Protect Your Points Act of 2026

Bill Number

S. 4244

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Transportation and Public Works

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-03-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text: CR S1672)

Last Updated

2026-04-13T19:04:18Z

AI-Generated Summary

Protect Your Points Act of 2026 (S. 4244)

Purpose

This bill aims to protect consumers who earn points, miles, or other rewards through airline frequent flyer programs (loyalty programs where airlines offer rewards for purchases) and co-branded credit cards (credit cards issued in partnership with airlines to build loyalty). It adds new requirements for transparency, security, and fair treatment of these rewards to chapter 423 of title 49, United States Code, which covers airline passenger protections.

Key Provisions

The bill adds a new section (42309) to existing law with these main rules for "covered air carriers" (major U.S. airlines operating under federal safety rules that offer frequent flyer programs):

Protections for Points, Miles, and Rewards

• Value Disclosure (within 90 days): Airlines must prominently show the cash value of points/miles on their websites and apps, including differences for various credit cards or program tiers, updated in real time.
• No Expiration: Points/miles cannot expire.
• Transfers (no fees or limits, except for fraud prevention): Consumers can transfer any amount to others in the same program, with value preserved.
• No Fees for Use: No charges to access, redeem, or redeposit points/miles.
• Airfare/Ancillary Fee Display (within 1 year): Show costs (like baggage or seat fees) in both dollars and points/miles on booking pages, side-by-side, updated in real time; cover differences across cards/tiers.
• Redemption Rates (within 1 year): Publish the percentage of points/miles successfully redeemed in the past year, updated annually.
• Mixed Payments (within 1 year): Allow buying tickets or fees with any mix of cash and points/miles.
• Account Security (within 90 days): Require multi-factor authentication (extra login steps like codes sent to phones) and other security measures.

Notice for Changes

• Airlines must give at least 1 year notice before changing terms of service, contracts, or devaluing points/miles (e.g., reducing value, adding limits, or new fees).
• The Department of Transportation (DOT) must coordinate with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Other Details

• DOT can issue regulations to enforce rules.
• Defines terms like "ancillary fee" (extra charges for things like bags, seats, or Wi-Fi).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates an entirely new section (42309) in airline passenger protection laws.
• Introduces federal mandates never before required, such as no expiration dates, free transfers, real-time value displays, mixed payments, and 1-year notices for changes—shifting from airline discretion to consumer protections.

Potential Impacts

• Citizens/Consumers: Greater transparency and security for rewards (worth billions annually); easier use/transfer prevents loss of value; protects against sudden devaluations.
• Airlines: Must update websites/apps, programs, and security quickly (90 days to 1 year); ends common practices like expirations and fees, potentially increasing costs and operational changes.
• Government Agencies: DOT gains enforcement role with rulemaking authority; CFPB/FTC involved in oversight. No direct international impacts noted, though it applies to some foreign airline partners.
• Credit Card Issuers: Affected indirectly via co-branded cards' reward values and disclosures.

Main Stakeholders

• Consumers: Frequent flyers earning/redeeming points/miles.
• Airlines: "Covered air carriers" (e.g., major U.S. airlines like Delta, United, American with loyalty programs).
• Credit Card Companies: Partners offering co-branded cards.
• Regulators: DOT (primary enforcer), CFPB, FTC.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens federal consumer protections in aviation (commerce clause authority); enables DOT lawsuits/fines for violations; preempts inconsistent state rules.
• Constitutional: Regulates interstate commerce (air travel), likely upheld; no free speech or takings issues apparent.
• Political: Consumer-friendly amid complaints about airline reward devaluations; may spark industry opposition over costs/profits, but builds on existing DOT oversight without new taxes/agencies.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

Recent Actions

• 2026-03-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text: CR S1672)
• 2026-03-26: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• Protect Your Points Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-26 — PDF (9 pages)