Freeze buster. You’ve got the right to, oh, wait, it’s not until tomorrow.

The Passenger Bill of Rights takes affect at midnight. So tomorrow, if you’re sitting on the tarmac for three hours and 1 minute and no one has let you get off the plane — well, you’re sitting on a plane still — but just you know, the airline is going to get a very stern stare from the FAA.

Actually, it’s a little more serious, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

“Airline passengers deserve to be treated fairly, and this new rule will require airlines to respect the rights of their customers,” LaHood said.

What this doesn’t mean is flight attendants are required to be nice to you or even laugh at your jokes.

It does mean (and we’re taking these words right out of LaHood’s mouth):

• Prohibits the largest U.S. airlines from scheduling chronically delayed flights,
  

  The clock is ticking, as soon as those doors close.

  subjecting those that do to DOT enforcement action for unfair and deceptive practices;

• Requires U.S. airlines to designate an airline employee to monitor the effects of flight delays and cancellations, respond in a timely and substantive fashion to consumer complaints and provide information to consumers on where to file complaints;
• Requires U.S. airlines to adopt customer service plans and audit their own compliance with their plans; and
• Prohibits U.S. airlines from retroactively applying material changes to their contracts of carriage that could have a negative impact on consumers who already have purchased tickets.

In addition, beginning at the end of July, airlines will be required to display on their website flight delay information for each domestic flight they operate.

There are going to be a few more rules added this, such as explaining to consumers how their $9 ticket really cost them $483 — but those rules are still baking in the DOT’s oven.

Tags: airlines, hipster, passenger bill of rights, rules, stranded, tarmac, travel