Topic: Government Regulation
I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane - Maybe Why the proposed Passenger's Bill of Rights is so wrong.by Raven West, J.D.
(libertarian)
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Many years ago flying was a luxury. Passengers wore suits and dressed for the occasion. Many bought matching luggage and flight attendants served actual meals. Delays happened, but they weren't the lead story on the 6'oclock news.
But today air travel has become as common as riding a bus and passengers expect the same service as they would have if they'd ridden a bus, and when unexpected circumstances causes a bit of inconvenience, the headlines scream: Twin Cities-bound passengers stranded on tarmac at JFK for 6 hours", and ""Nightmare as 47 Stuck on Tarmac 6 Hours".
Then the cry goes out from every idiot with a computer that "there has to be a law". The Government must do something to protect the "rights" of passengers who chose air travel to carry them from one destination to another. So, diligent members of Congress jump on their constituents band wagon and draft bills to appease the voters, in spite of the fact that these bills are completely useless.
As much as the crowds at the Democratic National Convention cheered Obama promised, among other things, to "stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, create high-wage, high-tech jobs, cut taxes, and make it easier for the American people to afford new cars", he never once promised clear blue skies every time you boarded a plane.
Congress has the power to do most anything, but neither they, no President Obama has the power to control barometric pressure, thunderstorms, tornadoes or hurricanes.
Weather happens.
Sure, they can make a law that no plane should be on the tarmac for more than three hours, but how is that ever going to be enforced? What if the weather clears in say, 3 hours and ten minutes? Do we make laws which force pilots to take off in unsafe conditions because some people are impatient and can't wait a few hours? If you think delays of a few hours are inconvenient now, wait until every plane is forced to return to the gate, disembark the passengers and their luggage, then re-plane once again. Those five hours could very well turn into a full days delay, not to mention the increased traffic on every other runway, and possibly every other airport as well.
There is much more to these stories then what is being reported from a ten minute sensational viewer grabbing, sound bite. Passengers complain they don't have enough water. Since the new "terrorist" laws were enacted, passengers are no longer allowed to bring water bottles with them onto the planes. Can't leave once you've been boarded? Well, you can't disembark without security presence. That's the laws which were put into place by Congress to combat terrorists, so we are now forced to put up with more inconveniences which results in more complaining.
When the delay is not weather related, most airlines will make some arrangements for their passengers, and most follow Rule 240. But when it rains, it sometimes pours, and when it snows, well it snows, and sometimes flocks of birds fly into jet engines. There are no guarantees when you board that flight, other than the ultimate guarantee that the pilot, first officer and flight crew will do everything humanly possible to make certain you arrive at your destination safely.
But for those who still think they need a passengers's bill of rights, here it is:
You have the right to take a bus, a train or a car to your destination.
You have the right to leave your 2 year old brat at home.
You have the right to check your luggage and not waste time cramming your oversize bag into the overheard compartment.
You have the right to keep your seatbelt on at all times so if there is an air bump you don't get conked on the head.
You have the right, if not common courtesy, once you land, to thank the flight crew for a safe arrival.
Many years ago flying was a luxury. Passengers wore suits and dressed for the occasion. Many bought matching luggage and flight attendants served actual meals. Delays happened, but they weren't the lead story on the 6'oclock news.
But today air travel has become as common as riding a bus and passengers expect the same service as they would have if they'd ridden a bus, and when unexpected circumstances causes a bit of inconvenience, the headlines scream: Twin Cities-bound passengers stranded on tarmac at JFK for 6 hours, and Nightmare as 47 Stuck on Tarmac 6 Hours.
Then the cry goes out from every idiot with a computer that "there has to be a law". The Government must do something to protect the "rights" of passengers who chose air travel to carry them from one destination to another. So, diligent members of Congress jump on their constituents band wagon and draft bills to appease the voters, in spite of the fact that these bills are completely useless.
As much as the crowds at the Democratic National Convention cheered Obama promised, among other things, to "stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, create high-wage, high-tech jobs, cut taxes, and make it easier for the American people to afford new cars", he never once promised clear blue skies every time you boarded a plane.
Congress has the power to do most anything, but neither they, no President Obama has the power to control barometric pressure, thunderstorms, tornadoes or hurricanes.
Weather happens.
Sure, they can make a law that no plane should be on the tarmac for more than three hours, but how is that ever going to be enforced? What if the weather clears in say, 3 hours and ten minutes? Do we make laws which force pilots to take off in unsafe conditions because some people are impatient and can't wait a few hours? If you think delays of a few hours are inconvenient now, wait until every plane is forced to return to the gate, disembark the passengers and their luggage, then re-plane once again. Those five hours could very well turn into a full days delay, not to mention the increased traffic on every other runway, and possibly every other airport as well.
There is much more to these stories then what is being reported from a ten minute sensational viewer grabbing, sound bite. Passengers complain they don't have enough water. Since the new "terrorist" laws were enacted, passengers are no longer allowed to bring water bottles with them onto the planes. Can't leave once you've been boarded? Well, you can't disembark without security presence. That's the laws which were put into place by Congress to combat terrorists, so we are now forced to put up with more inconveniences which results in more complaining.
When the delay is not weather related, most airlines will make some arrangements for their passengers, and most follow Rule 240. But when it rains, it sometimes pours, and when it snows, well it snows, and sometimes flocks of birds fly into jet engines. There are no guarantees when you board that flight, other than the ultimate guarantee that the Captain, First Officer and flight attendants will do everything humanly possible to make certain you arrive at your destination safely.
But for those who still think they need a passengers's bill of rights, here it is:
You have the right to take a bus, a train or a car to your destination. You have the right to leave your 2 year old brat at home. You have the right to check your luggage and not waste time cramming your oversize bag into the overheard compartment. You have the right to keep your seatbelt on at all times so if there is an air bump you don't get conked on the head. You have the right, if not common courtesy, once you land, to thank the flight crew for a safe arrival.
And if you don't like these "rights", then I suggest you take a bus.
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The views expressed in this
article are those of Raven West, J.D. only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Raven West, J.D. is
solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an
employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
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