Comments on: Now is not the time to debate a Passengers’ Bill of Rights

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:01:21 +0000

Good. Keeping your mouth shut might actually help.
Smile away….

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:43:10 +0000

On October 8th, 2008 at 2:43 pm Anonymous said You made it personal by presenting your intial post, not in a factual argument, but in a distinctly foul and uncaring tone.
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This is just crap, I have NOTHING more to say………………to YOU.

::::smile::::

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:43:43 +0000

Tne real concerns are: Enough food and water for passangers after a certain amount of time, 6 hour plus tarmac stays, and being able to leave an aircraft after 3 hours. These are basic requirements. The vast majority of people aren’t looking for a handout, just being treated humanely. Apparently, I’m talking to a brick wall, and you made it personal through your disdain, and lack of basic empathy for the young, and the elderly. Of course, the problems are also the responsiblity of others, but that doesn’t mean the airlines can’t do their part, and cover basics, for paying cutstomers. You made is personal by presenting your intial post, not in a factual argument, but in a distinctly foul and uncaring tone.

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:31:22 +0000

On October 2nd, 2008 at 2:41 pm Anonymous said: You failed to address any of the practical, and REAL concerns addressed in my post, and are simply blindly defending undefendable practices.
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Ok, I reread your post above………and really dont see any REAL concerns addressed. Just a blanket statement, as usual, that it’s all the airlines fault.

wrong!

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:04:26 +0000

On October 2nd, 2008 at 2:41 pm Anonymous said @Frank: You’re a piece of work alright huh? Alan makes the point for me, you cannot of course, always avoid these delays. Did you hear me argue that
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First of all, stop making things, PERSONAL. (piece of work?)……..i NEVER attacked YOU, it was your comments that I wanted to DISCUSS, get it?
After 12 THOUSAND FLIGHTS, I have an OPINION. OK?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:41:36 +0000

@Frank: You’re a piece of work alright huh? Alan makes the point for me, you cannot of course, always avoid these delays. Did you hear me argue that ?
Passengers stuck in this unavoidable situation, however, shouldn’t have to suffer. That was the point I was making. You simply come across as mean-spirited, and ill-informed at best. Apparently all the time working in the industry didn’t teach you any tact, or manners. Get real. You failed to address any of the practical, and REAL concerns addressed in my post, and are simply blindly defending undefendable practices.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:18:31 +0000

The airlines should self-regulate. It should not be up to the government to dictate what is and is not appropriate behavior in the event of lengthy tarmac delays. Perhaps if the airlines created a more customer-friendly cabin environment, gave good customer service overall, and enabled their employees instead of holding them to a bunch of bogus by-the-book policies, a Customer Bill Of Rights would not even be necessary. David Burns is spot on in his assessment. The country has much bigger problems to deal with.

By: Alan Fiermonte

Alan Fiermonte — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:42:14 +0000

Remember, hiking is a voluntary, assumed-risk activity for which to be prepared. Any scout who wants to quit can simply turn back or bail out. Last I checked,. passengers PAY for transport and a basic level of humane, dignified and moderately comfortable service. Once they’re in the tin can, a door is sealed and they should get what they paid for within business-reason. The airlines should http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shit_or_get_off_the_pot I think 3 hrs is a super-reasonable time frame to deliver on the goods by rolling tires with people stuck IMMOVABLE in a tin can. Otherwise, passengers should have the inalienable right to yell “uncle” and order a beer and sandwich (or tea and cookies), especially seniors, families with children, other special needs folks. Last time I checked, airlines did not sell tickets ONLY to healthy, fit, patient, eager, former boyscout, always-prepared business travelers. They wanted the greenbacks from all manner of lame, inpatient, un-travelers.
Cheers, The Travel Agent Dude

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:29:13 +0000

On October 1st, 2008 at 1:42 pm Anonymous said @Frank: As an Eagle Scout, that’s fine. Be prepeared. That shouldn’t have to be the case for senior citizens, or young children, however, especially after sometimes multiple hour delays on the tarmac due to poor performance by the airline in question. The scenarios you described are not what the passanger bill of rights is meant to address.
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With thirty years under my belt as an airline employee, I have spent multiple times, more then I can remember sitting on the tarmac enduring hours of delays. My longest: 5 hours.
Snow, fog, thunderstorms, you name it. I’ve even had the runway lights malfunction, we had to wait for daylight for departure.
Please, explain that “poor performance” by the airline to try and get you to your destination and please explain the alternatives? Getting OUT OF LINE and going back to the terminal places you back at square one. The airline is also under great pressure to get that aircraft downline to operate OTHER flights. Why not sit at the gates, sometimes that’s an option. Sometimes, the gates are needed for OTHER FLIGHTS. Just cancel the flight? With load factors near capacity on many flights, explain how one can rebook 200 passengers to the same destination on the same day?
Flying on a clear day can be erratic. Try flying into or out of LGA, JFK, EWR, PHL, DCA on a flight during rush hour. Several of these airports are slot controlled too!
New York state has a passenger bill of rights. Expect an old granola bar that’s been sitting in the closet for awhile, water and usable lavatories. Happy now?
It seems that the media jumps all over the delays where BLIZZARDS, HUGE SNOW STORMS were to blame. ie. Northwest in DTW. Jetblue in JFK. Did anyone have a crystal ball that day knowing the delays would result in HOURS on the runway? What I do agree with here is that a TIME LIMIT needs to be established. But, be prepared to NOT get to your destination, if at all. You’re FLIGHT CANCELLED. You no longer hold a seat on a flight, it’s all subject to availability. Happy now?

By: Lyngengr

Lyngengr — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:03:39 +0000

Either David Burns is being paid by the airlines or he doesn’t get out much.

All of the problems you cite as being important for our Congress to act on require a long, complicated solution. Enacting legislation that prevents airlines from holding passengers on the ground, against their will, treating them worse than a third world prison will take a couple of days at the most. There are several travel writers who have composed very well thought out sets of rules. Why don’t you do some research and see what is out there. And I don’t really care who you vote for.