DOT

Gov’t Wants To Fingerprint Travelers Leaving The U.S., Why It’s A Bad Idea

Yesterday the United States Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-to-5 in favour of an amendment, as part of immigration reform, to require the finger printing of all foreign travelers departing the United States.  The bill, proposed by Senator Orin Hatch (R-UT), implements biometric tracking of foreign travelers under the Department of Transportation in three phases.  …

Should The Gov’t Get Involved In Baggage Fees?

The airline industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world, despite the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-504).     Nearly every aspect of an airline’s operations are subject to regulation … but airlines are free to charge what they’d like for fares and services, provided they do not…

DOT Slaps Spirit Airlines With Fines For Tweets

For some time the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has been monitoring the social media activities of airlines to ensure that airlines fully disclose fares up front to travelers.  Under DOT regulations any far, including promotional fares, must disclose taxes and fees up front. While DOT fare disclosure eats into Twitter’s 140-character message, regulations for…

The TSA Turns 10 Today – A Look Back At Day One

On the 19th of November 2001 Public Law 107-71 (PL 107-71), the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA), was enacted any the 107th Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush. With the flick of George W. Bush’s pen, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created and airport security through the United States…

Who Regulates Passenger Baggage? Well…no one really

Baggage questions, will they ever stop? No, probably not.   Each week Flying With Fish probably receives more email regarding baggage issues than anything else. Checked baggage, carry on baggage, carry-on sizes, checked baggage weight … and frequently readers want to know who to complain to.  Those seeking to complain to “the authorities” generally are…

The Ninth Anniversary Of The TSA In Airports

Nine years ago today aviation security around the world changed … and not necessarily for the better. Nine years ago today the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) took over passenger screening in airports from private security contractors in the United States. On the 12th of February 2002 airport security in the United States was overseen by…

TSA’s Lack Of Answers – A Personal View Point

Disclosure : This post is a personal view point editorial Since I began covering aviation security on the 15th of September 2001 I have spent a considerable amount of time dealing with the federal agencies that were involved with protecting airports and commercial aviation. When the primary responsibility of aviation security in the United States…

US Airways, A Disabled Passenger Removed From A Flight & The Grey Areas

Last week a story broke that US Airways had removed Johnnie Tuitel from a flight for being “too disabled.”  Since the story broke there have been countless stories in the news and comments in various social media channels regarding the removal of Mr. Tuitel from the flight and speculation surrounding the circumstances of the incident….

Anti-Trust Immunity, Airline Alliances & You

Web: www.thetravelstrategist.com — E-Mail: fish@flyingwithfish.com 08/04/2009 – Anti-Trust Immunity, Airline Alliances & You I am sure that very few people ever give a second thought to anti-trust laws, international airlines alliance and how it could possibly affect them. If you are a frequent flyer, this issue does affect you, even if you do not realize…