Business traveler Brian Renda said that increasing compensation limits wasn't a solution for corporate customers. They need to arrive at their business destination on time, regardless of the payout, he said.
The National Business Travel Association said compensation limits should be even higher, because business travelers regularly pay expensive fares and book peak flights that are more likely to be oversold.
No passenger may be denied boarding on a flight until the airline's agents first solicit volunteers willing be bumped to a later flight in exchange for a voucher, according to government guidelines.
Frequent BWI traveler Patrick Clawson said the government should do more to promote the volunteer system to reduce involuntary bumps.
Volunteers who have flexible schedules can prevent him from being bumped when traveling for business, said Clawson, deputy research director at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
"I dramatically prefer it to the system of compensation," he said.
laura.mccandlish@baltsun.com
Sun reporter Megan Hartley contributed to this article.
New bumping rules
Fliers are entitled to double their ticket value, up to $800, if they are rescheduled to arrive more than two hours late on domestic flights and four hours on international ones.
Fliers receive their ticket value, up to $400, if rescheduled to arrive within two hours of their destination time.
No compensation for involuntarily bumped travelers who arrive less than one hour late.
Passengers may opt to receive a flight voucher worth more than their compensation amount.
The new rule covers fliers on aircraft seating 30 or more. The current rule covers planes with 60 or more seats.
Passengers arrange for their check or voucher at the airline's gate after they are bumped.
[Source: U.S. Transportation Department]
