Stuck on tarmac? Sucks to be you.

[unixronin]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal task force that spent nearly a year wrestling with ways to assist people delayed for hours aboard planes parked on tarmacs has finalized its recommendations — none of which requires airlines and airports to do anything.

[...]

"We were hoping at a bare minimum to come out of this task force with a definition of what is an extensive on-ground delay," Hanni said, but that didn't happened [sic] because the airline industry "doesn't want anything that is remotely enforceable."

(Emphasis mine)

That second quoted paragraph pretty much says it all, doesn't it...?

Comments

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

This kinda crap from the airlines, in addition to the TSA security nonsense, is a big part of why I don't spend my own money on air travel any more.

[otherbill.livejournal.com]

I recalling hearing stories of passengers calling the local police with charges of false imprisonment, but I can't remember any specifics...

[dr-nebula.livejournal.com]

The other thing that might work at this point is a major class action suit - otherwise it looks like the airlines can do pretty much what they want. The way things are going if the distance is less than a 1000 miles - I'd much rather drive than fly.

[7leaguebootdisk.livejournal.com]

Reading salon.com's ask the pilot and Reason, I see two thing. The airlines are flying smaller jets for more frequent service, and thus more congestion. The faa's method of deciding who takes off is dumb as a post. You get in line, if you are not able to take off when called (say, you needed more gas or snacks, and were handling that), you lose your place in line. They ought to auction most takeoff slots (with some for delays, non scheduled travel, etc), and have a sane sort of queuing for the non reserved slots.

Not sure punishing them for the delays will help much, though making on time historical info availible when booking would help too.