The Department of Transportation last week released the final copy of a new proposal to protect the rights of air travelers. Among other things, the Obama Administration wants to ensure that passengers receive higher compensation for being "bumped" from flights and that they are able to cancel reservations, without penalty, within 24 hours after booking. This follows earlier consumer-protection measures, like a rule forcing airlines to let passengers off the plane after three hours on the tarmac, or face heavy fines.
All good news for beleaguered air travelers. And yet one category of flyer is still getting the shaft this summer: the estimated 120 million U.S. travelers who are members of airline frequent flyer programs. Flyers who want to redeem their miles for free trips are finding it increasingly hard, and in some cases next to impossible, to do so — at least on the days they want to fly and for the typical award level (usually 25,000 miles) needed to earn a free domestic flight.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Frequent Flyer Miles: How Airlines Are Changing the Game - TIME
Author: Richard Zoglin and Christine Lim
