US airlines are pushing to remove protections for passengers and add more fees

Proposed changes and current protections

• Article (as summarized in-thread) says major US airlines are lobbying to:
  • End automatic cash refunds for airline‑caused cancellations/major schedule changes, shifting toward vouchers or nothing.
  • Loosen fee‑disclosure rules so baggage/seat/other charges can be revealed late in the booking flow.
  • End guaranteed adjacent seating for young children with an adult.
  • Weaken accessibility rules for disabled travelers (details in thread are vague/unclear).
• Some point out US “family seating” is already limited (often only one adult + child, opaque upsells for everyone else).

Refunds, chargebacks, and credits

• Many see non‑refundable airline cancellations as “taking money without rendering service.”
• Others note card chargebacks and arbitration could still claw money back, but only for those who know and exercise their rights.
• Several recount needing lawyers or long complaint processes (e.g., Canada) to get refunds; vouchers often expire, exclude taxes, or are hard to use.
• Some question what’s actually changing, since a touted Biden refund rule never fully took effect.

Fee transparency and “enshittification”

• Current pricing is already seen as confusing: multiple economy tiers, varying baggage/carry‑on rules, and late‑surfacing seat fees make comparison hard, especially via aggregators.
• Commenters link hidden fees to deliberate price discrimination and dark patterns (resort‑fee analogy, “basic economy” traps).
• Others argue many fees are optional and lower base fares benefit highly price‑sensitive travelers.

Family seating debate

• One camp: sitting together is a “privilege” that should be paid for like any other seat preference; frustrated by parents who skip seat fees then expect swaps.
• Opposing camp: seating small children with caregivers isn’t a luxury but a necessity that benefits the whole cabin (less chaos, fewer ad‑hoc seat swaps), so it should be guaranteed and free or automatically bundled.
• Some allege airlines already game seating algorithms to split groups and upsell; others insist passengers should simply buy non‑“basic” fares.

Airline deregulation and competition

• Sharp disagreement over past US deregulation:
  • Critics say it reduced routes, comfort, and reliability while enabling oligopoly behavior and fee farming.
  • Defenders cite large real‑term fare declines, better safety, and higher load factors; argue passengers have chosen cheaper, rougher service.
• Broader concern that industry consolidation, bailouts, and airport constraints limit true competition, making “let the market sort it out” unrealistic.

Comparisons and coping strategies

• EU rules (automatic compensation, clear all‑in pricing, tools that file claims) are widely praised; some note similar but weaker rules for European trains.
• Many North American travelers now prefer European carriers when possible, switch to trains, or drive rather than endure opaque pricing and frequent disruptions.