,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cbfj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #ad1 #bjag,mr4 ,thompson of ,california introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,a ,,bill ,to provide passengers in air transportation with certain rights4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,airline ,passenger ,protection ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,physical standards 7a7 ,seat size ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,transportation shall issue a final rule regarding the minimum standards and specifications for an air carrier and foreign air carrier that addresses the required seat width1 padding1 reclining1 pitch1 leg room1 aisle width1 safety and health regarding such seats1 in consultation with the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,administration 7in this section referred to as ,,osha71 the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention 7in this section referred to as the ,,cdc71 passenger advocacy groups1 disabled and senior citizen groups1 and representatives of air carriers4 7b7 ,bathroom size ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall issue a final rule regarding the minimum standards and specifications for an air carrier and foreign air carrier that addresses the required bathroom dimensions1 door size1 toilet size1 safety and health for the bathroom1 in consultation with ,,osha1 the ,,cdc1 passenger advocacy groups1 disabled and senior citizens1 and representatives of air carriers4 #c4 ,passenger protections 7a7 ,specific rights 7#a7 ,damaged or inoperable amenities ,the ,secretary of ,transportation shall require that an air carrier and foreign air carrier refund1 not later than #cj days after a scheduled flight1 up to #aj percent of the ticket cost to a passenger whose in-air amenities 7televisions1 headphones1 wireless internet access7 are broken or do not work as promised1 and to refund the full cost of any in-air purchase 7entertainment1 wireless internet7 that is not received or does not work4 7#b7 ,delay and cancellation honesty ,the ,secretary shall fine an air carrier and foreign air carrier #a1jjj per passenger for a cancellation or delay based on false or dishonest claims of force majeure by such a carrier4 7#c7 ,delays not caused by force majeure ,the ,secretary shall require an air carrier and foreign air carrier to provide a passenger whose flight is delayed by #c or more hours1 for reasons not considered force majeure1 a replacement ticket on another air carrier to the same destination that departs not later than #bd hours after the original departure time4 ,if such a ticket is unavailable1 an air carrier or foreign air carrier shall either refund the cost of the ticket price or provide a replacement ticket departing more than #bd hours after the original departure time1 whichever is more satisfactory to a passenger4 7#d7 ,economic delays or cancellations ,the ,secretary shall require an air carrier and foreign air carrier to notify passengers at least #c hours in advance if a flight is to be delayed or cancelled for economic reasons1 and to provide a ticket refund and1 if desired1 alternate transportation to a passenger whose flight is cancelled for such reasons4 7#e7 ,fees ,an air carrier and foreign air carrier shall provide that fees-- 7,a7 not included in airfare are conspicuously disclosed in advance of a ticket purchase2 and 7,b7 not included in an airfare may not be exorbitant1 defined as in excess of #bjj percent above the cost to the airline of providing the service or benefit in question4 7#f7 ,frequent flier programs ,the ,secretary shall require an air carrier to report basic statistics on its frequent flier programs1 to permit passengers to evaluate objectively the benefits of each such program1 and to inform passengers at least #ab months in advance before a reduction or devaluation of benefits4 7#g7 ,hotline ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 #aj percent of fines paid to the ,government by an air carrier and foreign air carrier for any violation of a regulation of the ,department of ,transportation or the ,federal ,aviation ,administration shall be available to maintain the consumer complaint hotline 7established under section #dbcjb of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code71 and to develop and implement a passenger claims arbitration system4 ,any complaint to the ,department or the ,transportation ,security ,administration shall be acknowledged not later than #bd hours after submitting the complaint1 the alleged offending agency shall respond not later than #cj days after notification1 and the passenger in question shall receive a response not later than #fj days after submitting the complaint4 7#h7 ,lost1 damaged or stolen baggage ,the ,secretary shall require an air carrier and foreign air carrier to comply with the ,uniform ,unclaimed ,property ,act1 and provide that proceeds collected from the sale of lost1 unclaimed baggage be used to cover the cost of future baggage disputes4 ,the ,secretary shall also require that an air carrier and foreign air carrier offer excess value insurance for lost or damaged baggage4 7#i7 ,notification of rights and fees ,the ,secretary shall require an air carrier and foreign air carrier to inform customers in plain language1 in writing and in prominent locations on its website1 of their rights1 liabilities1 and obligations under their respective contract of carriage1 including the recourse available to them in the event of a cancellation1 delay1 damaged baggage1 and other potential difficulties4 7#aj7 ,reciprocity ,the ,secretary shall reinstate the reciprocity rule 7commonly known as ,rule #bdj7 to affirm that a passenger on a flight that is cancelled or a flight delayed #c or more hours may use the ticket on another airline with available seating to fly to the same or nearby destination4 7#aa7 ,strengthened tarmac protections ,the ,secretary shall fine an air carrier and foreign air carrier #a1jjj per passenger for any violation of ,federal policy with respect to tarmac delays1 including the requirements that an air carrier permit passengers to deplane after more than #c hours spent on the tarmac1 and that an air carrier provide adequate food1 potable water1 and operable lavatories to passengers #b hours after the aircraft is delayed on the tarmac4 7b7 ,definitions ,in this ,act1 the following definitions apply3 7#a7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,transportation4 7#b7 ,force majeure ,the term force majeure means any event arising from causes beyond the control of the air carrier1 including ,acts of ,god 7such as fire1 severe weather1 or natural disasters71 unanticipated acts of people 7such as war or strike71 and unforeseeable breakage or accident to aircraft or equipment4 ,the term does not include to a lack of personnel1 a lack of airworthy aircraft or supplies1 increased cost or expense of operation 7whether anticipated or unanticipated71 or any other condition reasonably within the control of an air carrier or foreign air carrier4 7c7 ,amendment to title #di 7#a7 ,amendment ,chapter #dja of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #djaca4 ,equipment and personnel reserves 7a7 ,reserve equipment and staffing ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of the ,airline ,passenger ,protection ,act of #bjag1 the ,secretary of ,transportation shall require an air carrier and foreign air carrier to develop and implement reserve staffing and equipment plans that optimize the carrier's ability to provide quality service1 defined as fewer than #b percent of flights cancelled for causes reasonably within the control of the carrier1 and fewer than #ae percent of flights delayed for causes reasonably within the control of the carrier4 7b7 ,guidelines and reporting requirements ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of the ,airline ,passenger ,protection ,act of #bjag1 the ,secretary shall establish guidelines for an air carrier and foreign air carrier to report cancellation and on-time performance statistics to the ,,faa on an annual basis1 beginning #cfj days after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7c7 ,failure ,to comply ,the ,secretary shall fine an air carrier and foreign air carrier if the ,secretary determines that such air carrier or foreign air carrier fails to comply with the requirements of this section and such failure was caused by the carrier's failure to develop1 implement1 or abide by the terms of its reserve staffing and equipment plan4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the analysis of chapter #dja of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #djaca4 ,equipment and personnel reserves4 4