Plane passengers asked for security tips

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- The U.S. Transportation Department is using a new source to help determine potential airline protections: actual plane passengers.

Passengers have been invited to offer DOT officials protection suggestions by Jan. 22. They could help the federal agency determine what additional efforts should be taken to improve U.S. air travel, The Denver Post said Saturday.

Activists have called for a passenger bill of rights since last winter, when countless passengers were left stranded by flight cancellations and lengthy delays.

Kate Hanni, head of the Coalition for an Airline Passengers Bill of Rights, said average citizens need to become more active in the effort to avoid such problems in the future.

"The DOT posts these things and the public generally doesn't know about them," Hanni said. "It's extremely important the public starts getting involved."

The government's involvement in the issue has been opposed by several U.S. airlines, which told the Post they would prefer to handle the subject of passengers' rights themselves.