美国国家公共电台 NPR New Rules Would Require Airlines To Refund Baggage Fees For Delayed Luggage

New Rules Would Require Airlines To Refund¹ Baggage Fees For Delayed Luggage 

play pause stop mute unmute max volume 00:0003:08repeat repeat off Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser² to a recent version or update your Flash plugin. STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: 

Now let's check your bags, as well as your bag fees. The federal government wants airlines to refund their checked bag charges if the bag does not show up when you do. NPR's David Schaper is covering this story in Chicago.

Good morning, David.

DAVID SCHAPER, BYLINE³: Good morning, Steve.

INSKEEP: So what's the new rule here?

SCHAPER: Well, this is one of several new rules the government wants to impose to boost competition within the airline industry and better protect consumers. Airlines can still charge the checked baggage fee if they choose, but - and there are some airlines that don't charge for checked baggage. But if they do and the bags don't arrive on your flight or your luggage is what they call substantially delayed, the government is now going to require airlines to refund that checked baggage fee. Here is Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

ANTHONY FOXX: If you pay the baggage fee and your bags are not returned to you in a timely manner, you've essentially⁴ paid for a service you're not getting.

SCHAPER: Now, this new federal rules states that the refunds⁵ must be provided for baggage that is substantially delayed. But, of course, it does not define substantial delay.

INSKEEP: OK.

SCHAPER: In addition, the airlines will also have to more clearly report how often they lose or delay luggage and lost and damaged and mishandled wheelchairs - which is surprisingly common - so customers can easily compare airlines on these measures.

INSKEEP: David, let's just remember, bag fees of this sort are a relatively⁶ new thing. This is a trend in the last, I don't know, decade or so where an airline offers you a very cheap fare and then they rack up extra charges, including for bags. Is anything going to change about that?

SCHAPER: Well, the government wants all of these extra fees, whether it be for extra leg room or some airlines even charge a fee for a carry-on bag, all of those fees must be disclosed. But most airlines already do that. In addition, the Obama administration wants fuller disclosure of the relationships that the airlines might have with those travel booking websites. These are sites like Travelocity, Expedia, KAYAK. There are all kinds of them out there.

And a lot of us consumers just assumed that these sites are neutral and giving us a list of the lowest fares and the best flights that fit our schedule. But many of them actually favor certain airlines and are then compensated⁷ for favoring those airlines. This new rule the government is imposing⁸ will prohibit the websites from doing that. And they will have to disclose any bias⁹ that they have toward certain airlines.

INSKEEP: What do the airlines say about these changes, David?

SCHAPER: Well, the airlines are not too crazy about them. They say that market forces already do many of the things that the government is trying to force them to do and this regulation is just not needed. Jean Medina is a spokeswoman for the industry group called Airlines for America.

JEAN MEDINA: We've said for a long time that we think the airline industry is probably the most regulated, deregulated industry you can find, and this is another example of it.

SCHAPER: Medina says that it's really hard to find another industry that has been more transparent¹⁰ when it comes to pricing just because there is so much information about airfares already out there. Many travelers, of course, disagree. They say a lot of these fees are hidden and it's hard to find the best deal.

INSKEEP: David, always a pleasure talking with you.

SCHAPER: Thank you, Steve.

INSKEEP: That's NPR's David Schaper reporting this morning from Chicago.

1 refund   

v.退还，偿还；n.归还，偿还额，退款

参考例句：

• They demand a refund on unsatisfactory goods.他们对不满意的货品要求退款。
• We'll refund your money if you aren't satisfied.你若不满意，我们愿意退款给你。

2 browser   

n.浏览者

参考例句：

• View edits in a web browser.在浏览器中看编辑的效果。
• I think my browser has a list of shareware links.我想在浏览器中会有一系列的共享软件链接。

3 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

4 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

5 refunds   

n.归还，偿还额，退款( refund的名词复数 )v.归还，退还( refund的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Tomorrow he would return them to the store and claim refunds. 明天他要把它们退还给商店并要求退款。 来自辞典例句
• The new method means that taxpayers get refunds much faster. 这种新办法意味着纳税人可以较快地领到退还款。 来自辞典例句

6 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

7 compensated   

补偿，报酬( compensate的过去式和过去分词 )； 给（某人）赔偿（或赔款）

参考例句：

• The marvelous acting compensated for the play's weak script. 本剧的精彩表演弥补了剧本的不足。
• I compensated his loss with money. 我赔偿他经济损失。

8 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

9 bias   

n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见

参考例句：

• They are accusing the teacher of political bias in his marking.他们在指控那名教师打分数有政治偏见。
• He had a bias toward the plan.他对这项计划有偏见。

10 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。