Congress sticks its nose into JetBlue fiasco (2 articles)

[EveningStar]

Thanks to the stupidity of JetBlue, we now have Congress coming to the rescue with more regulations.

JetBlue debacle spurs passenger rights bill in congress

Boxer to introduce legislation in Senate to boost fliers' rights

[HitmanLV]

Smart politics. Most people think these situations suck, and it's clear that the airlines themselves and market forces aren't solving the problem. And it's a problem almost everyone can personally identify with.

The opposition to this are just a very small minority of folks who parrot lines about 'socialism' and 'principle,' who do a terrible job of articulating their point and actually convincing people that they are right.

People who expected Ma Pelosi to quickly fall on her @ss will be very disappointed.

[Strutt9]

With millions of people flying all the time and the Airline industry treating them like cattle. I do think it about time that passengers had some rights. It was not just Jetblue, Delta passengers where stuck for 11 hours also. I don't understand why they did not let the people back to the terminal rather than having to sit for 10 or more hours.
Its' bad enough that Airlines treat passengers badly, seats have become extremely uncomfortable and people are packed in like Sardines.
Constant lost luggage, bad air etc.

[TexasCajun]

Why didn't someone call the cops and tell them they were being held hostage against their will for over 8 hrs?

I 'good' lawyer will claim Jet-Blue kidnapped their clients and earn them both a fat pay-check.

[Tzimisce]

Think these regs will apply to Pelosi's private jumbo jet?

[nctexan]

Some here are old enough to remember when flying was somewhat enjoyable. Even in coach you were treated as a respected customer.

Let's face it... today you must prepare yourself and endure... like a trip to the emergency room of an urban general hospital:

Go stand over there... you'll be called when we want you.

Bend over and be quite... you came here didn't you?

Don't ask questions, we're doing all we can.

We don't need congress, but we sure need some 'customer service'.

[EveningStar]

I understand your frustration. As I said the airlines are asking for it by not regulating THEMSELVES. If you don't practice self-regulation, you invite government regulation.

This is how we lose our rights: by not taking personal / corporate responsibility.

[wastedyears]

My sentiments exactly.

[I see my hands]

By what authority can an airline hold a passenger on it's plane against the passengers will?

[discostu]

The problem with your "first out no skipping" rule is you're assuming the flight is being delayed because of conditions at the outbound airport. What if the flight is being delayed not because of conditions there but because of conditions at the destination airport or on the flight path? Why should people flying to LA not be able to leave because there's a plane destined for Denver that's waiting for usuable conditions there.

[highlander_UW]

I agree that it's a bit silly for the government to be getting involved here, but I've never understood why the airlines always feel compelled to lie through their teeth in these delay situations that inevitably come up in bad weather.

Not that I condone lying, but airlines lie to limit providing ammunition for lawsuits.

[EveningStar]

This is what happens when companies get greedy and don't police themselves.

[EveningStar]

The airlines are asking for it.

[Truth29]

Well, at least according to Fox News, the government is already involved. Judge Napolitiano on last night's O'Reilly factor stated that passengers do not have a right to force their way off of the plane because, since the passage of the Patriot Act, such action would subject them to criminal penalties up to 20 years in prison.

He further indicated that the only avenue for redress would be for individual or class action lawsuits for pain, suffering and damages. If this is accurate, their needs to be further government involvement either by new laws or regulation or the removal of the provisions that prevent passengers from freeing themselves under this circumstance.

[jiggyboy]

I've never understood why the airlines always feel compelled to lie through their teeth in these delay situations that inevitably come up in bad weather. I believe the blatant dishonesty is a big part of what pisses people off so much...

Bingo. I look at the clock and see that we're well past the start of the boarding time. I just KNOW we ain't gonna take off on time. It usually goes something like this after they've forced us to board:

(10 minutes after we've boarded) "Uh folks we're waiting for the food truck, that should be here in just a couple of minutes, we're loading the last of the baggage and then we'll close the main door..."

(10 minutes later) "Uh folks we've just discovered a little maintenance issue here we need to take care of, we're gonna call Maintenance on that..."

(10 minutes later) "Uh folks Maintenance should be here in just a couple of minutes..."

Then Maintenance comes and goes, now they decide that they need to fuel the tanks, now we've lost our take-off spot, etc., etc.

[KarlInOhio]

I see a great chance for Southwest to take even more business from the Mainstream Airlines.

Have a comercial showing the inside of an airliner after 11 hours on the taxiway waiting. Have the toilets overflowing, passed out passengers lying in the aisle, maybe a flight attendant ignoring everyone and filing her nails. Then the voiceover says "Southwest Airlines: we don't imprison our passengers". Listen to the other airlines screech at that.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"Therefore... I'm going to regret it...

(1) Pass a law that after 1 hr. an aircraft is required to return to the gate.

(2) People who were required to get off a plane are required to be on the first plane out; no skipping. No other flight may leave until those people are on their way."

I'm going to regret it too, but as a super-frequent-flyer, I'm kinda/sorta with you. The airlines do what they do because they have a captive audience. But I'd take a different tack than you propose: I'd ask Congress to simply indemnify passengers from civil or criminal liability arising from deployment of emergency slides when their plane has been on the ground away from the gate for more than, oh say a couple or three hours. If the airline and airport can't get you to a gate, fine: this would acknowledge your right to walk off. Perhaps this would motivate airlines and airports to treat passengers better in such circumstances.

[EveningStar]

They don't have the authority. What they did was arrogant and criminal.

[Ancient Drive]

will they stick their noses when Skycrappers run into Jets causing terminal, and permanent delays!!!??? what about those passengers's bill of rights?

[Freeport]

To bad... No exceptions. Why you ask? Every time (multiple BTW) I've been in these situations, the next scheduled flight to the SAME destination leaves.

If the weather is sufficiently bad to ground one flight, you can bet your backside that your carrier isn't the only one impacted. Bad weather impacts the whole system.

This keeps the airlines from blaming a mechanical breakdown on "weather"... Yeah, and it does happens.

[Strutt9]

Sooooo true! Years ago, air travel was very very good.. now, they could care less for the passengers. Soon, all passengers may or maynot have seats... and must stand in planes so that they can pack in more and more people. (only kiddin)