I’m all for any law that gives rights back to passengers. The airline industry is known for it’s poor service overall, and instead of getting any better, it’s remained either stagnant, or waned.

To be fair, the airlines industry has had it’s share of knocks since 9/11. With the decline of flights and then the resulting economic recession we’re currently in, the industry as a whole has suffered tremendously. But that is still not an excuse for not providing proper service to customers.

Now I agree, being stuck on a tarmac in a narrow metal bus is a tricky situation for all involved. I’m claustrophobic myself, so this would be one of my worst nightmares. I could maybe survive an hour, possibly two. But six hours?! With little to no food or water, hot stuffy air, and cramped seats? Pass the Prozac please!

One of the proposed solutions  is for any flight delayed over three hours on the tarmac to have the ability to return to the terminal and let passengers deplane – particularly if there is reasonable doubt the flight will leave within the next thirty minutes.

I think this is absolutely reasonable. As a passenger, the last thing I want to do is be sitting in an uncomfortable environment any longer than I have to, especially if it’s going to be possibly hours more of a wait.

The catch is the span of time it takes to come back, deplane, and then if something changes quickly, losing the window of time to get everyone back on the plane and out to the tarmac for take-off once again. My hats off to the people who have to figure that one out.

I realize it’s a difficult situation to come up with a quick and easy solution. The airlines will be inconvenienced, and you’re not going to make everyone happy with whatever comes out of the bill. I do think there should be better monetary compensation, whatever the results are. I’m sorry, but a measly $50 for delays longer than two hours on the tarmac is pretty pitiful to me. They need to raise that up another $50 at least.

Anyway, here’s the article on the topic if you’d like to read more:

The six-hour-long stranding of passengers aboard two different flights this month—a Continental Express (CAL) regional jet diverted to Rochester, Minn., by thunderstorms and a Sun Country Airlines delay on Aug. 21 at New York’s JFK International Airport—has thrust the issue of torturous takeoff delays back into… (read more).