Will a JetBlue Airways Passenger Bill of Rights reallly work? Will it stop a government mandiate on the issue. And will other airlines follow JetBlues lead?
Under JetBlue's Passenger Bill of Rights, passengers will:
receive a $25 flight voucher for flights that arrive half an hour to an hour late
receive a $100 voucher for flights one hour to two hours late
receive the value of the one-way ticket for two to three hours late
and the value of the round-trip ticket for flights that are four or more hours late.
All of these rules are only limited to problems that JetBlue can control. So if it's weather related, air traffic control related or something else that is not JetBlue's fault, it could mean nothing for you.
So will other airlines follow? And what about government intervention?
Some airlines may follow but it is not likely. Most airlines are worried they are going ot have to follow JetBlues lead on this one and say it could cost them way too much. And with the government breathing down their backs, it looks as if something is going to have to give. Congress says a Passenger Bill of Rights could come as early as next week.
Anti Governmental Imposed Passenger Bill of Rights: LA Times, Air Transportation Association
Pro Passenger Bill of Rights within Reason: Washington Post , TheAirlineHub.com
What about you? What's your opinion?
That's good stuff for delays, but the thing that I found/find the most distressing is being "held captive" on a plane going nowhere. Aside from the many issues I've already heard discussed, I know that if Steve and I had been on one of those flights, we would have been facing a major medical emergency. He takes medication that is in liquid form, so the majority of it has to be checked through. We bring enough on the plane for the flight. An extra ten hours on the plane with no medication could have been coma-inducing.
The missed plans and ruined vacations part sucks, but the potential medical problems really worry me.
Posted by: Chris | February 22, 2007 10:11 AM | Permalink to Comment