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Comments (4)
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Save/ShareNew Department of Transportation rules take effect today, and the gist is that when a flight is delayed on tarmac, passengers are no longer subject to inhumane treatment. Finally!
As we've reported before, the new rules have been a long time in the making, and only became a reality after several highly publicized incidents in which airline travelers were stuck on tarmacs for six, seven, nine hours -- sometimes having to endure the wait without food, water, or even operable bathrooms.
Here are the new stipulations that affect passengers, from the DOT's Fast Lane blog states:
Under the new rule, U.S. airlines operating domestic flights must allow passengers to deplane after a tarmac delay of three hours. The only exceptions allowed are for safety or security, or if air traffic control advises the pilot otherwise.Carriers are also required to provide adequate food and drinking water within two hours of being delayed on the tarmac; they must also maintain operable lavatories and, if necessary, provide medical attention.
You'd think that mandating that an airline attend to its customers' basic needs -- and you don't get more basic than the ones above -- wouldn't be necessary, but here we are.
A DOT press release explains the rest of the new rules, including one that:
Prohibits the largest U.S. airlines from scheduling chronically delayed flights
While we enthusiastically applaud the new requirements, one potential downside is that deplaning passengers due to a lengthy delay may lead to even bigger delays. But at least you'd be delayed in the terminal, not inside a cramped, stuffy plane.
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I just now got around to reading the post on Airline Passenger Rights and I was rather taken aback that there were no comments nor any follow up discussions on this topic. For the traveling public and for the airline industry as a whole this is huge! While many believe that this is a win for passengers, what nobody realizes is that this not only may lead to further delays but most empathetically WILL! There is one aspect of the Passenger Rights Law that nobody is talking about though. The law states, "Carriers are also required to provide adequate food and drinking water within two hours of being delayed on the tarmac; they must also maintain operable lavatories and, if necessary, provide medical attention." Great news, right? Wrong! You the traveling public read this and think that the airline will be providing some kind of snack such as a sandwich or small meal. Well let me tell you what my airline deems "AAdequate" in terms of food. 1 8oz Oatmeal & Browm Sugar Granola Bar! To make matters worse, we as flight crew members DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY to begin delivery of your "adequate food"! First, the 2hr timeframe must expire. The Capt must then contact our Flight Operations Dept to request delivery of "adequate food". Now I don't know about you, but in my 18 years as an Aircraft Beverage & Safety Specialist, if you are in a scenario involving a 2+ hour tarmac delay, you are not the only plane sitting. So just imagine how long it could conceivably take for your flights crew to get through to someone who will give us permission to hand out the granola bars. I personally was absolutely appalled at my airlines interpretation of the law and what "adequate" is. Passengers no longer get meals in the Main Cabin on any US Domestic flight. So you may have begun your day in Seattle at 6:00 AM, flew 4 hours to Chicago O'Hare but because your flight was delayed leaving Seattle you only have 30 mins to make your connection to Boston. You arrive at the gate minutes before departure without being able to grab food. As the plane pushes back from the gate, the Capt announces that due to severe weather in Boston area ATC has delayed take offs for the next 45 minutes to an hour. And the clock starts ticking! By the time those lovely ganola bars finally get distributed you are looking at a situation where someone may have not eaten food in over 6 hours. A granola bar is NOT sufficient! It's a joke! Somehow I really do not believe the drafters of this piece of ground breaking legislation had granola bars in mind when they developed this ground breaking piece of juris prudance. One giant leap forward and 5 Lawrence Taylor tackles back!
Posted By Robb Todd on June 8, 2010, 5:22 PM
Hi Robb,
Thanks for reading the blog and posting a comment. You've added a fresh, sensible perspective on the topic of why airlines cancel some flights.
Did you know about RegulationRoom.com? It’s a site set up by Cornell Univ., to make it easier for travelers to tell the gov’t their thoughts about travel regulation changes.
or you can go to Regulations.gov to post comments on upcoming regulatory changes—there’s a three-hour rule being proposed for international flights, and you could post your comment to oppose that. The DoT invites public comments, and if the general consensus leans one way or another, it’s influential.
Best regards,
Sean O'
Posted By Blog editor on June 9, 2010, 10:16 AM
Those with us with special dietary needs including eating at pre-set intervals or with specific quantities of dietary components, e.g., diabetic or hypoglycemic, learned our lessons long ago--always carry the equivalent of one meal and refresh your stock as soon as possible after it is eaten. Regular travelers may need to do the same.
Posted By Maureen Tilley on January 18, 2011, 10:26 AM
I'm a 68 year old, 5'11" 200 lb. male, and I fly quite a bit...or to tell the truth, I used to fly quite a bit. Ever increasing lines, ever decreasing seat sizes (yes, I fly coach to save $),
increasing ticket prices and increasing security demands are things that have to be endured in today's world. However, there is one great "Ever-Increasing Element" which makes me seek other modes of travel: A lack of courtesy. I may be put upon greatly and endure it during my airline travels provided that it is done with courtesy.
Today's airline industry exists because of a flying public, but the airline's alienation of their passengers is causing more and more people just like me to seek other modes of travel.
I remember a time when passengers were treated as royalty from ticket reservation to baggage retrieval. Today, if I receive even a smile from an airline employee, I am astonished. I also remember that smile and that airline when I purchase my next flight.
Remember...you can cover a lot of evils and shortcomings with decent service and a smile.
Thanks....
Mike Brown
Posted By Mike Brown on March 8, 2011, 10:25 AM