New York Democrat Says Passengers Often Don't Know Which Airline They're Flying

The ever-so-aeronautically opinionated Senator Charles "Chuck" Schumer (D-NY) has introduced legislation that would require airline and travel web sites to let passengers know which flights are conducted on smaller, regional carriers. Schumer says the crash of Continental Connection  Flight 3407, operated by Colgan Air, was the impetus for the bill. The crash near Buffalo killed 50, including one on the ground, and has been the focus of several congressional hearings. 

While some companies and websites do list the information, it is often in very small type. Others do not disclose the information at all. Continental is one of the airlines that does let passengers know which company is actually flying the planes.

"It looks like you're flying the major airlines, but in half of these, you're not," Newsday reports Schumer said Sunday. "In certain instances, the airlines are pulling a bait and switch."

The legislation would require websites to let customers know if a regional carrier is operating under the major carrier's auspices at the beginning of the transaction. It would apply to all domestic and international flights. It would also apply to telephone reservations and advertising.

According to Newsday, Schumer said regional carriers have been responsible for all of the domestic commercial plane crashes with multiple fatalities since 2002.

FMI: http://schumer.senate.gov