On June 26, 2017, Senators Edward Markey (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate called the Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights (S.1418). This would provide relief for consumers who have been hurt by poor airline customer service.

Senator Blumenthal introduced the bill because, in his words, “laws in place to protect consumers have been frequently and flagrantly ignored by airlines more concerned with profits than passengers.”

What Does This Mean for People With Food Allergies?

Under the bill, for the first time, people with disabilities like food allergies could sue an airline in federal court for not making accommodations or for not dealing with food allergies.

This is important because now passengers with food allergies have almost no options when they aren’t accommodated or have an allergic reaction on a plane. As a result, airlines are not enforcing the laws. This hurts passengers with allergies. Many people with food allergies have been banned for safety reasons from flying. Because passengers with allergies cannot sue, the airlines have been allowed to discriminate.

Tammy Balwin (D-WI) introduced a similar bill called the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act of 2017 (S.1318). This would also allow people with food allergies to sue an airline.

How Can I Contact My Senator?

Use our tool below to send an email letter to your senator to let them know you support this bill. You can also choose to post your message on Facebook or Twitter and/or call your representative. Just follow the steps: