I get antsy and annoyed on a four hour flight, so I can’t imagine what being held hostage on one would be like for 10 hours that hasn’t even taken off. I’m leaning toward penalties of having management sit — middle seat in coach between a screaming, puking baby and an obese man with the flu — in one of their planes for the same amount of time as their plane did. Oops. Almost forgot: gotta have another kid kicking the seat from behind.

Passenger Rights

AIRLINE PASSENGERS going through New York now have something other put-upon travelers around the country don’t have: a bill of rights. The airline industry wants to kill this first-in-the-nation law. It has only itself to blame for being in this position.

The New York law sprang from the horrendous events of last Valentine’s Day. That’s when a freak ice storm wreaked havoc on New York-area airports, and some passengers were trapped on airplanes for up to 10 hours with no water, food or working bathrooms. Airlines canceled flights by the hundreds and stranded thousands of people. What made matters worse was the lack of information from the carriers.

Congress was indignant and promised action that has yet to come. Just before Thanksgiving, the White House called on the airlines “to adopt legally binding contingency plans for lengthy tarmac delays.” JetBlue, which failed miserably on that frosty February day, and some other airlines have done so. But not all of them have. Enter the Empire State.


“If this is first class, I wonder what coach is like?”




  1. Ranger007 says:

    I guess there are worse things than TSA!
    But, I still doubt it.

  2. GigG says:

    Flight canceled for weather and mechanical reasons are one thing. But keeping people hostage on a plane on the ramp or taxi way is a whole different thing. I can think of no other place where a person or company can do this to person and not be charged with kidnapping.

    Several years ago I was on a flight from DFW to Denver. We made several attempts to land at Denver but because of the weather we had to divert to Colorado Springs. They made us sit in the airplane on the ramp for 3 hours before the flight took off and headed to Denver. A/C wasn’t working well and they were out of ice, water and soft drinks. We were not happy campers.

  3. Dorksters says:

    At some point jet fuel will become so expensive that flights less than 75% full will automatically be cancelled. I can’t wait.

  4. Mister Catshit says:

    #3, Dorksters,

    I understand your point. It is my belief though that the airlines will just keep ratcheting up the “fuel surcharge”. And the sheeple will continue to pay.

  5. BubbaRay says:

    When I was trying to build hours, I’d hang around the FBO or airport coffee shop. There was usually someone with a sign on their table saying “Houston” or some other town. So he gets a ride and I get gas and a trip with a co-pilot. Security? Not in the 70’s at a small airport.

    I don’t know if I’d do that today, but it was a great way to travel then. I haven’t flown commercial in years and if I can help it, I won’t ever again.

  6. Todd Henkel says:

    Good service on flights went out with discount rates. Want great service? Pick an airline that advertises such and pay full price. Wait. There aren’t any more of those around. Everyone wants the cheapest fare possible.

    It’s much like everyone complaining about the phone company. When you get free, unlimited long distance, you get what you pay for…

  7. detroit says:

    Kidnap and false imprisonment is a felony. I don’t know why the local attorney general don’t arrest the air crews involved.

  8. dm says:

    If I was stuck on the runway for 10 hours, I’d be mightily tempted to open an Emergency Exit and slide down to my escape.

    I wonder what the consequences would be. You’d probably be blackballed from all American airlines for life.

  9. doug says:

    #7. indeed. there is no reason that an airline could not be prosecuted for 200+ counts of false imprisonment for holding people against their will on the tarmac.

    #8. you would probably be arrested and prosecuted. I would defend you pro bono and we would raise the defense that you were escaping your kidnappers. then we would sue the bastards.

  10. Todd Henkel says:

    #9. not likely you will have a case until someone dies. it will take a diabetic or someone with a similar medical condition to die before action is taken. then every politician will jump on the bandwagon…

  11. Nimby says:

    The airlines have every reason to be indignant about this silly bill of rights. Just imagine having to provide “… fresh air, lights, functioning restrooms and ‘adequate food and drinking water.’ ” Insane!

    I hope that $1,000 per incident fine is per passenger not flight. And, if it is, watch for a rate increase. No one gets punished except the victims.

  12. epp_b says:

    Wait…airline passengers have rights?

  13. bobbo says:

    Well, if your flight is going to be delayed, how much of a delay should be tolerated before you return to the terminal for deplaning and rescheduling? No easy answer.

    Seems like 3 hours domestic and maybe 4-5 hours for international would be a good first test?

    Airlines and passengers have the same goal–move the most passengers, most timely, with least delays. How to structure that will never please everyone. THATS when laws based on consensus is needed.

    Of course, we don’t have them.

  14. Ranger007 says:

    3 – 5 hours?

    Are you kidding? Let me off of this thing!

  15. Sea Lawyer says:

    How many of the problems are under the control of the local municipal authorities who actually run the airport, or the federal ATC personnel in the tower who are responsible for moving the planes around? Seems to me that for whatever responsibility the carriers have, there is an attempt to leave them with the entire blame.

  16. Phillep says:

    Well, if everyone on the plane started stamping their feet in unison?

  17. GigG says:

    #6 This isn’t a “good service” issue.

    #8 You would be arrested. And probably Tased.

  18. MikeN says:

    Yeah, legislation by anecdote is such a good idea. Let’s just dictate the prices while we’re at it.


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