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… Among the problems: The task force was unable to agree on whether “lengthy” is one hour, two hours or 10 hours
“The task force was unable to agree on whether “lengthy†is one hour, two hours or 10 hours.â€
How about this for a working definition of a “lengthy†delay: Any delay that exceeds the originally advertised duration of the scheduled flight shall be defined as “lengthyâ€.
Here is another idea: In the event of a lengthy delay, the airline shall offer passengers the opportunity to deplane at the terminal and those electing to deplane shall be reimbursed the price of their ticket at the time of purchase.
Airlines shall provide reasonable accommodations, at the airline’s expense, and at the nearest public lodgings available, for all stranded passengers if the passengers were stranded due to a non-weather caused or non-NAS infrastructure caused lengthy delay. Accommodations shall be provided for 24 hours or until alternative travel arrangements can be made.
[i] How about this for a working definition of a “lengthy†delay: Any delay that exceeds the originally advertised duration of the scheduled flight shall be defined as “lengthyâ€. [/i]
I like the duration-of-flight criterion, although I’d be more forgiving about delays of short flights.
The airlines have always had the edge with the FAA. Airlines through their lobbyists had been fighting calls for more secure cockpits for years before ’01 with the claim that it would be too expensive to implement and fly all that door hardware and the FAA was acquiescent. Not much has changed in the relationship.
Perhaps the commission could be reconvened and required to sit in a crowded airplane without food or water for 1, 2 and 10 hours. Then they could be asked what a “lengthy delay” was.