Comments on: Parade.com/planes

By: Karen Johnson

Karen Johnson — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:55:32 +0000

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?

By: carol elliot

carol elliot — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:57:23 +0000

I tried to vote 2 or 3 times but couldn’t WHY! What is wrong with this site??

By: carol elliot

carol elliot — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:55:55 +0000

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.!!

By: Paula Caswell

Paula Caswell — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:24:08 +0000

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………………………..

By: Judy Haack

Judy Haack — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:04:23 +0000

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.

By: Art Ford

Art Ford — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:30:27 +0000

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.

By: Pam Zuccarini

Pam Zuccarini — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:33:15 +0000

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.

By: Lynda

Lynda — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:39:07 +0000

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.

By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:39:39 +0000

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.

By: Elizabeth Davis

Elizabeth Davis — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:32:04 +0000

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.

By: Elizabeth Davis

Elizabeth Davis — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:24:49 +0000

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.

By: Evelyn Hampton

Evelyn Hampton — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:50:26 +0000

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.

By: Carole Christle

Carole Christle — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 02:49:23 +0000

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.

By: JOEL

JOEL — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:44:18 +0000

I WAS UNABLE TO VOTE, BUT I WANT OFF A PLANE DELAYED MORE THE 30 MIN.
PASS A LAW PROTECTING MY RIGHTS

By: Nancy Brown

Nancy Brown — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:17:46 +0000

Guess it takes a pretty long time to get a response.

By: corkie murphy

corkie murphy — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:54:18 +0000

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?????????????

By: Patty Talbot

Patty Talbot — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:44:42 +0000

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?

By: l cole

l cole — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:30:25 +0000

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.

By: Nancy Brown

Nancy Brown — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:15:32 +0000

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?

By: Rosemarie M. Deitz

Rosemarie M. Deitz — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:48:33 +0000

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.

By: R. Hogan

R. Hogan — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:31:50 +0000

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.

By: Don Sison

Don Sison — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:17:59 +0000

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.

By: John Petersen

John Petersen — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:02:33 +0000

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.

By: Richard Beck

Richard Beck — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:26:36 +0000

Even 2 hours is too long!

By: John Petersen

John Petersen — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:14:30 +0000

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.

By: Chester Kuzawski

Chester Kuzawski — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:59:26 +0000

Yes. Pass a law.

By: Chester Kuzawski

Chester Kuzawski — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:56:46 +0000

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.

By: Louise M. Mancinelli

Louise M. Mancinelli — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:29:13 +0000

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.

By: Patricia Nicholson

Patricia Nicholson — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:25:09 +0000

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.

By: Jim Runsvold

Jim Runsvold — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:08:49 +0000

I vote “yes”