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8 Airline Regulations We Need Now

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8 Airline Regulations We Need Now

Posted by George Hobica on Thursday, July 15, 2010

Since this was blog post was published last year, No. 7 on our "wish list" has been put into effect. Now what about the other seven items? Feel free to add your favorite new regulation in the comments.
 

1. If an airline changes its schedule before you depart on a trip, and such schedule change no longer suits your schedule, the airline must secure you transportation on another airline at your original fare.

2. If an airline changes its schedule and you are forced to spend money on hotels and meals, such as a forced overnight midway in your trip, the airline must pick up the bill.

3. If an airline cancels a flight and you're traveling on a frequent flyer ticket, any fees associated with that fare must be refunded.

4. If you are due a refund or any kind from an airline, said refund must be paid in full in 30 days.

5. If your flight is delayed or canceled due to anything within the airline's reasonable control, the airline must provide adequate lodging, meals, and transportation. It must also put you on another airline's flight if that flight will get you to your destination sooner than your original airline's next flight out.

6. If an airline loses or delays your checked luggage, all checked bag fees must be refunded in full within 30 days, in cash.

7. If you are stuck on the runway for more than three hours, your flight must return to the gate and all passengers be allowed to disembark.

8. If a passenger buys a non-refundable ticket, and said passenger dies or becomes too ill to ever travel again, passenger's fare must be refunded in full within 30 days, and all traveling companions must also have their fares refunded.

What else should we add to the list? Now be reasonable! And add your comments below.

Categories: Airline Industry News

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9. How about charging by the customers combined body/luggage weight? Why should a 100 lb. woman who packs reasonably light (30 lbs) pay as much to travel by air as a 300 lb. man with 50 lbs. of luggage?
by air on Tuesday, February 07, 2012
If a flight is delayed due to weather, the airline should still be responsible for at least providing food and soft drinks to the passenger. Once a passenger checks in, they are an airline's responsibility.
by Sean on Sunday, December 25, 2011
We paid for a flight to CA on United 2 months ago.United called yesterday to inform us they've changed our flights.With much prodding they got us on another Continental flight going to our destination but on our return flight have us on a small 70 passenger plane for part of our return flight.I hate small planes!!!We purposely booked our flights to avoid this.Now they have us flying from Chicago to Detroit on this small plane and are telling me there's nothing they can do.They also have us leaving earlier{have to be at airport at 06:30,so our last day of vacation is dictated by United.I feel we deserve some kind of compensation since now my choices are take drugs on the small plane or don't go.Anyone have a similar situation and what can I do about it?
by victim of cancelled flight?? on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
what if you buy a ticket and noy aware that is non-refundable, and then cancell the ticket prio to 4 months to your travelling, Are you not entitled to the full amount of the deposite?
by doesn't cranctly on Friday, August 20, 2010
If you buy a none stop route and the airlines decide to change your route - adding stops, they need to find a replacement direct flight in another airline for same date. If you loose a connection in a different airline because of flights delays or canceled due to anything within the airline's reasonable control, that airline must find you a connection to your final destination at no cost. If your flight is delayed or canceled due to anything within the airline's reasonable control, and you miss hotel nights in your final destination, the airline must reimburse you (in cash) for your lost within 30 days.
by MCW on Thursday, July 15, 2010
A person carrying small dog was told the dog's carrier would not fit under the seat in front of him. He was told he HAD to purchase another carrier..he was escorted off the plane AIRTRAN. We spoke about the fact he had no money to invest in another carrier. I suggested he ask for a loaner which he did and was promply given a brand new carrier. My question is Why was he not told of this?? Why did he have to miss his Flight?? Ironic !!he used the same Airtran to get to the ATL.
by retired99 on Saturday, July 25, 2009
Wow. all really good stuff! Maybe if the airlines provided the same level of service that Zappos does, they'd make money. And sell to Amazon!
by on Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Require minimum seat size and spacing, and minimum exit row size. I just got off an I-hate-Delta flight. The exit row on both flights were so small, that you could never get out in an emergency. The seats are so crammed, that even kids over 8 had issues. People can't control what size they are - genetics are tough to fight. Would you like someone telling you you had to grow 4 inches to get on the plane ? If seat widths and spacing were reasonable, everyone would have more comfort and breathing space, and less aggravation from surrounding passengers. If staff could approach a civil attitude - or even pleasant .... customers may actually choose to fly your airline. Are you listening, Delta ? I'll be on Southwest from now on.
by Wings on Monday, April 27, 2009
Alcdan, Of course you can? Why not? They got paid for the RT and can probably sell your return seat to someone else if they have people waiting on standby.
On my last flight from Central America people were coughing a lot and sneezing. They did not have the moral obligation to even attempt to cover their mouth. You can feel the wind and bits of slivia as it passes by your face. It is gross. Now with Swine Flu? How do we educate? Send them to Japan where people wear masks even if they think they have a sinus infection.
by Jake on Sunday, April 26, 2009
I have found that a one way ticket can be far more expensive than round trip. If one selects a different mode of transportation on one leg can you just ash can that portion of the ticket and get on with it?
by Alcdan on Thursday, April 23, 2009
Grok, An excellent idea! Try to get more people to check bags ( Of course at No/Cost) instead of less. You are so right in my flight yesterday many people were trying to drag two large bags and stuff them into the overhead. It slowed down the boarding time and the plane was late to leave because of all the bags carried on the plane.

I will give credit to Continental, they must be listening :) The flight had a number of overweights and babies/kids all the way to the back of plane. Way to go!
And my seat on this Brand New 737 was plenty wide. If someone does not fit, it is not the seat problem, it is the size of the person. But, It seems, Boeing has forgot how to make the seats recline sufficiently.
This plane had no music system or TV. A good idea for saving costs and maintenance! They actually served a meal on Domestic Flight. :)

I do have problem with baggage handling, The baggage personal have been told to throw all bags upside down. My question is: If the luggage manufacturers design bags with a top and bottom for one reason, that the bag has a hard bottom and soft top to withstand punishment from travel. How dumb can our management of baggage be? I know your answer, The bags travel better upside down. Bull Crap! If the luggage was supposed to be upside down it would have been designed that way. I suggest the manuf. begin to install a bottom on both sides on all new luggage. Ha, This will confuse the heck out of baggage personal.

by Jake on Thursday, April 23, 2009
THE THIRTY DAY RULE IS USED IN EVERY BUSINESS INCLUDING GOVERNMENT MONITARY TRANSACTION (CALLED NET 30). NOT SURE WHAT PERCENTAGE YOU SHOULD BE REFULDED AT.
by TOURISTER on Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Delta I am talking to you...and any other airline that pulls the weather card. My daughter and her boyfriend have the last leg of their flight "cancelled" on 4-20 from JFK to BDL. 6 hours in advance of the scheduled flight and the weather was rain. Since when does an airline not fly in rain? I instead believe the flight wasn't booked solid and they weren't making enough money on it, so they cancelled it. Easy for airlines to say "due to weather" which absolves them of all consumer responsibility.
by Madashell on Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Gee, this is all wonderful stuff. The only problem is no one has ever made any money running an airline and every item on your wishlist makes the already bankrupt airlines even more bankrupt.

But I'll play. Forget refunding checked bag fees. Outlaw them. Airlines should do everything they can to encourage passengers to check bags, so you don't have the yahoos intent on bringing all their earthly belongings down the aisle. More checked bags mean more on-time departures and less inconvenience for other passengers, which should increase the profitability and competitiveness of the airline.
by Grok on Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Seat pitch is horrible! Airlines seem to have settled on 31", which is ridiculous for anyone over 5'8". A flight attendant told me that when he started (prior to deregulation) the typical pitch was 35-36" but cheap fares meant the airlines needed more seats. Like everything else, you get what you pay for, and the economics are simple. For example, on a 767 with 2-3-2 seating and 24 rows of economy seats, adding 4" of pitch means losing 3 rows or 21 seats. That's 12.5% of the seating, so increase the other fares by 12.5%. On a $600 international fare, that's only about $75, which I'd gladly pay for an extra 4" of legroom on an 8 hour flight!! That puts the pitch into the range that United calls Economy Plus, but they sell those seats for a lot more than a 12.5% increase--and yet they sell out quickly! The same calculation shows that to add 2" to the width would also add about 12.5% to the fare. I don't know many who have flown a long flight that wouldn't pay an extra 25% for a habitable seat!
by reality on Sunday, April 19, 2009
I agree with Jake re: weight & kids. I find that no one wants to admit their kids are a problem (yes, I have seen some very well behaved kids on planes, though rarely). They should be seated together, in the back.

Also, you should not be allowed to play your dvd player/laptop without headphones. I am AMAZED by how many people think this is ok. Until my last flight, I thought this only happened with kids, until I sat behind a professional woman who cranked up her Dave Matthews Band while she typed away until I finally asked her to turn it down - I could hear it over my own iPod headphones!!

I wish each passenger was given a "total weight" to fly - you & your bags have to way less than XYZ. I am so sick of sharing my seat with someone's large body rolling into my area. This would also work well for kids!

by s on Monday, April 20, 2009
Regarding #7: I sat on the runway in Phoenix for 1 1/2 hours in 110 degree heat with no air conditioning. Three hours is too long - make it one hour maximum on the runway and then return to the gate so passengers can disembark .
by mjf on Saturday, April 18, 2009
Ya gotta love it when an anti-regulation ideologue spouts his nonsense and links to a super-ideological organization. And, of course, we all know that deregulation is a good thing. After all, just look at the banking/financial sector--oops, sorry, I forgot.
by normalvision on Saturday, April 18, 2009
A recent MSNBC documentary on a "particular" airline based in the United States included a comment from a maintenance person that it was a "routine" matter to lose an engine in the air..."it happens all the time". On one of that airline's flights from Miami to Toronto, we took off with a bad engine...only to lose the GOOD one somewhere over South Carolina. We made an emergency landing at Dulles on a VERY sick engine. It was a frightening affair. To the list I would add that if there is a loss of life due to negligent maintenance, the CEO and Chief of Maintenance should be sentenced to life in prison without potential for parole. Some of my friends slip over the border to Buffalo to save a few dollars. With the current state of the American airline industry, I prefer to pay a bit more and arrive both alive AND without white knuckles.
by Great Lakes Lover on Friday, April 17, 2009
I have a suggestion for Travelocity (a little off topic). If they suggest an itinerary where you have to change airports and airlines during a connection, they should flag it in a very obvious manner before you purchase the ticket and mention that you may be responsible for cab and extra baggage fees.
by stromboli on Saturday, April 18, 2009
zzzzzz: Love your comments! You are right on. No other service industry would get away with what the airlines get away with, but I'm afraid they'll have to charge more for their product in order to provide the service we used to get.
by on Friday, April 17, 2009
A few more:
airlines must provide ticket agents and status boards with accurate up-to-date-information on the status of any flight and keep that information accurate as time passes.

No price shall be shown for any ticket unless that price includes all fees and taxes.

No price may be advertised for any one way leg if that price requires a return. Total price must be shown.
by jpublic on Friday, April 17, 2009
If one must travel due to a serious illness or death in the family, the grievance fare should be the lowest price offered for any seat on that flight regardless of the day on which it is purchased. So if a seat was offered at 50% off if you purchase 21 days in advance, that is the fare a person should pay as a grievance fare.
by pinkie on Friday, April 17, 2009
Another suggestion to the airlines. I just read where several Python Snakes got loose on an airplane..this is what the new's reported and that they could not find them? Duh? So, they fumigated the plane and put it back into passenger service. This is about as stupid as it gets.
The snakes probably were not effected by the fumigation and will crawl out on someones lap during the next flight or on to the lap of the pilot in command and guess what he will do? Jump out of the cockpit. Do we have any competent people running The Dept of Travel
any more and CEO's of airlines? Where is your head?
All snakes should be bared from all airlines. We have the thousands of Pythons now in The Florida Everglades because someone thought they were nice pets. All animals should be transported by UPS or FedEx Freight planes but not on a passenger plane.
by Jake on Friday, April 17, 2009
An addition to #7

While waiting on the ground, FREE snacks and beverages should be served.
by zzzzz78759 on Friday, April 17, 2009
US Airlines sucks when it comes to Customer Service. Not only are a majority of the call centers overseas they just don't take care of their clients/customers. As for foreign airlines they seem to take care of their passengers. Just recently got back from an asian vacation and every flight I was on even if it was 1.5 hours long had a full meal on the flight. Hello why did I get full meals on those flights but in the U.S. I get a tiny bag of peanuts or pretzels or worst yet pay for something like that.
by Madmike192 on Friday, April 17, 2009
Jimbo,

I had to laugh at the Cincy to Newark mess.

My brother flew (SWA) from Lubbock to Chicago once. The cheapest flight was Lubbock to Dallas to Austin to Dallas to Chicago.

The flight from Lubbock was late arriving in Dallas so he missed the flight to Austin. The gate agent asked him why he booked it that way and, after he told her, she said, "Oh, just pick it up when it comes back to Dallas."

Any of the other airlines would have made him fly the whole route!

by zzzzz78759 on Friday, April 17, 2009
Look at this one. A group of us were in Peru in March. Our continuing trip was canceled due to a bad wholesaler ( another story) so had to change air tickets to get home. Delta told us it would be a $250 International change fee and then the difference between our ticket price and the new ticket price. Then they wanted $50 to book the ticket since our first tickets were booked by a travel agent ( we didn't trust anymore since they canceled our trip). We were told we could make changes ar the airport and even went 3 hours early to get everything handled. Number one -- they only had one employee who could issue new tickets, so we had a huge delay and 18 of us standing in a side line. Number two -- some of us paid only the $250 to make the change, some paid $454, some paid $1000, and one man paid $1000 for himself and $2000 for his wife and they couldn't even sit together. We had to run for the plane in the end. No reasons were explained --- just pay up or don't go. What a mess and so much money without reason. Delta --- bad!
by PointsinBlue on Friday, April 17, 2009
Eliminate the rule that requires you to fly on all legs of a trip or your ticket will be cancelled. I once had to drive from Cincinnati to Dayton to catch a flight that stopped in Cincinnati before going on to Newark. Buying the Dayton-to-Cincinnati-to-Newark trip was half the price of a direct flight from Cincy to Newark. When I called the airline and told them it would be easier for me to simply board in Cincinnati, I was told I wouldn't be permitted to board there and that my ticket would be cancelled if I tried. Does this make any sense?
by Jimbo on Thursday, April 16, 2009
I don't really remember the days when the airlines were regulated. I do know that I flew RT from MSP to LAX (alone, at 12 years old, with no escort) for $129 (still have the receipt.) I do know they fed me a hot meal. I do know they served free champagne to all the adults. I do know they also served those little airline bottles of liquor to all the adults for free. I do know I didn't pay anything for a suitcase. I do know that I was treated very well. I do know that the seats were comfortable and I didn't have to sit with my knees in my chin. I do know they gave me free peanuts. I do know that the passengers were not dressed like homeless people. I do know that my dad walked me to my gate and my friends met me at the gate in LAX.

I don't see that things have gotten better for travelers, only worse. The airline industry is the only service industry I know of that treats their customers with such rudeness and contempt. If they were a restaurant, would you put up with rude waitresses, being charged extra for silverware and water, waiting for hours for your food to arrive, being ignored by the waitresses, sitting at different tables than your companions, and then having your purse or wallet ripped to shreds when you left?

The airlines need to open their eyes. Travel is down and they're going to have to do something to woo the travelers back.

As for "paying for the extras", pretty much all the seats in coach are the same. It doesn't matter what you pay for them - be it $500 or $100. Can't sit in an exit row because I have a young child who can't sit in an exit row (and yes, she's a VERY good traveler, better than most "adults" I've encountered lately.)
by zzzzz78759 on Friday, April 17, 2009
I have never had this much opportunity to give my suggestions to anyone about airline travel. :) Recently I needed to move a return (RT) flight date ahead by one month due to reasons not within my control. The airline wanted to charge me approx. $850.00 for the change. The original price for RT was $329.00
I said they were trying to rob me. I hung up and bought another ticket on the internet. This was a one way ticket for an extra $300.00 They would not give in at all on the original ticket. A Rip Off.. Yes!
Do I have any other course of action? No! We are slaves to the airlines and all their greedy actions.
by Jake on Thursday, April 16, 2009
Price Line...if you book a flight and then later the price goes down we will refund the difference! Sounds good until you call. then they say you had to have negotiated your price or whatever they dream up. So they can say you ticket is not covered under the program.
by Beam on Thursday, April 16, 2009
I could think of a plethora of new ones, but I have to comment about number 7 for now. Three hours before they have to take you back to the gate and allow you to disembark? I would say one hour - 90 minutes max. That is plenty of time for the air controllers to figure out whether or not they have space for the plane.
It's some kind of real torture to be stuck on a plane for any longer than that, especially with other passengers who are experiencing 'air rage'. I just want to get away from the whole lot of them.
by SugarPlum on Thursday, April 16, 2009
OK, and to respond to passengers cramped into seats: I can't believe any airline expects us to squeeze into a seat made for a 12-year-old. United has been narrowing their seats slowly for years. They also cram more seats into planes than other airlines (although many have followed suit over the years).
My husband is 6'-6" and about 240 pounds. Hardly overweight for his height, yet we are forced to buy Economy Plus when we fly airlines such as these. Otherwise he is literally cramped for hours. I even find them cramped myself, and I'm 5'-4" and about 140! Airlines would do well to remember that we are sitting there for hours at a time, without a lot of chances to get up and move around.
We buy business or first class when we can afford it. However, why is it that we're forced to do this? Shouldn't all classes be afforded some sense of comfort during a flight? We fly overseas, and aside from a slightly longer legroom in some of the bigger planes, we still are squished into crazy small seats. This is for a flight that can run 9 hours or more! It's inhumane.
by SugarPlum on Thursday, April 16, 2009
I agree with Jake and the weight issue. The airlines can decide how many pounds per person they'll allow, and if the obese can find someone (their child, etc) to weigh in with their bags, fine Otherwise they pay more. I like the idea of wider seats at the back of the plane.
by Sarah S. on Thursday, April 16, 2009
How about if an airline cancels a flight due to something within their control, (like a flight attendant not showing up for work!) they should not only put you on another flight, but provide you with compensation and or/refund your ticket if the second flight is not scheduled within a reasonable amount of waiting time. 10 or more hours later deserves something!
by ambernola on Thursday, April 16, 2009
In reply to "9. Over-heads for assigned to a seat be empty when you finally get to board", by Hwy101: I'd guess you've not really looked at the size of overhead storage? There is NOT room over each row for each person in that row to stow luggage unless they're all carrying purses or similar small bags; a single typical carry-on bag will occupy the entire width/depth directly over a row. The only way to 'increase' the available space is to educate passengers on how to correctly stow in the overhead: lengthwise perpendicular, not parallel, to the fuselage/aisle. I've occasionally - but far too infrequently - seen flight attendants who have a grasp of geometry reposition luggage this way, to good effect. It's also interesting to me that most passengers who fly at least occasionally have, at least at a gut level, an awareness of the overhead space limitation, but when booking their seats, choose to be 'up front & out first' at their destination (and thus last to board, with potential storage problems) rather than 'in back & off last' (and first to board, with wide open spaces, suffering a mere 15? minute deplaning delay). A passenger needs awareness and smarts!
by BillyRave on Thursday, April 16, 2009
With regard to #7: I agree that two hours is the most anyone should have to sit on the runway, especially - as I've had happen - when the plane is still within sight of the gate but pulled away just to meet the 'departed on time' nonsense. My question: why hasn't anyone who's been held indeterminately filed a kidnapping or false imprisonment lawsuit? One definition states that under the Model Penal Code (MPC) "kidnapping occurs when any person is unlawfully and non-consensually asported and held for certain purposes. These purposes include gaining a ransom or reward..." Aren't the fares paid the 'ransom' (after all, they are mostly non-refundable) and on-time departure the 'reward'? If kidnapping is too restrictive a category, how about "False imprisonment - The unlawful detention of a person who is held against his or her will without ...justification"? Surely, on-time departure and/or rescheduling a flight can't qualify as justification for holding someone uncomfortably, for hours, against their will?
by BillyRave on Thursday, April 16, 2009
Lost luggage should NOT happen as frequently as it does. Especially if they are going to charge you to check it then they need to have someone hired to check your luggage tags on your luggage and the one with your ticket before leaving your destination airport. It's WAY TOO EASY for bags to be stolen & of course dealing with the airline will ruin your whole vacation! Stricter regulations need to be in place to ensure luggage is not misplaced &/or stolen.

Fees: that's something else that needs to be regulated. When are they ever going to end? What is actually INCLUDED on your flight? It's getting to be so extreme and making traveling on airlines much more inconvenient and much more expensive, along with ALL the trouble they can cause you! I saw a sign about the possibility of fees to go through security, are you kidding me?!?!
by dcs on Thursday, April 16, 2009
I do not have any connection to the airline industry except as a passenger, but I do have a good understanding of supply and demand and the effects of govt. regulation. Some of the ideas in 1-8 seem reasonable, but many could be solved if people bought airline tickets based on these service problems. And the things people complain about most (cramped seating, fees, and refunding of all or part of fares) ALL have solutions already. Pay more. If you really want a bigger seat, fly business class. Many United flights have the option of more leg room for $30-40 more. If you want a changeable, refundable ticket, don't buy a discounted ticket, buy full fare. But time and again people vote with their money. They value low cost more than they value leg room and schedule flexibility. That's a reasonable decision--but don't then complain about it!
And in general, people are not aware of the vast benefits they have received due to de-regulation. Not just lower cost, but also many more flights connecting many more cities. And many problems people attribute to the airlines (especially flight delays) are actually the result of unresponsive, bureaucratic government management of air traffic control and airports. For a good summary of the effects (good and bad) of deregulation, see this article: http://www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/regv15n3/reg15n3-bailey.html
by economist on Thursday, April 16, 2009
Airlines should remove some seats to give people more room to be comfortable. we are not sardines. people should be able to enjoy their flight in comfort
by joekool13 on Thursday, April 16, 2009
With passengers buying insurance for their flights the airlines are taking advantage and been more irresponsible, with all the problems and delays they have every day, lost of baggage and others, wait for raise in the insurance for passengers, like always we paid for everything and it is taking most people from travel.
by Flor49 on Thursday, April 16, 2009
To Jake:

First of all--not ALL families flying with children allow them to kick the seat in front of them, run up and down the aisle, or hog the bathroom, so DO NOT make presumptions that we all should be lumped together. In fact, my children have been better behaved on board flights than some arrogant demanding adults I've been seated with when traveling alone.

As far as size goes--the airlines have made seats so small that even the thinnest passengers feel cramped. It's not just the 300 lb passengers whose rearends fall into your seat. I've been seated with people whose legs are too long for the pathetic amount of space between rows and who have stretched into my seat space. Ditto with arms on arm rests. Airline travel has become quite squooshed, no matter WHAT size the passenger is and discriminating against one--by forcing the purchase of two seats, is insulting. As of right now--only FIRST CLASS has ample room and if you've flown first class as of lately, you would notice that the amenities you get there now, at least on short flights (under 3 hours) are equal to what you USED to get in coach back when flying was good.
by ColNFNY on Thursday, April 16, 2009
It's funny--I have no problem not having the frills (except that I have to buy overpriced beverages in the terminal), I can live without the blankets/pillows---most of which I wouldn't want near my body to begin with. But what bothers me most about the airlines, besides cramped seats, is their inability to ensure that the service for which you paid--to get from point a to point b in a timely manner and accomodating you as such when unforeseen changes occur--is fulfilled to your satisfaction. Two examples:

Continental--2006. Moved up their flight from Newark to Aruba by one hour. We were a) not notified in advance, even though this occurred shortly after our tickets were purchased and b) checking on our flights the week we traveled, only clue was something was amiss wasn't that the times changed, but that we had two different flight numbers on our itinerary--which were not there a month before when we checked and all looked good. So we called to get on another Buffalo flight and were told in order to make our Aruba flight--we had to go out of either Toronto or Rochester--a day early! When I said that wasn't acceptable I was told "Well, that's not our problem"--yea it is...you changed a schedule and did not notify anyone. So we lost a day of work, ended up having to travel an extra 2 hours to get to the departing airport, and then put up in a horrid hotel overnight for which we were told to be "grateful"---um, excuse me???

United handled things much better in 2007, though I had to become pretty upset to get the cooperation I did. We were flying home from Vegas, supposed to go through Chicago. Our original flight out of Vegas was delayed (we learned the morning flying home), and we would have missed our connection in Chicago. So my husband called and we managed to get rebooked through Dulles. Well.....we landed in Dulles, and ran to catch our connection to Buffalo. Turns out--it got cancelled while we were flying in to Dulles. To United's credit, they put us up in a decent hotel for the night, with food vouchers, and they rebooked us (after a heated conversation, on a Buffalo bound flight the next day--we almost ended up being there for three days). And we got free roundtrip travel vouchers for two.

by ColNFNY on Thursday, April 16, 2009
What is the definition of "infringing on your seat" as UA is trying to enforce? It's just not a larger person, it's the out of control screaming kid, the over-cologned, the unshowered, the shoeless, the recliner, the gross toenail smelly barefoot from behind you on your armrest, the loud iPod, the gum-smacker, the smelly sandwich loud gross eater, the spread out all over self-important business person. You can add your own annoying person to your list.
Airlines-- you can have your bad food, token slurp of beverage, blanket/pillow, nuts/snacks, magazines, shopping mall. I can bring my own. Just please give me decent size seat with enough room to put down my tray table w/o the head of the recliner in front of me in my face. Please keep it at a reasonable price. Please return my luggage in good shape in a reasonable amount of time. Fly safely and be pleasant.
In my experience, Jet Blue comes pretty close. I just wish they flew to the places I want to go.
Oh and one more thing... why not charge for taking luggage (more than your carry-on) on the plane? The bins are always a problem and take up so much time to load/unload, so through security.
by lets go flyin' Will on Thursday, April 16, 2009
Three hours then return to be let out??! I get sick after 5 minutes of no air blowing on my face. ONE HOUR is plenty of time to know you are not taking off and let me OUT! I am only claustrophobic on planes and let me tell you, the 30 minutes it takes to take off and land are the longest 30 minutes on my life.
by Sick in planes on Thursday, April 16, 2009
In NWA's defense, we have had many positive experiences with NWA. For example, having watched inclement weather moving in to Seattle and NEEDING to be home on time, I called NWA, got a supervisor (more later) and she gave us a "weather waiver" and let us depart a day early at no extra cost even though the "official" weather ok to do so had not yet been issued. Have also had NWA re-imburse for room required when missed connection & another time for kids clothes & toiletries when their luggage delayed (got there next day). Were also upgraded to 1st class RECENTLY when gate agent trying to accomodate families to be able to sit together on a full plane to Orlando (with 19 strollers, many children, but NO screaming!). This likely mentioned before, but put whatever airline(s) you're traveling into your speed dial, then as soon as you land & see there MIGHT be a problem, start calling even while you're heading to the re-book lines (NWA, like many airlines - has multi-terminal re-book stations in larger airports). Also remember, the first person you talk with about any problem may not have the power to change anything, so ask for a supervisor, and if they seem reluctant to transfer you, calmly state "Am I understanding you correctly? Are you REFUSING to transfer me?" It's worked many times for me! I DO shudder to think what service will be like when NWA gets fully swallowed by Delta - the airline with which we have had our MOST problems.
Another hint - knowing how to change seats on-line can be helpful. With airlines which do seat assignments, go on-line immediately after booking your flights (even if seats assigned in booking process) and look at available seats and change yours if you wish/can. If that doesn't work, call the airlines direct and ask them to do it, stating you have kids needing to sit with you etc., and remember most airlines upgrade their elite travelers to first class either 48 or 24 hrs. ahead, leaving many desirable seats (near the front) open, so re-check then, even if you were told it couldn't be done when you first called! Also know that exit row seats are not supposed to recline, so try to sit in the row BEHIND the exit row.

Now, if only we could get the gate agents to REALLY enforce those one bag/one personal item rules, so we don't have people carrying-on four (YES 4!) bags, each of which were the size of our one!
by travelgranny on Thursday, April 16, 2009
With passengers buying insurance for their flights the airlines are taking advantage and been more irresponsible, with all the problems and delays they have every day, lost of baggage and others, wait for raise in the insurance for passengers, like always we paid for everything and it is taking most people from travel.
by Flor49 on Thursday, April 16, 2009
9. Over-heads for assigned to a seat be empty when you finally get to board (airlines seen to allow Early Boarders to HOG the Over heads -then you get shorted when you get to your seat to find YOUR over head taken by a HOG.

10. TSA quit saying Water/Sandwiches OKAY, then TAKE!
by Hwy101 on Thursday, April 16, 2009
Why should the airlines be responsible for delays or cancelations due to weather? Isnt your safety important. I sure dont want to be flying thru storm clouds. If they paid expenses due to that you wouldnt be able to afford a ticket....guess whos going to be paying for it????? you on your next flight...airfare would skyrocket.
by Nadean on Thursday, April 16, 2009
How about this... We were flying Delta Airlines on Christmas Day and were left sitting on the runway for an hour because most of the Delta baggage handlers called in sick (the pilot confirmed this). We barely made our connecting flight in Atlanta. The door was literally closed after we boarded. What would have happened if we missed the connection? We were told there was nothing the airline could have done. We were on our own! The airlines have to start taking responsibility for their actions!
by windy530 on Thursday, April 16, 2009
Nov. '07 my husband and I traveled to San Diego-Milan via Minneapolis and Amsterdam. It was a Northwest flight, code sharing with KLM on the Amsterdam-Milan, Milan-Amsterdam legs. On the way back we were very delayed out of Milan, causing us to miss our connection out of Amsterdam. We were told initially that it was a weather delay, so had assumed we would be paying out the nose for lodging, and dealing with all kinds of hassles with the airlines to rebook. Much to our surprise KLM informed us the delay had started as a mechanical that was only compounded by the weather. They provided us (and all other people that missed connections) with a nearby hotel and included transportation to and from as well as dinner and breakfast. They also gave us a courtesy bag which had shampoo, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, comb, and a t-shirt and socks - not a change of clothes out of my own suitcase, but better than a punch in the nose! They rebooked us on the 1st available flight the next morning and got us all the way home only one day late. Everything with KLM worked liked a well oiled machine, no huge lines, no begging! I would lay down money that if Northwest was running the show, they would have stuck to the weather story and we would have been S.O.L. Not sure if Europe's airline industry is regulated, but if it is and this was the result - I'll take it!!!
by konbanwa on Thursday, April 16, 2009
Yes! Fees should be a two way street.

If the airlines issue requirements, then they should allow us to issue some to them.

Any contract should be a mutual agreement.

Any voucher should be useable online too! They say it has to be used on the phone or at the counter and there are fees for using them.
by rgruenhaus on Thursday, April 16, 2009
I have elderly parents who are not well. Therefore, for several years I have regularly bought travel insurance when traveling -- one policy for air and one for land or cruise. That really adds up. I was always up-front about why I was buying the insurance. At that time was I not told that I would not be covered if something happened to my parents. My understanding was that I would be covered if I had to cancel my trip due to catastrophic illness or death of one of my parents.

However, a travel agent recently told me that I would not be (and never had been) covered for such an incident because my parents' poor health was considered a pre-existing condition. I said that didn't make sense to me. If they were alive when I left, but died while I was traveling, their conditions had obviously changed. I was told that was just the way it was. Why buy the insurance at all? It seems like a misrepresentation to me.

I was covered after a fashion when I was robbed at gunpoint in Columbia. First the travel insurance company had me file against my homeowner's insurance. Then the travel insurance picked up any deductible and anything the homeowner's policy did not. However, that is the only claim I have ever collected on.

At another time, I purchased travel insurance and was told that it covered everyone on our trip. One of the ladies was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo emergency surgery at the time of our trip. When I submitted a claim for her portion of the room, I was first told that they would pay if I could prove that she intended to make the trip. However, once I gathered that information, I was told that they would not pay anything unless we had not used the room at all. So the policy really didn't perform as I had been led to believe.

When you pay for a travel insurance policy, it should pay for any loss and anything that forces you to cancel or cut short your trip.
by Vixen10 on Thursday, April 16, 2009
Did you notice? Not one complain about Southwest! We know why!
by BIGREV on Thursday, April 16, 2009
Hey Jake, I'll 2nd that, weigh the person with the bags!
by rgruenhaus on Thursday, April 16, 2009
I find people who take have loved ones that are in the care of hospice very much need to get away. One can never know what will happen and u may schedule a trip and then they are on their death bed and u lose out both ways...there should be some compassion for that
by keith on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Sure sounds like PIGSFLY is an insider for the airlines! LOL

I think that if they are regulated more people would fly and the prices could go down due to revenues increasing.

I don't like to force any companies to do what's right, but unregulating them doesn't seem too much of a motivator.

Why should I feel like slapping the person in front of me in the head because the airline does not think I should and they should have enough room to recline or sit without my knees crushed by someone reclining?
by rgruenhaus on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Another good idea would be to make all familys with kids under age of 13yr old to sit all the way to the back of the plane and make them stay there. No running up and down the isles banging into people.
I do not appreciate babies crying, kids kicking the seat, smelly dipers, coughing/sneezing on me.
Give them their own lue. This can go into effect immediately.

As far as the airlines concerned about my bag weighing over 50lb.
How's come they never weigh people who are grossly over weight?
Why not take the overall total weight of luggage and the person flying? That would make it more fair to me. They worry so much that a bag is over 50lb but could care less if a person weighs 300lb.
by Jake on Thursday, April 16, 2009
I was flying Fl. to Pa. Boarding was delayed 1 hr(6 pm) w/no expl. We finally took off. We had to circle in DC due to weather in PHILLY. When we landed there was 8in's of snow! Was told fts started can. @5 pm. After waiting 2 1/2 hrs (at 12:30 am) US Air finally can. our (45 min.)connecting flt. They offered us a discounted room - $200 for the nt! People w/connecting flts. s/h been told this in Fl. We could have stayed for free at my son's. We never s/h taken off. I was't given a option! The only opt. was when we landed - spend $200 or sleep in the chair! Ended up driving home. No comp. Landing was scary! They put our life's at risk just so they did't have to deal w/rebooking another flt.
by What's best for the airline on Thursday, April 16, 2009
zzzzz787759
Yes, the good old days, I remember them well. They also served excellent Fillets on china service!
by Bailey on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I agree with the comments that some of the proposed regulations are far too subjective. If we could trust people to be honest, these regulations might work. Unfortunately, we have too many deceptive folks (and downright liars) out there. That may be why airlines have such strict regulations regarding illness and bereavement fares. To illustrate, several years ago a close family member died while I was traveling. I called the airline used for that itinerary and asked to be rescheduled to attend the funeral. I was asked for quite a bit of personal information - the deceased's name and relation to me, the name of the funeral home and date of the funeral. I was then put on hold for a time while, I assume, the information was verified. The airline, American, proceeded to make the change at little cost to me With legitimate problems, the airlines will work with us now. Why force the airlines to listen to a lot of whining and lies, and possibly expect the rest of us to pay higher costs to fund airline staff to handle the nonsense?

Most children are not a problem on flights. Babies are more likely to be problem, especially when air pressure changes cause them ear pain, and should not be taken on flights except in extreme emergencies. Too many parents notice only that a 'babe in arms' flies free and drag them along, resulting in near torture for 300+ passengers on an 11-hour flight (been there - recently). How to make parents think twice before dragging that baby along? Charge for babies, whether they occupy a seat or not. Any concessions toward a non-paying baby are ridiculous when compared to the mental well-being of more than 300 PAYING passengers.

Why are airlines keeping the taxes on nonrefundable tickets that are canceled? Are not these taxes paid per passenger, and only if the passenger flies? Sounds like an unjust reimbursement that should be outlawed.

by wanderer on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
on number 3, the original frequent flyer miles used should be returned also!
by rgruenhaus on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
If you are unable to travel for whatever reason and would like to change your ticket to another date, the airline charges a large change fee (.i.e. $150) and then charges another fee when you book the new ticket. The airfare does not let you book the replacement ticket online - you must call in and speak with a live person. It seems unfair and unethical to charge both times. Frankly, it appears to be out and out theft!
by Lynn on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I'm not sure I find all this complaining reasonable. Everything everybody mentions will drive up costs for everybody. If these steps were competitively advantageous to airlines, someone would already be trying them. OK, I'll take the $150 no-frills flight and take my chances on some of those other things. You can pay $600 to have everything your way no matter what.

1) The airline should be required to refund your money, period.
2) The airline should be required to refund your money, period.
3) Sure, that makes sense.
4) Why 30 days exactly? As someone mentioned, why should airlines be treated differently from other businesses in that respect?
5) I agree with this one.
6) Yes, if you've paid a fee to check luggage, that fee should be refunded if the luggage is lost.
7) This seems pretty arbitrary. Nobody would want some of the horror stories we've all heard about, but what if after 3 hours the plane is now second in line to take off. I think the rest of the passengers would not like it if somebody tried to invoke the 3-hour rule to let off a few complainers.
8) This seems overly harsh. All traveling companions, even if it's a large group?

I think there are plenty of reasonable complaints about the ways airlines do business, and I would direct those to the airlines. There are also people who are habitual complainers, and the airlines may need to ignore them at times, to keep from driving up costs for everyone else.
by srdshelly on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
How about no reclining seats? I can't stand the kid/woman/idiot in the row ahead of me plopping into their seat and IMMEDIATELY pushing the seat all the way back. If none of the seats reclined, everyone would have an even playing field. And those "lovebirds" in the row ahead....get a room. My kids don't need to see that!
by stuckinthemiddle on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
3 hours on a runway is waaaay too long. One hour max...and that includes a hold at the gate as well. Let them offer incentives if people wish to remain on the original flight; otherwise, bring transport to the plane and let folks--AND their luggage, be freed. It's like being held hostage otherwise, which is against the law under other circumstances!

Put a cap on the fees an airline can charge to change/reissue a ticket if there is a drop in fares. We're all struggling. When a fare lowers by $100 and the change fee is $150, where's the incentive? They should at least do some fair compromise...give back half, even in the form of a voucher on a future flight...so long as it can be used when self booking a flight.

Bring back food. With the necessity of early arrivals for security etc, people are arriving exhausted, crabby and hungry for their flights. Have a simple healthy snack pack if nothing else, and go ahead and tack on a few bucks for it.

If someone says they're sick, and especially if they are already in their original destination, stop hassling them and let them stay longer if they want, until feeling better. Stop exposing planeloads of people to ill passengers.
by maliesmom on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
If you are a multi stop itinerary, you miss a connection, and unable to get to the next stop on time to make a meeting, the airline will return you to the stop of your choice on your itinerary...not send you back to a previous stop or the next city that you no longer need to go to.
by delayedtoooften on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I'm tired of hearing that my flight has been delayed or cancelled and I will miss my connection and they can't get me on another flight because they are all booked up, so I'll just have to wait a day or two. Airlines should be required to keep several seats free for rebooked passnegers at least until the plane starts to board, then they can give those seats away to standbys. If First or Business Class seats are available then they must assign those seats to people whose flights they screwed up (I once sat with a woman and her 3 weeping adolescent daughters who were flying to the UK w/o the husband because they had been placed on standby and there were no seats left for the husband, although First Class was half empty).
There should be a minimum amount of space between the back of the seat in front of you and your nose. I recently flew back from Australia and the woman in front of me we so huge, her recined chair went back many inches more than usual. I would hae gone claustrophobic mad (and hungery since I could not put my tray down) had there not been an empty seat to shift over to.
Airline personnel caught lying to waiting passengers should be fined heavily. A counter agent once tried to keep my family from switching flights to the Uk when it was obvious we would miss our Chicago connection, by saying they would hold the outgoimg flights to London at O'Hare to allow the storm delayed flights to arrive. Luckily a stewardess standing next to us told us that was utter nonsense, we would miss our connection, have to spend the night in Chicago and it would be best to catch the flight thru St. Louis since it was leaving on time. We retieved our luggage and the other airline accepted our tix, so we got there in time.
by atp2007 on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Just returned from a round trip flight from Florida to Seattle. I will have to say that airplanes are now the equivalent to "Greyhound in the sky". Who would have ever dreamed our airlines could sink so low!
by chevybee on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
If you must cancel your flight for any reason and purchased a non-refundable ticket, the credit issued by the airline can be used by anyone the credit was issued to, not just the original booked passenger.
by cat on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I forgot to mention that on our last two trips out of the country, our first flight was cancelled by the airline, not weather related, and because all the other flights were full or already departed, we could not make our final connection. Both times we lost one day of the trip, the first time almost missing a parent's funeral. There should be some type of penalty for that, certainly the airlines charge us penalties and fees for every little transgression. What would the airlines have charged me if we showed up a day late?
by atp2007 on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
When held on the runway for an extended period, not only should the aircraft be required to return to the gate LONG BEFORE 3 hours have expired, but also, if that delay impacts upon the passengers connections or other related reservations and personal pickups/meetings, etc. the airline should be required to pay for all addtional expenses their delay, caused plus a penalty.
by rikipere on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Once they have you in their clutches, airlines rarely give a hoot. There are sooooo many conditions to fly with them, it's a miracle they even take off. Iit gets to the point where you get exhausted just trying to keep up with all the mumble-jumbo they dish out. And when you live on an island, you're a captive audience, whether you like it or not. Oh, and let's not forget, " we know you have many options, so we thank you for choosing us and hope you will consider us for your future travel needs". I have flown various airlines and I can honestly say, flying is an extreme sport, not because of the height , but because of the hype.
by planedrifter on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
One more thing - tickets should be allowed to be purchased under the name of the person buying them/paying for them and this person should have the right to give those tickets to whomever
they want to without ridiculous fees to change the name of the traveler. When obtaining boarding passes the person can be registered. Identification is required to get through to the gates.
Why should the airline care who is using the ticket.
Also, why can't TSA place the screening booths at the end of each concourse so as not to have huge bottlenecks in one spot in the
larger airports where we are all shuffled through like herds of cattle. AND PLEASE, ENOUGH OF THE REMOVAL OF SHOES FOR GOD'S SAKE. (or the near undressing for that matter - belts, coats, sweaters, etc)
by monk on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I echo HRHmum's comment on Number 2. We were connecting on Air Canada from Quebec City to Dallas through Toronto. There were weather delays in Toronto that delayed many Toronto flights, including ours, but we got to the customs gate in Toronto about 35 minutes before our flight despite the delay. We were told that our seats on our flight to Dallas had been given to other passengers because we could not clear customs and get to our flight in less than an hour. Well, we could see that there was no line of people waiting to clear customs, but the agent told us that our seats had already been given away and the next available fight was in the morning. We were offered no vouchers, reimbursement, or anything else for meals, transportation, or lodging, even though we went up the line as far as we could at the airport. We subsequently even wrote Air Canada a letter and still received no offer of any help. We cleared customs and were at our gate in less than five minutes the next day. The airlines should not be able to get away with this. I realize this is an international issue, but international airline regulations do exist.
by Tiedye on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I agree with all eight recommendations. However, most people don't want regulation therefore they will never happen. Hasn't anyone noticed that congress is in cahoots with the airlines. They refuse to change anything.
by JK on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
We don't need regulation. The only thing that will save air transportation in this country is to modernize the system itself. We need about 50 new airports (most of our major ones date from the 1930s 0r 40s) and to overhaul our air traffic control systems. Anything else is lipstick on a pig.
by Marco on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
We had a flight delayed from Hawaii for about an hour due to a "maintenance issue." They had to "wait for the paperwork" to get to them. This caused another half hour delay. They then said that they had "a legal issue." In reality, this turned out to be a union issue, since two of the flight attendants would now be working too long. We had to go back to the gate and wait about three hours for members from another crew to land and get to this plane. This cause huge number of us to miss connections in San Francisco. Even though they put us up for the night, all of their flights were backed up the next day due to the weather in the east. So, we either had to wait for one of their planes on the next day or two, or buy tickets on our own on another airline to get down to San Diego. They should have been required to change our tickets on the other airlines at no cost to us.
by Wiley Post on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Regarding #8; my mother-in-law purchaced a non-refundable R/T ticket to Florida. She then became ill and could not travel. She called the airline and explained the situation. The airline offered a voucher good for a year, however she then told them she would not be able to use it. She was polite to them with her position and thanked them when told she would be receiving a full refund. The airline was JETBLUE! She and members of our family fly JETBLUE whenever possible since. This airline has gone out of their way to accomidate me and my family when we had to rescedule or missed flights.
by Ocala Traveler on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Comments 1,2,3,5 and 6 are much too subjective to really be enforceable. Comment 7 would pretty much be under to control of the FAA and airports. Comment 8, who and how will someone prove they are "too ill" to fly again?
What if the airlines were Required to offer you the option to purchase insureance against these issues and they started paying out a bit of money. Might change there way of doing business.

Whenever I have had trouble getting money back from an airline I have found two methods that get their attention. 1. Do a charge back on your charge card if used and Small Claims Court is very effective.
by marcheauxfleurs on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
All the "regulations" should be removed from FAA and placed with FTC (its not perfect- but does not have conflicting law). FAA has statutory requirement to make airlines viable, which they have interpreted as a federal law to mimimize interference with airline operations. Even airplane safety has taken its hits because this the law requlating FAA behavior. Federal preemption of state law should be removed by congress.
by mmt on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Wyoming,

Not all kids whine, cry, kick the seats or throw things. Most are well behaved. I'd rather fly with a planeload of screaming kids than Mr. Smelly who insists on taking off his shoes, putting them on my seat and trying to cover up his BO with a bucketful of cologne.

Children are rarely in first class, maybe you should spend the extra money there.

by zzzzz78759 on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Baily,

Western used to have free champagne for all, too!

Ah, the good, old days.
by zzzzz78759 on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
If a flight is booked and subsequently paid for on the spot, the airlines should allow for cancellation without penalty providing the
flight is cancelled within a reasonable period of time - say 21 days ahead. Or how about allowing reservations with payment due at a later date - or at least just a deposit required. the airlines could then charge a non refundable deposit toward the booking to secure their own interest. It is frustrating to book well in advance, have to pay in full, then have to pay an additional outrageous fee to make any changes to the itinerary. Sometimes circumstances change requiring the flyer to alter original plans. Why is a change fee imposed if one is going to fly the same airline at the going rate at the time of their changes? I guess I know the answer - "because they can" but I think this should be regulated in some way so as to be equitable and fair to the consumer.
by monk on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I agree with Wanderer that the liquids rule is absurd. The past couple of times I have flown, I have also run into overly zealous TSA agents who try to assure me that my carry-on bag is too large, and force me to jam it into their "cage," which is conveniently located at the start of the security line. Well, when I bought said bag from a reputable luggage company, we actually measured it and insured that it was an acceptable carry-on bag for ALL major U.S. and international carriers. I tell this to the agents and they still make me do this--when I couldn't fit it once, they almost made me pay to check it, even though I have taken this bag as a carry-on on dozens of flights. TSA agents should stick to their job--checking our boarding passes and IDs, and getting us through the security line--and stop trying to be carry-on baggage police. If the bag is too big, the airline will gate-check it.

I agree with Josh as well that "weather" seems an all-too-convenient excuse. I was supposed to get a nonstop flight from Philadelphia to SFO and there was a huge rainstorm. Only two flights on the board were cancelled and every other flight was heading out. Hmmm... was it REALLY the weather, Delta? Or was it that you had some other problem and it was (conveniently) raining? Then you didn't have to pay for my hotel stay, etc.

We need a Passenger's Bill of Rights similar to that of Europeans.
by LaurenL on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Number 2 - airlines should provide meals, lodging, etc... if they are responsible for you not making your flight or connection. We flew USAirways into DCA in February. There had been horrid weather the previous 3 days before we flew and so they had a lot of backed up folks to transport. The solution to getting them out was to not make our gate available so the 6 of us plus many others missed the connection. This helped clear out the weather related folks. They were all out of "vouchers" because of the weather related folks so they told us to just go to a hotel and submit the receipt for reimbursement. We did, the bill was $1,200 for 2 rooms for the 6 of us. We were sent 6 $200 vouchers with each the specific names of everyone in our group on them and they were not transferable and they expire. The law should be they have to give you the money back. A voucher with grandma's name or the kids names is of no value since they do not travel with us often enough. Needless to say we lost $800 of the $1,200 the hotel cost us because of the dumb vouchers. They didn't cover any of the 2 taxi's needed to get to and from the hotel, or any of the meals.
Number 3 - I agree that award tickets should be treated the same as paid tickets in terms of refunds on fees, and in terms of counting toward your preferred status. As someone else said, I earned those miles and so I should not be penalized when spending them. It's not really a freebie since I work very hard to accumulate those miles.

I'd like to add rule number 9 - no doubling, trippling, or quadrupling the fares on routes to popular destinations just because the kids have the week off from school. A ticket from SYR to PBI is normally $185 - $250. From February 11 to 23rd this year you couldn't touch a ticket for less than $750. We stayed home. The week after Easter, same crap, the cheapest I could find months ago was $450 and kept going up to $950 a week before the 4/13 departure date which was after Easter was over. Ripping off families for school vacation weeks is extortion and should be illegal!!
by HRHmum on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Quit raking us over the coals to check a bag! I can't take anything over 3 oz. (which is stupid - 3 3oz. containers combined can still create something bad) and now that we're held over that barrel we have to pay to check our bags?! I'm sure the whole reason they started charging was someone finally realized what a predicament passengers were in with the limit.

If you're going to change my flight 10 times (American) be honest and tell me why.
by Wanderer on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Our flight from (MCO) Orlando was to leave at 7:18 PM. We had been on a cruise and arrived at the airport at 5 PM. We were told that our flight had left at 4:30 PM. Now really, three hours early. We had to stay over night and catch a flight the next day. The extra night cost us over $200. AirTran gave us a fifty dollar voucher for our next flight on their airline. No Thanks.
by retiree02 on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
msnovtue--RIGHT ON!! Who the heck do they use as the passenger model for these seats? A 60lb, 4ft 5" person? Oh wait--even my kids feel cramped in plane seats. I don't see how providing a little more room would be such an expense.
I'm not unwilling to pay for drinks, snacks, and I'll bring my own blanket and pillow, thank you...but give me some more room!
by ColNFNY on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Regulation #1: Airlines should be required to fund enough TSA agents to cover the entire 24 hours in a day.
Regulation #2: TSA lines should not keep passengers waiting in line for longer than 60 minutes.
Right now, airlines only fund the bare minimum (or less) so they can count on TSA agent delays holding up passengers on over-booked flights (this information per the airlines customer service agents). Then the customer is blamed for "missing" their flight after waiting in 2-3 hours TSA lines and forced on to less desirable flights or fighting with other passengers to get any seat on another flight. Boo to you US Airways and I'm glad you've been fined by the FAA for blatantly over-booking flights to your customers' (or should I say EX-CUSTOMERS?) detriment.
by jwro on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
How about if you cancel a non-refundable ticket, shouldn't the non-airline fees such as taxes be automatically refunded? If you aren't taking the trip, the fee shouldn't be included. BTW George, what do they do with all that tax money they collect and don't refund?
by rubytiara on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I agree with a lot of those posted above, but recognize that if airlines spend more money on compensation, the cost of fares will have to increase and we'll all pay in the long run. My suggestion is not so much about regulation as it is about comfort. If some airline were smart, it would restrict the seats sold to families with children to one section of the plane (the back) so that the rest of us have a prayer of escaping crying babies...or even better offer specific family-friendly flights and ban kids under the age of 12 and all kids without adult escorts from all of the regular flights. I'd gladly pay an extra $50-$100 a trip for the guarantee of flights without brats screaming, crying, whining, hurling toys and food or kicking my seat!
by Wyoming on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I worked for Western Airlines many many years ago and numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, and 8 were always handled by the airline. We even gave out small overnight bags(containing toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.) to the customers if there was a reason that they had to stay overnight due to an airline problem. Airlines were regulated and I think the passengers were much better taken care of at that time.
by Bailey on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
How about security guards required at all baggage areas checking to make sure someone else did not steal your luggage. Missing luggage really means it was most likely stolen, hire logistics persons to design a plan for all phases of luggage handling, so that all luggage gets to where it is supposed to go. No More Stolen Luggage, should be the goal..Period!
by Jake on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
When I purchase a ticket and a seat is assigned, I should expect to have the entire seat to use myself. On my last couple of flights, I had to share my seat with body parts from other overweight passengers who did not fit into one seat. I object! I suggest the airlines have available at the rear of the plane extra wide seats for those who require them. They can price them higher since they take up more sq ft of floor space. Also being at the back of the plane, they can use the lue without bumping everyone as they make their way down the asle.
by Jake on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
When we booked a flight to Brussels from Miami with a change of planes (again Delta) in NY, our flight kept getting delayed. We explained to Delta that there was they had only one flight to brussels which was @ 6:30 P.M. and Delta had so many flights to NY that day. They refused to put us on another flight. We still had to wait for our original plane which was now 8 hours late. They kept promising we would make it on time. Sure.... Yes, we missed our flight to Brussels that night. They refused to put us up for the night, food, etc. We missed a whole day in Brussels which we had paid for in advance of course. It was tough sh.. as far as Delta was concerned. We have never flown with them since. There was no reason for them to not find us another flight to NY to make the connecting flight. This arrogance needs to stop.
by Rudy on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Here's one I would think all would agree to: Minimum seat with of 18 inches, and minium distance between one seat back and the next of 40 inches *in all seating classes*. I may be bigger, but airline seats are ridiculously small. Just a few more inches would me less issues with bigger customers, more room and comfort for smaller ones, and more aisle space.
I don't care what size you are, everyone feels cramped in EC. This is also a safety issue--more room means faster evacuations.
by msnovtue on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Does anyone else thinks pigsflew works for an airline?
by ColNFNY on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
If someone has a death in the family and has to fly out immediately and gets a bereavement ticket do not rip them off with the very high fare!
by ken_nyc on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I think #7 should be ammended to 2 hours. 3 hours w/ your knees in your chest and someone's head in your lap is just too long! And you haven't even left yet.
by tiredofwaiting on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Airlines should be required to seat children under the age of 12 with their adult travel companions. They're not allowed to travel alone without a paying someone to escort them between flights, why would they be forced to sit 5 rows away from their parents? If there are no seats together in coach, both should be seated, together, in first class.
by zzzzz78759 on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I fly rescued rabbits to their forever homes and/or sanctuarys across the u.s...the airlines have stopped letting rabbits fly in cabin.this is sad,when they will allow cats and dogs.........makes my travel much harder..
by dmdlpn on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I would stipulate that any flight sitting on a runway longer than two (2) hours should have to return to the gate to let passengers off. Have you ever sat on an airline on the runway for three hours plus. I have and it is absolutely unbearable!
by Linda on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I'm not sure how number 8 is reasonable. Sure, that is something that a conscientious airline should do as a courtesy, but definitely should not be a regulation. If you or your friend gets sick or dies, tough, that's life. Why should the airline have to pay for your life problems? If I order any other non-refundable product and I croak before it comes, nobody is going to be able to return it.
The others proposals however, are grand.
by Aaron on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The airlines should NOT be allowed to overbook! And passengers, if they don't make the flight, CANNOT ask for a refund! NO MORE BUMPING!!
by MikeBinATL on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The problem with these are that they all drive costs up:

1. If an airline changes its schedule...

Unless you buy a non-refundable low-cost ticket and it is outside of the airline's control (e.g. weather, control tower scheduling or equipment problems, airplane crew problems)

2. If an airline changes its schedule...

Unless you bought a non-refundable low cost yaddayadda see above.

3. If an airline cancels a flight...

My experience is that if the airline cancels a flight they reschedule anyone who was on it. This should make no diffence whether you are on frequent flyer miles or not. If this can't possibly be rescheduled, then yeah, refundables should be refunded and airline miles should be restored.

4. If you are due a refund...

Most companies promise refunds within 90 days. Government regulation on the airline industries without other industries would be a waste of time.

5. If your flight is delayed or canceled...

Unless your ticket was a low-cost non-refundable ticket. Seriously, this should be an option. I don't want to pay on my ticket for someone else to get dinner and a movie because *their* flight was cancelled.

6. If an airline loses or delays your checked luggage...

I don't like this one at all. If you don't trust the airlines with your checked luggage, send it via post. The fees make sense to me because people without luggage are easier to manage, are lighter (meaning the plane uses less fuel), and create less work that their baggage handlers have to do. They offer no guarantees that your luggage will make it to the other side, but promise that they will try to get it back to you if it is lost. That's it. That's always been the way, and again, I don't want to pay on my ticket for the possibility that someone else's luggage might get lost or somone might try to take advantage of the airline by claiming it did, and I also don't want to pay extra for my luggage check. These things are pretty rare, but don't check valuables, people.

7. If you are stuck on the runway...

For the most part I agree with this one, however if the plane is for any reason unable to return (it is in a line, for instance, and there's no way back to the gate without causing trouble) or if the plane's expected time until its turn to fly has never exceeded 1/2 an hour, then it should be exempt. Delays on the runway are almost invariably caused by difficulties at the flight control tower, and the airline should not be held responsible for these issues.

8. If a passenger buys a non-refundable ticket...

it is non-refundable. Period. It shouldn't matter why: if you are unable to take the trip, then you will not be refunded the fare from your non-refundable ticket. That's why you bought it, because it was less expensive.
by pigsflew on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Here's one... Had tickets on Continental and bought travel insurance because a parent was very ill with no hope of recovery but also no idea how long the illness would go on. Nothing in the initial paperwork for the travel insurance indicating this particular illness was not covered... didn't find that out until the parent passed and we tried to get our $$ back. After 18 months finally got a voucher (good for only 1 year) to fly Continental... thanks, but why would I want to fly an airline that was so insensitive and greedy.
by ROTY on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
If a passenger is too ill to travel and must change the ticket to a later date, they should not have to pay the exorbitant fees the airlines charge to change the ticket nor should they have to pay the higher cost of the ticket. If the ticket goes for less they should refund the difference, but they don't. No one wants to travel with a sick person next to them.
by ssbeagle on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
There needs to be some way of verifying whether a cancellation is truly due to the weather--it seems to be a overly convenient excuse some times.

I'd like to see airlines being responsible for how they treat passengers when there are large numbers of canceled flights. I've spent hours and hours in line at Dallas trying to rebook flights after circling over Texas for hours because of thunderstorms. There legitimately were severe thunderstorms, so it wasn't per se the airline's fault that I missed onward flights. What is their fault is that I have had to spend upwards of five hours in line trying to rebook. Deploying more staff to deal with these issues should be a basic part of customer service, though I see no way to have enforceable government regulations to deal with the problem. I'd actually disagree with any attempt to force airlines to provide lodging in cases like this, for there will be an additional cost passed on to consumers. What I would like is a good faith effort by the airlines to help passengers access lodging as cheaply as possible (for the airlines obviously have negotiated agreements with area hotels to put stranded passengers up for rates far cheaper than that available to someone walking in the door). If an airline was consistently good at providing that, I'd be happy to buy mor etickets from them.
by Josh on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I've got a few:

1) If you are stuck overnite due to the airlines' schedule changes, cancelled flights--the airline MUST accomodate you in a hotel that is a minimum of three stars and less than 10 minutes from the airport. (Continental--THIS MEANS YOU and that scuzzy, flea bag HoJos in Newark that you constantly put passengers in which has smelly rooms, smoky halls, hard beds, rude service, mean shuttle drivers and happens to be right in KLM's overnight flight path!).

2) If an airline schedule change requires that you must travel an extra day to meet your destination, or incur additional cost (such as travel to a different airport than the one from which you had booked originally, or loss of wages/vacation time from work) you should be compensated in full as well (ALSO CONTINTENTAL)

3)If for a weather emergency (such as an airport that is likely to be closed due to an impending snow storm or hurricane---i.e. Jacksonville) and as a passenger, you can reach the connecting terminal (ie. Charlotte) in time for the flight you were originally scheduled to connect with, the airline should NOT charge you again for rebooking that flight at a higher fare. This happened to us, by US Airways in 2004. Hurricane Fran was expected to hit the day we were to fly out of Jax. In order to fly home early US Airways wanted to charge us $2400 more to rebook. We opted to leave Florida early and drive to Charlotte to catch our connecting flight back to Buffalo. They said they would have to rebook us on that flight (which we had already paid for) and charged us an additional $400---for a flight we had already paid for as part of our roundtrip expense. We had no other choice. Then we called the airline after we got back, since as expected, our original flight from Jax to charlotte was cancelled. And we were told "tough". I ended up calling the FAA and DOT, who reported it for me (though they didn't promise anything). Got a call about three weeks later from a Sr. Consumer Affairs person at US Air who wanted to know why we "didn't call them first!" Um...we did....ended up getting vouchers, but cash would have been better. Even better, they should not have charged us.

4) If you are on a flight and something in your seat isn't wrong (like something above is dripping rusty condensation and staining your clothing and getting you wet), nothing can be done to stop it, and the only other seats available are in First Class--you should be moved, along with your companions. Ditto for anything that can not be controlled---if there are other seats available, as long as its the same class or better---move the passenger---seriously--what's it going to cost if the seat wasn't filled before the flight took off? An extra glass of wine and another bag of pretzels? Better service in which the passenger might remember to FLY your airline again?

The airlines shouldn't need to be regulated--they need to remember that the customer's comfort and convenience is the key to capturing repeat business and developing loyal customers--especially since Frequent Flier miles only seem to be good for very little these days (I tried for YEARS to use FF points on US Airways but they were always hard to get a good flight and they ended up expiring). Whatever happened to customer service? Since when do you get to treat people poorly and still survive?




by ColNFNY on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Why shouldn't Frequent Flyer tickets be equal to all other tickets.
One way or another they were paid for
by chessa on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The method of reporting 'on-time' departure needs to change. Currently it measures only 'Pulled away from the gate ontime", It needs to change to "Departed the runway ontime".
by xzr1tv on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Great information.......but can you please add what recourse we have and how to use them
by here'stous on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Plutonium, that is a really great one! All fees should be posted on one clearly identified page on their web sites and at their ticket counters.
by on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Peter, re: overbooking... Seems like JetBlue has figured out how to do it so why can't others?
by on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I'm surprising the list doesn't include banning overbooking. There's nothing unique or unusual about not being able to maximize revenue if a plane flies at less then capacity. The same exact situation is faced by performances like concerts, sports games or movie showings. Yet no other industry is allowed by the government to sell the same reserved seat to multiple people based on the hope that one of those people won't show up. It's absolutely outrageous.
by Peter on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Or how about this one? Anyone who is forced to sit in the coach seats at the back of the aircraft will be guaranteed as many free alcoholic drinks as they'd like during the flight -- since they have to sit in seats that don't recline, are subjected to the constant slamming of the lavatory door (try that on a red-eye, people!) and must have their "lap space" encroached upon by the reclined seatbacks of the people in front of them.
by insanelymadlinda on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
All airlines should be required to write clearly re extra fees. Spirit, for example, for those unfamiliar with them (as I was) implies that you MUST PURCHASE A SEAT They imply this after you have paid for your ticket. Only later is it revealed that if you don't BUY a seat, they will assign one on the day of the flight. This is a ridiculous scam. Also a young woman did not check her luggage on line ($15) and was charged $25 to check it at the airport. Another outrage. I have flown to DTW from NYC many times over a period of 52 years. My Spirit flight a few weeks ago, booked because it appeared to be the least expensive available, proved to be the most expensive round trip to Detroit I have EVER made. I would drive before I would patronize SPIRIT ever again! Re-regulate the airlines and stop this nonsense of 10 flights going to the same city at the same time!
by Plutonium on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Here's one. If one actually pays for trip insurance, the refund should be made available if the trip has to be cancelled for ANY reason. If you've paid for insurance it should cover you; period.
by Divilla on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Coach seats in the last 2 rows of the aircraft, when all the coach lavatories are in the back, should be discounted by 50% off the lowest price available for that flight. Those seats are constantly blocked by people online to use the lavs and the smell becomes dreadful. British Airways, I am talking to you, too.
by jblipp on Monday, April 13, 2009
How about this? If the airline loses your luggage temporarily, finds it for you after two weeks, and you find that items have been pilfered from said luggage, the airline should pay for those missing items regardless of what the CoC says about not covering "personal electronic devices." Also, the airline shouldn't include things like camera batteries, power adapters, and the like under "personal electronic devices" just because they don't want to pay you. Also, when they offer to pay for only 30 percent of what was stolen, they should stop pretending like they're doing you a favor, because, after all, none of this would have happened if they hadn't lost your luggage in the first place.

British Airways, I'm looking at you.
by Schmennifer on Saturday, April 11, 2009
Lee, there oughta be a law. I don't think even travel insurance would have covered a situation like this, which is becoming all too common. Airlines should be able to adjust schedules (although before de-regulation, their schedules required government involvement); but if their schedule changes cause financial hardship, they should step to the plate, IMHO
by George Hobica on Friday, April 10, 2009
Booked and paid for flights on American Airline (directly with their phone reservationist) 7 months in advance Seattle (SEA) to Belize City (BZE) through DFW. After 4 months we get an email that they have implemented a schedule change and their connection flights no longer work requiring us to overnight enroute. In speaking with then they do not supply a hotel, meal reimbursements etc. - even though they no longer will get us to our destination on the day we booked - we're just SOL. We asked that they put us on their competitor who's flights still work - the best they will do is fully refund our tickets. The competitor wants an additional $300 per ticket - hotel rooms, dinner & breakfast and an additional day house sitter runs about the same. For the 4 of us their schedule change will cost us $1,200 either way. Anything we can do to have them honor our agreement - we paid them to get to our destination on a specific day - not the day after. Are the rules different since there is a domestic & international leg involved?
by Lee R on Friday, April 10, 2009
Yes, Rae, these were all culled from our emails...we're only listing the most egregious things, and we don't think we're going over the top here :)
by on Friday, April 10, 2009
CJ > Not all delays are due to weather. Equipment failure, for example, which is reasonably within the airline's control assuming maintenance is being performed properly. Too many equipment failure delays are due to airlines skimping on maintenance.

Item #5 /> Amend to read "...on another airline's flight At No Additional Cost To The Passenger if that flight..."

Item #8 /> Amend to read "...or becomes too ill to ever Reasonably Expect To travel again..." A few people do make amazing recoveries, we don't want airlines trying to recover monies when someone wasn't expected to ever be well enough to travel again, but does regain their health.
by Archon on Friday, April 10, 2009
Nowadays, all reasons given for delay/missed connecting flights, etc. are weather related and so the airlines are not responsible for anything. Just when is that going to change?
by cj on Friday, April 10, 2009
Wow, it's creepy to read things on your list like #8 and knowing it's only listed there because it's actually happened. Yikes.
by Rae on Friday, April 10, 2009
Yes, here's one. If refunds are NOT provided within 30 days, then refund shall be doubled each month until refund is provided!! I am still waiting for a refund from American that should have arrived months ago.
by MMM on Friday, April 10, 2009
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