DOT Fines Spirit Airlines For Violations Of Consumer Rules

Press Release

DOT Fines Spirit Airlines For Violations Of Consumer Rules

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today assessed a civil penalty against Spirit Airlines for violating DOT consumer regulations. Spirit was assessed a civil penalty of $375,000 for failing to comply with rules governing denied boarding compensation, fare advertising, baggage liability and other consumer protection requirements. The civil penalty to be paid is a record for these kinds of violations.

“Protecting airline consumers against unfair and deceptive practices is an important part of the Department's mission,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We will continue to take enforcement action when airlines violate our rules.”

The Department's Aviation Enforcement Office found that Spirit bumped passengers from oversold flights but did not provide compensation or a written notice of their rights to compensation, as required by DOT rules. The investigation also revealed that Spirit failed to resolve baggage claims within a reasonable period, on one occasion taking 14 months to provide compensation. Spirit also was found to violate DOT rules by providing compensation for delayed baggage only for the outbound leg of round-trip flights and only for purchases made more than 24 hours after arrival. In addition, Spirit violated baggage liability laws governing international travel by refusing to accept responsibility for missing laptop computers and certain other items it accepted as baggage.

Spirit also violated DOT rules requiring airfare ads to state the full price to be paid by omitting carrier-imposed fees from the base fare. It also failed to make available on request a copy of the Department's rule prohibiting discrimination against disabled passengers. The Aviation Enforcement Office also cited Spirit for referring to DOT and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations when responding to consumer complaints even though the complaints did not concern DOT or FAA rules. Spirit also violated DOT rules by failing to retain copies of consumer complaints and by failing to file required reports in a timely manner.

The Aviation Enforcement Office's investigation of Spirit involved a review of complaints filed with the Department by consumers as well as inspections at airports and a review of records at Spirit headquarters. The Aviation Enforcement Office will conduct a follow-up investigation of Spirit during the coming year.

The consent order against Spirit is available on the Internet at www.regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2009-0001.

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