Parade.com/planes – Parade Magazine offers readers a chance to vote on whether airlines should be required to allow passengers to leave an aircraft during a long delay.
Parade.com/planes has already received an overwhelming response in favor of requiring airlines to allow passengers to exit an aircraft if a delay on the runway exceeds 3 hours.
Though enacting a “passengers bill of rights” is not new, the results at parade.com/planes show growing momentum after passengers on a flight from Houston to Minneapolis were trapped for 9 hours on a commuter plane.
A passengers bill of rights would require airlines to to provide necessary services like enough food, water, and sanitary restroom conditions. The passengers bill of rights would also require airlines to allow passengers to exit the aircraft if the delay is 3 hours or more.
The airline industry and some passenger groups are against enacting these rules saying that when an aircraft is forced to return to the terminal, the flights are usually cancelled, making matters worse for passengers.
What do you think about a passengers bill of rights – cast your vote at parade.com/planes.
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September 27th, 2009 at 9:40 am
My yes vote will not register…but I can become claustrophobic easily when held in confinement. Flying doesn’t bother me, but knowing the airlines can hold us hostage for hours and hours keeps me from flying more.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:30 am
In my opinion since you are supposed to be there two hours early and the plane is delayed for 1hour or more then you should be reimbursed for every hour after 1 hour. This kind of delay has already taken up three hours of your day and you should receive compensation for your time. Of course if the airport is at fault for the delay or just as much at fault then they both should do the compensation.
These big companies thses days tend to forget it is the customer that pays the bills and the workers that have to deal with the customers that keep things going not the execs.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:31 am
3 hours is still too long, 2 hours would be more like it.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:32 am
why 3 hours, it is too long 2 hours would be much better.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:35 am
I just read about voting (Sunday morning) and feel strongly against airlines holding passengers captive. I am on the West Coast and I tried to vote but apparently you need no more voters. This is very frustrating to say the least. Are you not interested in the “rest of the country”?
September 27th, 2009 at 10:39 am
I am unilaterally against any citizen being held hostage by an airline. I don’t know the exact moment when a flight delayed on the runway becomes a hostage situation, but there is no way nine hours of having your rights curbed is okay. Airlines should definitely be required to let people deplane in a timely manor if a flight is delayed on the runway.
September 27th, 2009 at 11:07 am
“I’m stuck for 10 minutes, I want off”
September 27th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I vote “yes”
September 27th, 2009 at 11:25 am
My YES vote for allowing passengers to leave a plane that is delayed for more than 2 hours is a strong vote, but will not register at your site.
September 27th, 2009 at 11:29 am
My vote to allow passengers to leave an aircraft if the delay is 3 hrs or more would not be accepted. Passengers have a right to be treated as human beings and afforded the necessities that are rightfully theirs, ie., food, water, bathrooms, comfort.
September 27th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Let Congress sit in an isolated situation for over three hours (and that’s a long time) without necessities and they’ll pass a law immediately.
September 27th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Yes. Pass a law.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Absolutely – YES! Airport ground control personnel should not permit planes to leave their terminal loading gate until their take-off can be reasonably assured within – say – 15 to 30 minutes.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Even 2 hours is too long!
September 27th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Absolutely – YES! Airport ground control personnel should not permit planes to leave their terminal loading gate until their take-off can be reasonably assured within – say – 15 to 30 minutes.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Was unable to vote “yes” or otherwise.
I’m all for allowing passengers get off plane if delay more than two hours. Three hours? If there are children aboard, this would be a hard task to keep them “in line”after two hours.
Where is this “customer satisfaction” the airlines are supposedly provided?
The airlines set the ticket and other cost prices and should PROVIDE the services as well.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
My vote will not register, but YES is my answer. I resent the fact that we have to worry about the terrorists and the air lines holding us hostage. Create a gate that the plane can go back to that is to be used ONLY for that purpose.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
I haven’t flown for more than 7yrs. I am also claustrophobic, and badly, if I had ever been locked on a plane for even 1 hr. I would have had a panic attack, and it wouldn’t be pretty. I’m VERY claustrophobic, and that law should be a no brainer.
September 27th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Why should passengers be forced to wait more than an hour or so? I’ve never understood what’s keeping the airlines from bussing passengers back to the terminal. Are they afraid they’ll escape?
September 27th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
After a one hour delay steps should be taken to disembark passengers. There has to be another way other than returning the plane to the terminal. I have been on flights that had us disembark on to buses to take us to the terminal.
Any other situation where people are held against there will would be considered criminal.
September 27th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Why is this phrased “allow” passengers? Last thing I knew, if I am over 21 I’m ALLOWED to do pretty much. The prices to travel should allow me to make a choice. I feel that if I choose to disembark, I should receive a voucher for another ticket-and possibly a motel.Overflowing bathrooms? Are you kidding? America or Guantomano?
September 27th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Airlines should not be allowed to hold passengers captive! ! ! ! !It should be considered ……kidnapping…….
I couldn’t believe what happened……..Where is logic & common sense?????????????
September 27th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Guess it takes a pretty long time to get a response.
September 27th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
I WAS UNABLE TO VOTE, BUT I WANT OFF A PLANE DELAYED MORE THE 30 MIN.
PASS A LAW PROTECTING MY RIGHTS
September 27th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Absolutely, three hours maximum…the airline should know by then what the problem is. The passengers should be allowed to deplane as soon as the airlines determines the problem and estimates the amount of time to resolve the problem but allow passengers to deplane in three hours no matter what. They are already going to be late but hopefully will arrive at their destination healthy.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Yes, I think passengers should be able to disembark in no more than one hour. It is too confining and very miserable to stay in one place and not be able to move or stretch.
If the plane is having problems, the passengers should be able to leave diembark and board another plane to take them to their destination, unless it is for reasons that someone has gotten sick and had to get off. At no time, should passengers be kept hostage.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
I am asthmatic and need a cane or wheelchair to get around. I no longer fly because of the problem of long delays trapped on a plane with no food or water, bathrooms overflowing, no fresh air.
I agree it is kidnapping, holding hostages and should have been banned long ago. The airlines need to face up to their legal duties to passengers.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I am asthmatic and crippled, need a cane or wheelchair to get around. I no longer fly because of the problem of long delays trapped on a plane with no food or water, bathrooms overflowing, no fresh air.
Why would it be worse if the flight were cancelled?
There are always other flights. Better to be able to move around, get fresh water and food , breath fresh air, use a clean bathroom!
I agree it is kidnapping, holding hostages, and should have been banned long ago. The airlines need to face up to their legal duties to passengers.
September 28th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
YES It happened to me in Dallas-Fort Worth several years ago because of a storm in the distance. We could have walked to the gate from where the plane was stoped. We were that close. What made it even worse is that they showed The Three Stooges and re-runs of the Jackie Gleason show for almost 3 hours. I was ready to just open the door and jump out! Plus I have a bad knee. The airlines already have their money so what do they care! Oh and my vote wouldn’t register either.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:39 am
Just came back from our first Family Weekend at my son’s college–a mere 1 1/4 hour plane ride to Newark Airport which is 20 minutes from our home. Our flight was delayed THREE HOURS. We were first told because of weather in Newark. We were then told larger planes–of which few fly from that are to Newark–were given priority. We always try to fly Continental in/out of Newark as well. Mercifully, we were allowed to wait in the airport and only boarded just prior to “wheels up.” I thought this was a PERFECT compromise to waiting on the runway. We just loaded, taxied out and took off–of course doing so AFTER our flight was supposed to have already landed back in Newark. Because of this I am now: researching larger planed for my son and us to travel on to and from his college and looking into NON-NY/NJ airports. To turn a quick flight to see my son into a 6 hour process is insane.
September 29th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Yes! As a diabetic I cannot be trapped on a plane for an extended time. I must have access to food & meds.
The airlines don”t want to jeopardize their “on time departure” record. Instead, they gamble with their passengers health and lives.
Better flights be cancelled than people are subjected to the very real possibality of dying.
September 30th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Two hours is long enough! Take us to another airline’s gate if needed. If the flight is cancelled that is OK! More than two hours on the tarmac is false imprisonment, physical torture, and hygenically unsafe to passengers and crew.
October 1st, 2009 at 8:04 am
Not allowing passengers to leave a plane for more than two hours is akin to kidnapping or holding them hostage. Clearly they want to leave, but the airlilne holds them hostage in the plane because it is beneficial to the airline to do so. I cannot think of another business that can get away with keeping the customer locked up against his/her will. I can’t think of any circumstance in a free country where people can be held against their will by any business or other organization that simply does it to facilitate their own convenience or bottom line. People should be able to leave if they are willing to have the flight cancelled. Often they can drive, take a bus or train, or find another flight in less time than is spent sitting on the tarmac. They may prefer to cancel their plans entirely. No matter what, the passenger should be able to choose just as they chose to fly in the first place. I think the airlines are breaking the law when they keep people kidnapped in a plane going no where.
October 4th, 2009 at 8:24 am
I have often thought when I hear of these waits on a runway, how very lucky they (the airlines or FTA , or whoever votes on thes rules)have been not to have someone on that flight just go off the deep end……………I say Thank God no one is allowed to have a gun, because after 9 HOURS….bathrooms un-usable, crying chirldren, no food, little water, cramped seating, what would common sense tell you??? A bad situation waiting to happen………………………..
November 10th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
I tried 2 to 3 times to vote but could not get it to work. What kind of site is this??? I thought Parade would be better than this.!!
November 10th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
I tried to vote 2 or 3 times but couldn’t WHY! What is wrong with this site??
December 9th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
I have a medical condition–heart and low blood sugar–and need food every 3-4 hours and water much more often. I would die if I couldn’t get what I need when I need it. How can those in charge of these delays be so insensitive?