American Airlines and Other US Airlines Push for Deregulation That Could Strip Travelers’ Rights and Add Fees American Airlines has joined Delta, Southwest, United, and others in a push to roll back key consumer protections in the US airline industry. This deregulation effort aims to reduce costs and boost competition but threatens to diminish passenger rights and increase hidden fees. --- Key Proposed Changes by Airlines The deregulation campaign seeks to weaken or eliminate these main consumer protections: Automatic Refunds for Cancellations Airlines want to remove the requirement to provide automatic cash refunds for canceled or significantly changed flights, potentially offering only vouchers or no compensation. Transparency of Fees Rules mandating upfront disclosure of extra fees (e.g., baggage, seat selection) would be removed, allowing airlines to hide costs until late in the booking process. Family Seating Guarantees Currently, families with young children are guaranteed seating together without extra charges; this protection could be eliminated, forcing families to pay more to sit together. Accessibility Protections for Disabled Passengers Proposed changes would weaken support and assistance services for disabled travelers. --- Airlines’ Justification They argue deregulation will lower airfares, increase competition, and improve services. Airlines claim current regulations impose unnecessary costs and hinder innovation. The industry group Airlines for America (A4A) supports deregulation, citing past benefits from the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. They oppose DOT rules on ancillary fee transparency, refund policies, and delay/cancellation penalties, calling them overreaching. --- Criticisms and Concerns More Hidden Fees: Passengers may face surprise charges once protections are removed. Family Hardships: Families traveling with children may pay more or face seating stress. Reduced Refund Rights: Airlines could deny cash refunds more often, leaving passengers reliant on vouchers. Weakened Disability Rights: Less robust support for disabled travelers. Competition Doubts: Instead of increasing competition, deregulation could empower major airlines to exploit passengers without accountability, possibly disadvantaging smaller carriers. --- Broader Context and Impact The conflict reflects tension between reducing regulation to boost market efficiency and protecting consumer rights. Comparisons to Europe show that stricter regulations can coincide with competitive markets and better service. Deregulation in the US risks reversing progress toward transparency and fairness in air travel. Airlines advocate for continued investment in technology and innovation, such as AI and biometrics, which they say will improve operations. --- What Passengers Can Do Stay informed of regulatory developments. Advocate by contacting lawmakers to express concerns. Know current passenger rights and potential changes. --- Conclusion The current push for deregulation by major US airlines threatens to roll back important passenger protections, potentially leading to more fees, less transparency, and weaker consumer rights. While airlines claim this will lower costs and spur competition, the likely outcome is increased costs and diminished accountability. Passenger advocacy and informed policymaking are crucial to ensure air travel remains fair and transparent. --- Source: Travel And Tour World, published September 23, 2025, by Rana Pratap