The Worm Is turning
In America at Least
After being stuck in a plane on the tarmac for nine hours in 2006, Kate Hanni decided to fight back against poor customer service. She formed the group Flyerrights.org, which in December was successful in getting the DOT to issue a rule on “enhancing airline passenger protections” that includes limiting airlines to three hours on the tarmac before requiring that the aircraft allow passengers to disembark and requiring airlines to provide adequate food and water to passengers within two hours of them being stuck in a plane. A DOT spokeswoman says the rule will become effective on April 29, after the department reviews requests from certain carriers who have asked for temporary exemptions.