Will Urge Congress To Enact Aviation Policy Reform

Imagine you're a passenger trapped onboard a commercial airliner, stuck for several hours on a desolate ramp somewhere south of Nowhere due to weather stubbornly clinging over DFW or JFK. You're tired, you're hungry, you're number 14 in line for the lav... and you're more than a little irate.

Think it could be any worse? Now imagine you're one of the flight attendants onboard that plane, tasked with overseeing a cabin full of angry passengers, who view you as the most recognizable symbol of the nefarious airline that, in their minds, stuck them there. (Also keep in mind that airline probably doesn't pay you all that well, either.)

This likely explains why the world's largest flight attendant union, AFA-CWA International, has joined forces with the Coalition for an Airline Passengers Bill of Rights (CAPBOR), to urge Congress to address serious flaws in current aviation policy regarding flight delays, and airliners stuck on the ramp.

"Passengers and flight attendants are continually frustrated at airline management’s inability to handle long ground delays and are therefore urging Congress to pass the Passenger Bill of Rights," said Kate Hanni, CAPBOR President. "Airlines have repeatedly failed to provide Congress with any sort of deplanement plan, despite a call from several prominent leaders. This arrogant attempt to circumvent Congressional requests is just another example of how airlines continue to leave passenger rights on the ground."

AFA-CWA International President Patricia Friend said flight attendants want a Passenger's Bill of Rights that has some teeth... or else, it's just words.

"A Passenger Bill of Rights will be an empty promise until Congress enacts serious aviation policy reforms such as substantial investments to update and upgrade our air traffic control system; increases in funding for Airport Improvement Projects (AIPs); a carry-on baggage policy that applies to every airline and every flight; ensuring Essential Air Service (EAS) to small communities; improving cabin air quality for crewmembers and passengers; and providing a safe working environment on board aircraft for flight attendants," said Friend.

As ANN reported earlier this week, the AFA-CWA took United Airlines to task for that carrier's implementation of a new policy to handle ground delays, naming extraordinary delays, "flights of note." Passengers on those flights suffering over four hours of delay on taxi-out, 90 minutes on taxi-in or on ground diversion delays of over four hours will be eligible for 20% off their next round trip ticket on United and a $10 meal voucher.

Hanni and Friend each took issue with United's new policy, starting with the term used to describe problem flights.

"To trivialize both the passengers and the crew on flights held up to 11 hours in deplorable conditions, by calling these horrific flights 'flights of note', is absurd," Hanni said. "Management took 'flights of notoriety' and minimized them as 'flights of note' and it struck the wrong chord!"

"For far too long airline executives have dictated federal aviation policy resulting in passengers and aviation employees having to take a back seat," added Friend. "Congress and consumers may want a Passenger Bill of Rights, but management has to ultimately enforce the law and airline executives have historically shown that customer service is a convenience for them if it does not impact the bottom line. A Passenger Bill of Rights may set high expectations for passengers and when airline management drops the ball, flight attendants will bear the burden."

FMI: www.flyersrights.com, www.afanet.org