Passenger Bill of Rights

[christykay]

...Passenger Bill of Rights...what do you think of this?

Personally I am really frustrated by this. The general public just doesn't get the fact that the airline industry and AMAZINGLY the pilots have absolutely no control over the weather. (The weather is to blame for almost all of the delays these passengers are complaining about.) Heck if my DH was able to control the weather he would probably be able to pick the winning lotto numbers and let me tell you if that were the case we would be free of the student loan debt he has aquired!

I suppose the reason I am so frustrated is because again the general public assumes that the pilots are making a ton of money while sitting and waiting. NO!!! Our pilots are waiting as patiently (or as impatiently as the passengers)

[amelia]

I agree with you. From what I was hearing today, weather realated delays didn't count. Its only things that is the actual airlines fault. But still, I'm not a huge fan of the idea. It worries me how much more this will cost the airlines and if it will make the industry bad again.

[TheWife]

Ok, forgive me since my dh isn't at an airline yet and I don't "get" most things airline related, but I thought it sounded like a good idea. I thought the point of the bill of rights was to prevent people from being stuck on a plane for more than a few hours, whether weather related or not? I don't see why this has anything to do with the pilots and what they are paid? I for one, know that I would be freaking out after about 4 hours of not moving! I think I would be completely claustraphobic and start to get that restless leg syndrome feeling. What's so bad about making sure a plane deboards if it's going to be more than a few hours delay? I would think even the pilots would want to get off and stretch their legs!

[flygirl813126]

off topic/
Do the pilots get paid for the delay while they have passengers on board, or do they get paid starting at wheels up?
/return to topic

[Kristie]

What's so bad about making sure a plane deboards if it's going to be more than a few hours delay?

from what i know, the passengers would have to take all their carry on luggage off again, they'd have to be gate checked again and there'd be concern about passengers wandering off and not being there when the plane is ready to leave. it causes gate delays for airlines coming into the airport (that need a gate) and it definitely takes more time and staff in reboarding. essentially, it delays everything.

nobody can control the weather and once your out on taxi, there's not much you can do because you have planes in front of you and planes behind you. Technically, what can passengers do when the plane is stuck "in line"? the only thing the airline can do is bring out a staircase and a few buses but that in a sense could cause security concerns which would make everything worse.

as far as i know, unless the door is closed and the beacon is turned on, the pilots are not getting paid. they do not get paid for taking the pax back, unloading, reloading, waiting around etc. I'm not sure it works that way for *all* airlines.

granted, that's probably not good enough of a reason to let pax sit for *that* long and there probably should be a time limit for having to sit and wait to takeoff..like maybe anything over 2-3 hours...but when your in line, all your pax are onboard, everything is set and ready to go...there's a faster jump time than if you unload and reboard.

[roz]

I am so totally against regulation! Look at what the TSA has created--a nightmare of useless shoe removal and rules that vary by location. So what happens if there is a 3 hour rule and the 3 hour thresshold comes up but the plane is next to take off? Do you violate the law or do you return to the terminal?

The only rule that should be imposed by law, imho, is that parents can't change diapers in the seats! That's what changing tables in the lavs are for! I've seen (and smelled) too much of that lately!

[Kristie]

no way.. and nobody says anything? eeewwww

[rgphib]

Originally Posted by roz

The only rule that should be imposed by law, imho, is that parents can't change diapers in the seats! That's what changing tables in the lavs are for! I've seen (and smelled) too much of that lately!

When I was flying back from Florida last April the woman behind me tried to give a dirty diaper to the flight attendent to throw out (after changing her in the seat....)! The flight attendent asked her if that was a diaper, the lady said yes, and the flight attendent said "you will have to dispose of that yourself". I couldn't believe the lady tried to give someone a dirty diaper! Well, actually I can belive it....the lady let her child yell and scream the whole flight and kick my seat.

[TheWife]

Ok I have NEVER been on a flight that had a diaper changing table in the lav! I have had to change my kids diaper on the freaking floor in the back where they are getting the coffee and snacks ready. Sorry, but I can see why it's tempting to do it in the seat, you think you can do it fast enough before anyone smells it, but you usually can't, which is why I do it in the back. But I have a bit of understanding for those who do it in the seat because it's not exactly easy or sanitary or pleasant to do it on the hard surface of the floor in the back!