Solons urge check of policies

Take a look at this news about congress' investigation on the airlines' promo fares where most budget fares are incorporated to flight delays and cancellations.  Read on:

MANILA, Philippines — Saying that air travel is now a preferred mode of transportation in the country, eight neophyte congressmen sought a congressional investigation into alleged questionable and lopsided policies of local airline companies contained in “fine print” provisions in budget fare airline tickets.

The eight lawmakers, namely: Reps. Carol Jayne B. Lopez (You Against Corruption and Poverty Party-list); Seth Frederic P. Jalosjos (NP, Zamboanga del Norte) Gabriel Luis R. Quisumbing (LP, Cebu); Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco (LP, Marinduque); Mark Aaron Sambar (PBA Party-list); Romeo M. Jalosjos Jr. (NPC, Zamboanga Sibugay); Sherwin Tugna (CIBAC Partylist) and Jonathan C. Yambao (LP, Zamboanga Sibugay), filed House Resolution No. 1634 urging the Committee on Transportation to lead the inquiry in aid of legislation.

The lawmakers said they have been receiving numerous complaints from their constituents against matters of flight delays and cancellations and alleged exorbitant fees and charges imposed on passengers.

In filing HR 1634, the eight solons said Congress should to look into the “policies and practices of airline companies on flight delays/cancellations, fees, charges and refunds to prevent undue and unnecessary inconvenience to airline passengers and travellers.”

Authors of the resolution represent constituents from various congressional districts and partylist organizations.

They noted that while the “budget fare” promos have “encouraged domestic and foreign travels,” many travellers have complained of the airline policies on “flight delays/cancellations and related fees/charges/refunds among others” simply because they failed to read the “fine print provisions” in their tickets or that these were not clearly explained to them when they bought the tickets.

“It seems everyone has their own horror stories to tell relative to their nightmarish experiences with airlines companies,” Jalosjos said as he recounted the experience of two constituents who bought a P5,600 promo fare for a Zamboanga-Manila-Zamboanga trip for two persons but ended up spending P12,000 in penalties on the way back to Zamboanga after arriving 10 minutes late before the check-in counter of local airline company.

Aside from the allegedly exorbitant penalties on late, no-show passengers and those who re-book their flights, other complaints involve no-refund policies 24 hours before the flight; as much as five months delay in the release of refunds.

They also assailed local airlines for unannounced change of destinations; poor customer service in check-in counters, on-line and through telephone; flight delays without timely announcements; and no comfort given in terms of food or hotels to passengers who suffer long flight delays.

More from here: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/332067/solons-urge-check-policies