Digital News Report – Southwest Airlines was fined $200,000 by the US Department of Transportation for not complying to the rules of overselling flights and handling of bumped passengers who were scheduled to take off.
The airline may use up to $20,000 of the penalty that was assessed to develop methods beyond the DOT requirements of providing for easily available notice to passengers of the overselling policies of the airlines and to help explain to their customers what the rights of a bumped passenger are available to them.
The DOT regulations require that the airlines ask for volunteers that are willing to give up their seats for compensation if a flight was oversold. If volunteers are not able to be found, then the airline carrier mus bump passengers at their discretion. The bumped passenger must receive a written statement from the airlines telling the bumped person their rights. The bumped passenger in most cases are entitled to cash compensation of up to $800.
According to the DOT officials, Southwest had on numerous occasions denied boarding to passengers but did not follow the guidelines of the bumping rules.
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