Comments on: Government rules and regulations lack human touch http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/government-regulations-lack-human-touch/ The last honest travel site Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/government-regulations-lack-human-touch/comment-page-1/#comment-5149 John Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:14:07 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=5078#comment-5149 I'm still not sure that Allegiant was wrong in this case. I've read all the comments on the original post...sure, it seems like so many people are happy to accomodate a potential delay if the plane had to land en route to it's destination for an ill passenger. But once there, after the hours of delay for inspection of the plane, refueling, re-routing, arrival of a new flight crew, etc, I'm not sure how happy everyone would still be when they arrive in Orlando at 8:00pm instead of noon and face the loss of not only a day of fun, but possibly their rental car and hotel room. I've experienced just such a case, and I must tell you that my compassion very soon turned to frustration. Having to pay for taxis for 2 days until a car was available was only the start. I had to endure life in a rat-infested hell hole of a hotel for a week. Sure, Allegiant most likely had selfish motives for the refusal, but maybe they were also protecting themselves from the ire of the remaining passengers in the event of a medical diversion. I'd like to think that if the plane had been destined for Atlanta or Chicago Allegiant's decision would have been different. But to deal with a plane full of frustrated families (read that lots of noisy kids) headed for vacation that would most likely be difficult to control on a long delay and expect compensation (regardless of their "compassion"), I'm not sure that Allegiant didn't make the right decision. Things have to be decided on a case by case basis - so for now, I think I'll side with Allegiant on this specific case. I’m still not sure that Allegiant was wrong in this case. I’ve read all the comments on the original post…sure, it seems like so many people are happy to accomodate a potential delay if the plane had to land en route to it’s destination for an ill passenger. But once there, after the hours of delay for inspection of the plane, refueling, re-routing, arrival of a new flight crew, etc, I’m not sure how happy everyone would still be when they arrive in Orlando at 8:00pm instead of noon and face the loss of not only a day of fun, but possibly their rental car and hotel room. I’ve experienced just such a case, and I must tell you that my compassion very soon turned to frustration. Having to pay for taxis for 2 days until a car was available was only the start. I had to endure life in a rat-infested hell hole of a hotel for a week. Sure, Allegiant most likely had selfish motives for the refusal, but maybe they were also protecting themselves from the ire of the remaining passengers in the event of a medical diversion. I’d like to think that if the plane had been destined for Atlanta or Chicago Allegiant’s decision would have been different. But to deal with a plane full of frustrated families (read that lots of noisy kids) headed for vacation that would most likely be difficult to control on a long delay and expect compensation (regardless of their “compassion”), I’m not sure that Allegiant didn’t make the right decision. Things have to be decided on a case by case basis – so for now, I think I’ll side with Allegiant on this specific case.

]]> By: SirWired http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/government-regulations-lack-human-touch/comment-page-1/#comment-4832 SirWired Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:24:12 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=5078#comment-4832 I'll take the EU version of regulated compassion over what we have here in the pathetic US airline industry any day of the week. Right now, with a delayed or canceled flight, you are unlikely to get any compensation at all, under almost any circumstances. You can only rarely get a flight on a competing carrier, even if the delay was the airline's fault, and even if the next available seat won't be coming up for several days. If self-regulation worked, we wouldn't be needing this discussion on a passenger's bill of rights. Instead, airlines think it is perfectly acceptable to strand passengers on an aircraft for hours on end with no food, drink, or lavatory service. Also, do the EU regulations specify an upper bound for compensation? Probably not. If an airline wants to be more generous, it is more than welcome to do so. SirWired I’ll take the EU version of regulated compassion over what we have here in the pathetic US airline industry any day of the week. Right now, with a delayed or canceled flight, you are unlikely to get any compensation at all, under almost any circumstances. You can only rarely get a flight on a competing carrier, even if the delay was the airline’s fault, and even if the next available seat won’t be coming up for several days.

If self-regulation worked, we wouldn’t be needing this discussion on a passenger’s bill of rights. Instead, airlines think it is perfectly acceptable to strand passengers on an aircraft for hours on end with no food, drink, or lavatory service.

Also, do the EU regulations specify an upper bound for compensation? Probably not. If an airline wants to be more generous, it is more than welcome to do so.

SirWired

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