From Reuters.com
What do you want to see in a passenger bill of rights?
To the roaring cheers of jilted airline passengers everywhere, new rules to protect travelers will take effect on April 29.
These new rules, being issued by the Department of Transportation, focus mainly on the length of time domestic airlines are allowed to keep passengers locked on a plane on the tarmac. Some may recall the incident last August when passengers were forced to remain on a plane in Rochester, Minn for six hours without a working toilet. After April 29, after three hours of being stuck on a plane, domestic airlines will be forced to let passengers deplane — unless there are safety or security issues.
But the strain on airline travelers never seems to end. In addition to the ever-present delays, the long lines at security checks and the cutbacks by airlines on food offerings, Spirit Air decides it will experiment with carry-on bag fees. This means that travelers will be charged $45 for items placed in the overhead bin. Some analysts, not surprisingly, anticipate a customer backlash.
Is it time to take back the joy in air travel? Reuters.com wants your suggestions on what you think must be included in a passenger bill of rights. Send in your ideas. We’ll compile your suggestions and create an audience inspired bill of airline traveler rights. The best ones will be added to a poll that readers can vote on.
Pictured above: A Northwest Airlines airplane departs Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, November 25, 2009. REUTERS/Joshua Lott
A passenger bill of rights?
The last thing the airlines, travel industry, and various security organizations want.
After all we now pack as many passengers on a plane as possible, have endless new fees, and make flying as inconvenient as possible.
Seats that a comfortable, similar to a decent car seat would be nice, along with decent toilet facilities.
After all, as train service is in most locations in the US unavailable, if the journey is less than three hundred miles it is better to drive there.
Also, instead of ‘deplane,’ and use disembark, momentarily use ‘in a moment,’ or soon.