Cries of the flying public are finally heard
A new, separate Bill providing significant relief for air passengers from extended on-board delays was welcomed today by Kate Hanni, founder-president of the Coalition for Airline Passengers' Rights, Health and Safety, formerly Coalition for an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights (CAPBOR). The new Bill, H.R. 6355, was introduced in Congress on June 24 by Congressman James Oberstar, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Congressman Jerry Costello, chairman of the Aviation subcommittee.
"Despite frustrations inevitably encountered in the process, we are delighted that passengers' rights are clearly now on the agenda of the House's appropriate leadership," Ms. Hanni said. "This Bill is intended to move passengers' rights legislation along on its own merit, since similar passenger legislation was already passed by the House in the FAA Reauthorization Act, which has become stalled in the Senate," she added.
H.R. 6355, the "Air Service Improvement Act of 2008," requires air carriers and large and medium hub airports to file emergency contingency plans with the Secretary of Transportation for her review and approval. The Secretary may establish minimum standards for plans and require airlines to modify the plans they submit. These plans must detail how the air carrier will provide food, water, restroom facilities, ventilation, and necessary medical treatment for passengers on board an aircraft that is on the ground for an extended time period without terminal access. The Coalition had fought hard for plans that required Transportation Department approval, as opposed to the voluntary plans the DOT, favored.
Airlines that do not comply are subject to a $25,000 per day penalty. The Bill will also establish an Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection.
The Coalition strongly urges everyone to contact his/her representative in Congress and insist that they co-sponsor H.R. 6355 to end the repeated incidents of passengers being held aboard airliners for prolonged periods without adequate food, water, ventilation and sanitary facilities.
The Coalition has 23,100 people and claims successes as the New York Passengers' Bill of Rights, 2 DOT Rulemakings; one doubled compensation for Denied Boarding and the correct reporting of Diversions and Cancellations when "Stranded" on the Tarmac.
Comments
The Coalition for Air Passengers' Rights Etc must be congratulated for having taken their grievances to this level at this point of time. It is sad that the the existence of the Coalition is not known around the world. Every country must form such an NGO to twist the Airlines who seem to take too many things for granted.
The latest laugh was that the Pilot and Co Pilot of an Air India flight supposed to land in Bombay overflew towards Goa until Ground Control woke them up because they had not landed and were on their way to Kingdom come.
The next battle - I call it battle because it could be a tough one - is to see that Airlines publish their full costs for a ticket instead of adding bits and pieces of charges from Fuel, Luggage; Seat Priority, Baby seat; Toilet; Toilet Paper; Toilet Flush; etc.etc until one is in a daze trying to decipher what it is going to cost one to travel from point A to point B. Airlines are cunningly ripping the traveling public with these miscellaneous charges and it is most certainly opportune now for the Governments and NGOs to address this issue seriously in the interests of the guillable public.
"Bumping" passengers with confirmed tickets by many airlines has now come to a more manageable matter with the EC in Europe having brought in strict Rules and Fines in this regard and other countries taking similar measures on Airlines famous for 'bumping' passengers without a thought for the traumma that the bumped passengers go through.
Good Luck to you all in the Coalition
INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE ALLIANCE - TOURISM Networking (TICA)
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