The JetBlue story was awful. Links on this here, here, and here.
Making it worse, one media outlet is asking for horror stories. It intrigued us no end that it was the only airline with this trouble. Of course there were other airlines involved as well.

Delta also seems to have turned customers into hostages. Another take on this is here. But what of the others? No stories? American recently had a plane stuck in Austin for hours as we recall. But there th pilot was a smart fellow and pushed on to a gate. Remember the stories about the United 747 taxiing around JFK years ago? The passengers used cell phones to call the media. When United started getting media calls about an on board riot in the making, the airline brought the plane to a gate.

Everyone understands that weather causes trouble. But airlines (other flights must have been similarly affected) are making really bad choices. As much as the industry hates the idea of a passenger bill of rights, it will happen. Turning paying customers into hostages is downright stupid. Remember, the airline business is first and foremost a service industry. True, not much service is left. But when you pay the retail fare you are entitled to be treated with some humanity. Keeping people stuck on planes like this is breaking some law. If not a written one, then certainly the law of common courtesy.

A passenger bill of rights might help remind airlines that even if they are stuck operationally, without their customers they have squat. Move the plane back to a gate (any gate) and let the people off. Hopefully this passenger bill of rights will include refunds when these long delays happen. Such a cost will make airlines loath to risk the cost of interminable delays. Better not to board when you know there will be hours of weather to contend with.

The JetBlue story was awful. Links on this here, here, and here.
Making it worse, one media outlet is asking for horror stories. It intrigued us no end that it was the only airline with this trouble. Of course there were other airlines involved as well.

Delta also seems to have turned customers into hostages. Another take on this is here. But what of the others? No stories? American recently had a plane stuck in Austin for hours as we recall. But there th pilot was a smart fellow and pushed on to a gate. Remember the stories about the United 747 taxiing around JFK years ago? The passengers used cell phones to call the media. When United started getting media calls about an on board riot in the making, the airline brought the plane to a gate.

Everyone understands that weather causes trouble. But airlines (other flights must have been similarly affected) are making really bad choices. As much as the industry hates the idea of a passenger bill of rights, it will happen. Turning paying customers into hostages is downright stupid. Remember, the airline business is first and foremost a service industry. True, not much service is left. But when you pay the retail fare you are entitled to be treated with some humanity. Keeping people stuck on planes like this is breaking some law. If not a written one, then certainly the law of common courtesy.

A passenger bill of rights might help remind airlines that even if they are stuck operationally, without their customers they have squat. Move the plane back to a gate (any gate) and let the people off. Hopefully this passenger bill of rights will include refunds when these long delays happen. Such a cost will make airlines loath to risk the cost of interminable delays. Better not to board when you know there will be hours of weather to contend with.