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Congress has implemented some new rules about flying - covering things like free family seating, ticket refund rights and better fee disclosures. Will these new rules improve our flying experience?
Aviation analyst Jay Ratliff doesn't think the new rules will be all that impactful. In fact, he thinks that things might actually get worse.
He points to load factors for airlines of close to 90% as part of the reason why the airlines don't worry too much about the flying experience. Flying now is "something we endure, not enjoy", according to Ratliff.
He also says that complaining to the airlines about service lapses is unhelpful. Instead, he suggests going to the Department of Transportation website to file an online complaint. He says airlines are much more responsive to those complaints than to those filed with the airlines themselves.
https://secure.dot.gov/air-travel-complaint
jayratliff.com