Airlines protest Passenger Bill of Rights

[meegbear]

The largest passenger airlines are headed to New York federal court Tuesday in their battle against the New York state’s Airline Passengers Bill of Rights, a measure passed over the summer to protect passengers stranded in aircraft for hours on end on busy runways.

The bill requires airlines to provide sufficient food, water and restroom facilities on aircraft delayed more than three hours. Failure to do so would result in penalties of up to $1,000 per passenger. In October, the Air Transport Association, the airline trade group, filed a suit seeking an injunction against the legislation, which is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.

The suit claims that airlines are not subject to state regulations in the first place. Beyond that they complain that under these rules airlines would face additional costs to have catering services and additional lavatory equipment at all airports, and that there would be undue costs of “training their employees” to handle the “new operational and safety challenges” posed by these rules.

They also objected to the idea that all aircraft would be forced to have prescribed supplies on board, which would increase the weight of each aircraft and affect costs.

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http://www.crainsnewyork.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071217/FREE/524194749/1066/information

[irish.lambchop]

1. Wouldn't they only be subject to state regulations if

they land in or depart from NY? I've never understood why airlines in long delay situations don't allow boarded passengers to disembark and stay at the departure gate - even if they have to taxi back to the gate.

[alarimer]

2. "Operational and safety challenges"?

They are customers! I hate the airlines. The lie to people about EVERYTHING and then they hold them prisoner on the runway for HOURS. That needs to stop.

Fuck these crybabies.

[peacetalksforall]

7. The airlines don't run the whole show - there is air traffic control and

the airports are usually owned by the cities/counties. There is a three way cooperation. Additionally, when one stays at the gate, an incoming one can't dock. Sometimes there are no gates. Once they disembark, it's difficult to get them all back because they need to do it fast. When they are parked at or off the gate, the problem is often rolling delays. Everyone estimates, jointly or dependently, and it sometimes doesn't meet the estimate.

[spinbaby]

3. Darn those pesky passengers

Imagine wanting food, water, and restroom facilities. You'd think passengers were human or something.

[tanyev]

5. Isn't it outrageous enough that they all expect a seat to sit in?

Think how much more money the airline could make if they could pack them in tight, standing shoulder to shoulder!

[Squatch]

4. They should have named it "Passenger Cute Cuddly Baby Pandas"

Then, nobody would challenge it in federal court.

[EnviroBat]

6. And people wonder why I'm boycotting all airlines...

I refuse to fly anywhere. Until these assholes start treating customers like people, like CUSTOMERS, and NOT criminals who are out to inconvenience them, FUCK THEM ALL!