Air Passengers' Rights Returns to Congress

(CBS)  An investigation into the airline industry found that since January 2007 nearly 200,000 domestic passengers on 3,000 flights have waited for more than three hours to take off or taxi to a gate, according to a USA Today report released Tuesday

A so-called Passengers' Bill of Rights working its way through Congress would require airlines to allow passengers to get off planes that have been sitting on the tarmac for three hours or more. The proposal is attached to a bill reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration. The Senate's Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation recently passed the bill.

CBS News Transportation Correspondent Nancy Cordes reported on CBS' "The Early Show" that the bill is unlikely to clear legislative hurdles anytime soon with the Congress focused right now on President Obama's health-care plan. But that doesn't mean the idea is without support.

"This is a common sense law," California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, a member of the committee that approved the proposal, told Cordes. "It's easy for them to comply with."

Some airlines argue most passengers don't want to get off because they hope to eventually continue to their destination. If the plane goes back to the gate for even one passenger, it slides to the back of the takeoff line for everyone else.

"It means that you have a high likelihood of the flight being cancelled," James May, president and CEO of the Air Transport Association of America, told Cordes.

According to the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the number of planes delayed for more than three hours at takeoff has actually declined since 2007.
By CBS News Transportation Correspondent Nancy Cordes

[mary-miami]

Any law that gives rights to citizens, should be welcomed. People should have the option (after three hours) to get off an airplane that's just sitting on the tarmac. If they want to get on another flight or the same one, then they could go through security again if need be, but at least they won't be annoyed.

[vielmann]

I totally agree. If you have been delayed 3 hours on the tarmac, and you have connecting flight, then you probably will not make it, and the stinking airlines (hello American Airlines) will not be very helpful if at all. So at least give the people some dignity and let them off the stinkin flight. After 9/11 the airline industry has become an evil institution.

[jmcalli]

"Some airlines argue most passengers don't want to get off because they hope to eventually continue to their destination."

Well, of course they do - that's why the passengers got on the plane in the first place! But as a delay increases, the likelihood of reaching their destination diminishes. My flight was delayed 3 hours, I missed my international connection. Had to find a hotel and waited two days for the next flight. United claimed no fault of theirs.

[afmcalax]

I was in New York recently where my flight to Barcelona was on the tarmac for 6 hours. If they would have gone back to the terminal the flight would have been cancelled and my family would have missed our connecting cruise. My biggest complaint was the lack of hydration as the flight attendents did not give out any liquid refreshment until about 5 hours into the delay and then it was 1/3 a cup of water. If they would have had some stale bread the picture would have been complete. Common sense by the airline would have allowed the crew to dispense refreshments at no cost for the delay; but again the airline execs show little of that these days.