DandyDon:
It's really a little soft for me. Establsih procedures is not as strong as I'd like, and Provide for the essential needs for waits of over 3 hours still allows for that possibility.
Yeah, these are minimum standards to me.
But, Don, you've hit exactly on one of the biggest points that I've been making. Such an effort, while giving every appearance of being noble and reasonable, will do nothing to actually solve the problems.
If you read the proposed list of "actions", you'll see that virtually every one of them is already in place, and has been for quite some time.
Phrases like "establish procedures" mean nothing, and are satisfied with a piece of paper in a binder that lists what people are
supposed to do. Whether or not they are actually done, another story.
Likewise, each airline can come up with their own "established procedures", but if they become unimplementable because they conflict with another airlines procedures or an airports procedures, or a unions procedures, who's to blame?
And, a panel of non-airline executives and employees? So, because someone flies on a plane, they are expert and qualified in addressing the issues involved in such a trivial process like moving millions of people safely and efficiently around the world? Hmmm. You don't suppose the politicians would stoop so low as to appoint "consumers" to this panel as a pat on the back for their staunch support during the last campaign, do you?
There were over 5700 complaints filed just on the 20 largest carriers in the US last year alone. Where would the funds come from to organize, empower, and compensate the people who would formally review each of these complaints? What resources would they need? What happens after they formally review them? How would they enforce their findings? Who would follow up? Is there an appeal process?
[Oh, as an interesting aside, to put this whole issue of the need to protect the poor airline passenger, in 2006 there was less than 1 complaint per 100,000 emplanements (passenger trip on a non-stop segment) against the 20 largest carriers. Less than 1 out of every 100,000 people were bothered by something enough to even formally complain. In 2006, out of 663,125,346 emplanements, there were only 475 formal complaints about DELAYS!!! Read that again, 475 formal complaints out of 663,125,346 emplanements. THIS is the pressing problem our lawmakers and consumer zealots are pushing to fix. Go figure.]
Would any of that have a price tag associated with it?
The goals are admirable, but I don't think that anyone could argue that passage of such a "bill" would eliminate problems and not turn into a boondoggle at taxpayer expense. They'll pass this, brush their hands together, cheer for themselves, move on to the next cause d'jour, but, as you surmised, business will continue as usual.
Fix the real problems, with real action. Petition waving, populist rights people are just after feel-good, on-to-the-next-one solutions to complex, serious issues. Nothing ever gets done.
