and engages in public education activities. FlyersRights became nationally known in 2009 after the passing of the Three-Hour Rule. The Department of Transportation supported FlyersRights' mandate, requiring all airlines operating in the United States to deplane passengers if a tarmac delay extends beyond three hours. It is the biggest non-profit
consumer organization Consumer organizations are advocacy groups that seek to protect people from corporate abuse like unsafe products, predatory lending, false advertising, astroturfing and pollution. Consumer Organizations may operate via protests, litigation, Adver ...
in North America representing passengers of commercial airlines. In 2010, the 24-hour Hotline was launched at 1-877-FLYERS6 (359-3776).


Legislation

In 2011, FlyersRights.org pushed a rule through the
U.S. Department Of Transportation The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT or DOT) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government. It is headed by the secretary of transportation, who reports directly to the president of the United States a ...
, which expanded on passenger protections which became the Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights. In 2015, FlyersRights.org drafted and filed a petition to the
U.S. Congress The United States Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a bicameral legislature, including a lower body, the U.S. House of Representatives, and an upper body, the U.S. Senate. They both ...
calling for the
Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates civil aviation in t ...
(FAA) to set guidelines for the minimum distance between rows in planes and to appoint a committee to help develop benchmarks. Tens of thousands signed their names to the petition. In February 2016, Congressman Steve Cohen, (D-TN), introduced an amendment to a FAA funding bill called the Seat Egress in Air Travel which mandated a certain amount of legroom to passengers for safety, health and comfort. It was defeated in the House Transportation Committee. Two weeks later Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) also added an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Bill requiring the agency to set the seat-size guidelines. In April 2016, The Senate voted down the amendment on a 54-to-42 vote, with most Democrats supporting the amendment and most Republicans opposed. This Act was signed into law on October 5, 2018. January 2019 – FlyersRights.org advocates for reforms to prevent and obtain justice for victims of in-flight sexual assault and harassment. February 2020 – FlyersRights.org briefs
Senate Commerce Committee The United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is a standing committee of the United States Senate. Besides having broad jurisdiction over all matters concerning interstate commerce, science and technology policy, a ...
and House Transportation Committee on helicopter safety following the fatal Kobe Bryant crash. February 2020 – In Flyersrights Education Fund vs. U.S. Department of Transportation, international change fees are upheld by appeal court. March 2020 – FlyersRights.org calls for consumer protections and much needed consumer relief be included as a condition of any government bailout to the airlines. May 2020 – FlyersRights.org endorses legislation by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and
Richard Blumenthal Richard Blumenthal ( ; born February 13, 1946) is an American politician, lawyer, and United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps veteran serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from ...
(D-Conn.) for nationwide rules to protect the health and safety of the flying public by requiring face masks and social distancing in air travel during Coronavirus pandemic. June 2020 – FlyersRights.org calls on Congress to protect aviation safety and restore public confidence in aviation safety following the crashes of Lion Air flight JT610 and Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302. July 2020 – Endorsed Bill to ensure families can safely fly together, children can sit with parents at no additional cost, introduced by Senators Markey, Schumer and Klobuchar. Dec 2020 – FlyersRights.org court appeal of the FAA ungrounding of the
Boeing 737 MAX The Boeing 737 MAX is a series of narrow-body aircraft developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes as the fourth generation of the Boeing 737. It succeeds the Boeing 737 Next Generation and incorporates more efficient CFM International LEAP engin ...
, based on secret testing and refusal to reveal the technical details of the MAX fix, preventing independent experts to evaluate its safety. March 2021 – FlyersRights.org unveils Social Distancing and Stimulus Plan to make flights less crowded.


Litigation

FlyersRights partnered with Travelers United to file an
amicus curiae An amicus curiae (; ) is an individual or organization that is not a Party (law), party to a legal case, but that is permitted to assist a court by offering information, expertise, or insight that has a bearing on the issues in the case. Wheth ...
brief with the
Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
on December 20, 2016, in support of an injured passenger's appeal in Von Schoenebeck v. KLM. In December 2019, FlyersRights.org sued the FAA for failure to respond to a
Freedom of Information Act Freedom of Information Act may refer to the following legislations in different jurisdictions which mandate the national government to disclose certain data to the general public upon request: * Freedom of Information Act (United States) of 1966 * F ...
request for documents related to the FAA's process for evaluating Boeing's proposed fixes to the 737 MAX.


Aviation safety

FlyersRights.org has been critical of the FAA's airplane certification process. Since 2008, membership on the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee as the designated representative of the traveling public re aviation safety, and membership on the FAA Evacuation Advisory Rulemaking Committee (2019–2020). In May 2013, in the aftermath of the
Boeing 787 The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an American wide-body airliner developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. After dropping its unconventional Sonic Cruiser project, Boeing announced the conventional 7E7 on January 29, 2003, wh ...
grounding due to lithium-ion battery fires, FlyersRights.org, with independent experts, challenged the FAA's preliminary fix as inadequate to prevent future fires or to warn pilots or ground crews of overheating batteries. FlyersRights.org proposed an
ETOPS The Extended-range Twin-engine Operations Performance Standards (ETOPS) () are safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for Twinjet, twin-engine commercial passenger aircraft operations. They are a safety measu ...
rating of 120 until the FAA could demonstrate the safety of the 787. In 2014, the
NTSB The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and inc ...
would find that the FAA was too reliant on Boeing's assertions of the battery's safety. Meanwhile, Airbus announced it would avoid using Boeing's lithium-ion battery in its planes. When the FAA Flight Standardization Board recommended iPad training rather than simulator training for pilots of the grounded 737 MAX in April 2019, FlyersRights.org lobbied to extend the public comment period and argued for simulator training. Seven months later, Boeing announced that it would require simulator training for pilots. FlyersRights.org published a white paper on the 737 MAX's design flaws and the problematic FAA certification process, including Boeing's large role. FlyersRights.org recommended # Release of technical details of fix to outside experts for evaluation # Suspension of
Organization Designation Authorization The Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) program was established by FAA Order 8100.15() (image at right). The ODA, in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), grants Federal Aviation Administration#Designated Engineeri ...
(ODA) # Criminal and civil prosecution of Boeing and its employees who hid or misrepresented dangerous conditions # Simulator training for pilots # Increased funding of FAA certification and safety oversight # Oath of office requirement for industry personnel with delegated authority and whistleblower and other employment protections


FlyersRights' rulemaking petitions

* Mask Rule Petition * Coronavirus Refund Petition * Airline Passenger Bill of Rights 2.0 * Petition re Exorbitant Airline Change Fees * Petition re Shrinking of Airline Seats and Passenger Space * Petition Reinstating the Reciprocity Rule


Reports and policy papers

FlyersRights Publishes COVID-19 Air Travel Mitigation Policy Memorandum, applauding the Administration's first steps FlyersRights.org Boeing 737 MAX White Paper. FlyersRights, Aviation Experts Cast Doubt on Safety of Boeing 737 MAX Ungrounding, ask Court to Order Disclosure of Key Documents and Tests Ground all helicopters without crashworthy safety features now. FAA declines to regulate airline seating.


See also

*
Flight cancellation and delay A flight delay occurs when an airline flight takes off and/or lands later than its scheduled time. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) considers a flight to be delayed when it is 15 minutes later than its scheduled time. A f ...


References


External links

* {{Official website, http://flyersrights.org Aviation organizations based in the United States Organizations established in the 2000s Organizations investigating aviation accidents and incidents