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Government/Legislation
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- Canadian government to pursue open skies agreements
- DOT says airlines must compensate travelers for lost luggage
Canadian government to pursue open skies agreements
The Canadian government has announced it plans to pursue open skies agreements with more countries, which it claims will make plane tickets cheaper and will allow Canadian airlines to travel to new destinations. Currently, Canada has open skies agreements with the U.S. and Britain only. In contrast, the U.S. has 77 open skies agreements with other countries.
Deemed the “Blue Sky policy,” Canada’s policy would allow airlines from other countries to fly to and from Canada as frequently as desired. Reciprocally, Canadian airlines would be given the same privileges in those airlines’ countries. The Canadian government has already stated it won’t allow foreign carriers to fly routes domestically, or from point to point, in Canada.
“Canadian travelers, shippers, and the communities our members serve will benefit most from increased choice and improved tourism and trade links,” said Jim Facette, CEO of The Canadian Airports Council.
Sources: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada.com, Toronto Star
DOT says airlines must compensate travelers for lost luggage
An estimated 30 million pieces of luggage are lost or stolen each year on commercial flights worldwide. The good news is that most bags are simply misplaced and are likely to be returned within 48 hours if the travel was domestic.
Travelers whose luggage does not show up on the baggage claim carousel should not ever leave the airport until they’ve completed a lost/stolen luggage claim form.
If a traveler’s luggage is not found, an itemized written claim must be submitted in order to receive compensation. For this reason, it is a wise idea for travelers to keep a list of all items packed in each bag. The U.S. Department of Transportation helps protect passengers by making airlines liable for compensating up to $2,800 USD per U.S. passenger when a bag is lost.
Compensation for luggage lost on international flights varies because currency equivalents are set by the International Monetary Fund. Travelers should visit www.imf.org or www.tsaclaims.org for more information.
Sources: The Baltimore Sun, Akron Beacon Journal
