1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing to demand that Congress finally stand up for airline passengers. Flying in the United States has become an embarrassment. In many ways, taking mass transit in a major American city now feels more humane than flying: passengers are squeezed into smaller seats, nickel-and-dimed with fees, subjected to delays and cancellations, and often treated as though we should simply be grateful to be allowed on the plane. We are paying customers—not cargo. Congress needs to establish basic, enforceable passenger rights: • Minimum seat width and legroom standards. Americans should not be packed into increasingly smaller seats simply so airlines can sell more tickets. • Cabin temperature standards. Passengers should not be trapped for hours in unreasonably hot or cold cabins. • Transparent pricing. The price advertised should be the real price passengers can expect to pay, not an invitation to navigate a maze of additional fees. • Meaningful compensation and refund rights when airlines fail to provide the service passengers purchased. • Stronger enforcement and penalties when airlines violate those rights. The passenger experience has deteriorated while the industry continues to make enormous amounts of money. U.S. scheduled passenger airlines reported $6 billion in after-tax profits in 2025, while global airlines reported a record $45 billion in net profit that year. And taxpayers have already demonstrated that when the airline industry needs help, we show up. During COVID, federal programs made $132 billion in assistance available to airlines, aviation businesses, and airports, including $58.9 billion in payroll-support payments and $21.9 billion in executed aviation loans. We were there for the airlines when they needed us. Now I am asking Congress to be there for the passengers. It should not be controversial to require an airline to provide a reasonably sized seat, a reasonable cabin environment, an honest price, and basic dignity. The Department of Transportation continues to collect data on airline delays, mishandled baggage, accessibility problems, oversales, and consumer complaints because these problems are widespread enough to require ongoing federal monitoring. Congress should stop leaving basic passenger protections to voluntary airline policies or changing administrative rules. Put these rights into federal law. Taxpayers should not be expected to rescue airlines in a crisis while being treated like an inconvenience when we buy a ticket. Airlines have rights. Airlines have lobbyists. Airlines have billions in revenue and profits. Passengers deserve rights, too. Please tell me what specific legislation you will support to establish minimum seat standards, cabin-temperature requirements, transparent pricing, stronger refund and compensation rights, and meaningful enforcement for airline passengers.