A new report from FlyersRights.org evaluates members of Congress based on their record protecting airline passenger rights over the past eight years. Using a familiar academic grading scale, the report considers campaign contributions from the airline industry, voting records, bills sponsored, and other relevant factors to determine each lawmaker’s grade.
Paul Hudson, president of FlyersRights.org, noted that many Americans will not be surprised by the low marks: “The very low scores will come as no surprise to the millions of American air travelers. Many members on both sides of the aisle received failing grades.” Overall, the average grade across Congress was a “D.”
The report highlights a range of performances. New York Senator Charles Schumer and California Representative Mike Thompson received the highest scores in the analysis. At the other end of the spectrum, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Peter DeFazio earned the lowest grades. Other members who failed to meet expectations included Senators Ted Cruz and John Thune, along with Representative Bill Schuster.
Hudson emphasized the importance of public awareness and accountability: “It is important for the public and voters to be aware of and hold Congress members accountable for their slow responses and outright refusal to address the frustrations of airline passengers. These problems include declining service quality, ever-smaller seats, rising ancillary fees, and lack of transparency about passenger rights and delays. When information is not readily available, it becomes harder to hold airlines and the TSA accountable for long delays, lost baggage, and other consumer harms.”
Travelers who want to see how their representatives scored can view the online report card on the FlyersRights.org website. The report provides a convenient way for voters to compare lawmakers’ records on airline passenger protections and use that information when engaging with elected officials or making electoral decisions.