Kate Hanni’s FlyersRights.com issued their 2009 Real Air Travel consumer Report Card yesterday at the Press Club in Washington DC. If I came home with a report card like this when I was a kid, I’d get a spanking.
The 2009 report card for tarmac delays of more than three hours gave all of the major airlines a “F” for their performance. The major legacy airlines themselves — America, Continental, Delta, United and USAirways — were graded as failing; their grades were lower when they were combined with their code-share regional airline partners.
The report card focused on more than only tarmac delays. Dr. Frederick Foreman, the research director, noted that their organization had also looked at food availability and airline water quality. The food availability according to Dr. Foreman is important because in the event of a tarmac delay, many shorter flights do not have food aboard for passengers; so, bring your own. Water quality report shows that many airlines have not tested the water on planes and when it is tested, a significant percentage of aircraft have reported coliform contamination.
Continental, Delta and United have all released water testing results. Continental reported 16 percent of the 883 aircraft tested found coliform contamination. Delta reported 12 percent of their 323 tested aircraft were contaminated with coliform. United’s testing resulted in a aircraft contamination level of 5.6 percent. Atlantic Southeast, a regional airline that served millions of passengers, reported that 49 percent of the 84 aircraft tested reported coliform.
The report notes that 29 airlines have not completed water testing or released the results.
Amid the sea of failing grades, Southwest Airlines stood out as being passenger-centric. They received As for their long-tarmac-delay record and for taking care of their passengers.
The other standout airlines were Hawaiian, that did not experience even one extended tarmac delay in 2009, and Alaska Airlines. Of the regionals, SkyWest and Atlantic Southeast led the pack when it came to long tarmac delays.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Kate Hanni’s FlyersRights.com issued their 2009 Real Air Travel consumer Report Card yesterday at the Press Club in Washington DC. If I came home with a report card like this when I was a kid, I’d get a spanking.
===================================================
I’m sure most of you saw the article in the USAToday yesterday about how the airlines are going to CANCEL flights instead of delaying them for hours and hours so they wont have to pay these (Hanni) fines. At the end of the article Hanni is stated as saying, “This is solvable”. Interesting how the article didnt mention any of her brilliant ideas.
While some of the data is inferred or calculated from government or other reputable sources, the intro indicates that soem came from anecdotal reporting and their own hotline.
After reading it, it seems much more like data in support of an agenda than an actual analysis.
Typical response from someone who works in the airline industry, Frank. Poo-poo on anyone with the audacity to advocate for the passengers.
shanit February 18, 2010 at 10:29 am
Typical response from someone who works in the airline industry, Frank. Poo-poo on anyone with the audacity to advocate for the passengers.
===============================================
yeahhh, right. An “advocate” who THINKS they can “solve” the complexities of scheduling aircraft, ATC issues and weather. VERY FEW flights endured tarmac delays, now LOTS OF CANCELLATIONS will ensure the airline will NOT pay these new govt fines. All this does is STRAND MORE PASSENGERS in the terminal.
Happy now?????
I used to think such things were easy also. But when I started working on the airline side of the fence, I then understood how complex they can be.
It’s arguably easy to say this kind of thing is solvable. Unless I missed something, though, I don’t see Ms. Hanni or anyone suggesting how to fix that without cancelling.
IMHO, cancelling flights due to weather is the most practical solution for all parties concerned. While it leaves everyone emotional, at least little to no one materially suffers.
Ah, the mention of water on board.
Boy are you travelers in for a surprise.
Now as your relaxing in your seat as the cart comes forward, and they ask you what you would like, and you say water.
Safe bet right, idiot opens bottle right in front of you, and you never bother to notice the crack of the cap seal of supposedly new full bottle.
Well sports fans, it was never sealed in the first place.
When that bottle goes empty, it gets handed to flight attendant who then refills it from belly water tank of the ship.
Pay attention you guys in the last couple rows where this is done in the rear galley while in flight.
Former flightline tech from ATA.