Trapped on a Plane? Court Says Deal With It
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Trapped on a Plane? Court Says Deal With It
Saw this article today and thought I might share to ask for opinions.
From the Land of the Free and the high priced lawyer...
From the Land of the Free and the high priced lawyer...
Trapped on a Plane? Court Says Deal With It
Passengers Rights Groups Upset Over Dismissed Lawsuit Following 9 1/2 Hour Delay
By ALEXANDRA MARKS
April 11, 2009
A court has thrown out a lawsuit brought against American Airlines by a woman who was stranded for 9-1/2 hours on the tarmac in Austin, Texas, in 2006.
In dismissing the case, US District Judge Robert Dawson said airlines are not legally bound to provide a "stress-free environment" when such a delay occurs.
But Catherine Ray, who brought the lawsuit that charged false imprisonment, isn't giving up the fight. She's filing a motion for the judge to reconsider the case, and if that fails, she plans to appeal.
"It's just unjust -- the thought that an airline can do that to a person and get away with it," says the Fayetteville, Ark., woman.
Weather delays were behind the 2006 incident, and a number of other planes were stranded for eight hours or more. Two other lawsuits stemming from those delays are pending -- one in California and one in Alabama.
In part because of the 2006 strandings, consumer groups have been pushing for federal legislation that outlines passengers' rights during lengthy tarmac delays. The dismissal of Ms. Ray's lawsuit makes it even more important for Congress to act, the consumer groups say.
"The bottom line is that if passengers can't get relief from the courts, we have to have Congress step in," says Kate Hanni, founder of FlyersRights.org. She brought the lawsuit that is pending in California.
In part because of the 2006 strandings, consumer groups have been pushing for federal legislation that outlines passengers' rights during lengthy tarmac delays. The dismissal of Ms. Ray's lawsuit makes it even more important for Congress to act, the consumer groups say.
"The bottom line is that if passengers can't get relief from the courts, we have to have Congress step in," says Kate Hanni, founder of FlyersRights.org. She brought the lawsuit that is pending in California.
One of the bills pending in Congress would require airlines to let passengers off the plane after a three-hour tarmac delay. But the airlines and some airline analysts say such a requirement could cause even more passenger inconvenience by increasing the number of cancellations and creating even longer delays. That's because once a plane goes back to the gate, it loses its place in the line for takeoffs.
Ms. Hanni and others believe this can be remedied if the airlines provide buses to passengers stranded on the tarmac. That way, they could get off without the aircraft losing its place in line.
"We're working with Congress on a compromise," she says.
ABC News America
This comes off the back a bill defending passengers' right was defeated after thousands of passengers were stranded aboard airplanes for up to 10 hours on several JetBlue Airways flights at Kennedy International Airport on Valentine's Day last year. They complained they were deprived of food and water and that toilets overflowed. A month later, hundreds more passengers of other airlines were stranded aboard planes at JFK after a daylong ice storm.
JetBlue is a budget airline after all, I'm sure something would've been done by the girls with the limited catering they had.
Any thoughts?
Fuel-Off...
JetBlue is a budget airline after all, I'm sure something would've been done by the girls with the limited catering they had.
Any thoughts?
Fuel-Off...
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seems a bit excessive to be trapped on an aircraft for 9.5 hours away from the gate - considering they must have had to refuel back at the gate at some point?
Sometimes there just aren't any available gates to return to the terminal, and trapped or not, crews are not allowed to offload passengers out onto the ramp away from the terminal.
Sometimes there just aren't any available gates to return to the terminal, and trapped or not, crews are not allowed to offload passengers out onto the ramp away from the terminal.
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Sort of sticking my head out here, but surely severe weather does not come as a surprise in the States, nor does the fact that it produces delays and other problems.
With that in mind, wouldn't you as a passenger consider flying on a different day or if that's too inconvenient of an option, making sure you are carrying plenty of food and water (ok, this might get you collared), and a good selection of books?
With that in mind, wouldn't you as a passenger consider flying on a different day or if that's too inconvenient of an option, making sure you are carrying plenty of food and water (ok, this might get you collared), and a good selection of books?
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9.5 hours/No Way Out
Let's be clear guys.
1) 9.5 hours on the tarmac, after 4.5 hours of flight in an MD-80
2) No servicing of toilets, no food or potable water
3) One small van came to the plane, held 7 people, only folks that lived in Austin were allowed off
4) Weather did not close Austin, planes were arriving and departing as scheduled
5) We were at a diversion airport that receives 100's of diverted flights annually, no plan for how to handle a long on ground delay was ever discussed with pilots or crew. No training.
6) They were severaly understaffed in Austin
7) Pete, the Ramp Manager said that they knew from the time we landed (orders from DFW) that NO PLANES WOULD BE ALLOWED TO GO TO GATES.
8) No one asked that a restaurant even stay open, so after 13.5 hours on this aircraft we still had no access to food or drinks.
9) One of the pilots declared to his co-pilot he was too fatigued to fly, but continued to tell the passengers that they were going to DFW (In spite of the closure at DFW).
10) There were 3 common use gates available that day in Austin, but were never used. Even Jet Blue offered Gate 19 to the Station Manager Al Tinsley...but Al disappeared after telling them NO planes will come in to gates.
Now we have 88 AA attorneys against our 2.
So tell me how it is we could have planned better for this event? How in December of 2006 my family might have known that we should take a 5 gallon backpack water jug and food for an army to avert this type of situation?
Or tell me how rare it is? We keep statistics, it's not nearly as rare as the DOT/BTS reports.
There were pilots riding dead head that day that told the pilots flying the aircraft that they'd better take the planes in to a gate regardless of AA's threats.
Kate Hanni
FlyersRights.org
1) 9.5 hours on the tarmac, after 4.5 hours of flight in an MD-80
2) No servicing of toilets, no food or potable water
3) One small van came to the plane, held 7 people, only folks that lived in Austin were allowed off
4) Weather did not close Austin, planes were arriving and departing as scheduled
5) We were at a diversion airport that receives 100's of diverted flights annually, no plan for how to handle a long on ground delay was ever discussed with pilots or crew. No training.
6) They were severaly understaffed in Austin
7) Pete, the Ramp Manager said that they knew from the time we landed (orders from DFW) that NO PLANES WOULD BE ALLOWED TO GO TO GATES.
8) No one asked that a restaurant even stay open, so after 13.5 hours on this aircraft we still had no access to food or drinks.
9) One of the pilots declared to his co-pilot he was too fatigued to fly, but continued to tell the passengers that they were going to DFW (In spite of the closure at DFW).
10) There were 3 common use gates available that day in Austin, but were never used. Even Jet Blue offered Gate 19 to the Station Manager Al Tinsley...but Al disappeared after telling them NO planes will come in to gates.
Now we have 88 AA attorneys against our 2.
So tell me how it is we could have planned better for this event? How in December of 2006 my family might have known that we should take a 5 gallon backpack water jug and food for an army to avert this type of situation?
Or tell me how rare it is? We keep statistics, it's not nearly as rare as the DOT/BTS reports.
There were pilots riding dead head that day that told the pilots flying the aircraft that they'd better take the planes in to a gate regardless of AA's threats.
Kate Hanni
FlyersRights.org
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There used to be a time when Captains had full authority to use their common sense for the common good of their passengers. Now you have managements with bean counter mentalities calling the shots and this is the result.
Through no fault of your own you can be put in an invidious position. Obey the company and further the distress of your passengers or lose your job if you don’t.
Fortunately this is pretty much another “only in America” situation. There are some long delays in Europe but I have never experienced a 9 + hour delay on the tarmac and I never will, unless I physically can't get back to the gate.
Through no fault of your own you can be put in an invidious position. Obey the company and further the distress of your passengers or lose your job if you don’t.
Fortunately this is pretty much another “only in America” situation. There are some long delays in Europe but I have never experienced a 9 + hour delay on the tarmac and I never will, unless I physically can't get back to the gate.
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Alright.. I had to face a similar situation..
Booked a Flight on United from KLAS to KSFO last december.
reached airport ontime but only to find out ALL FLIGHTS WERE CANCELLED !
There was a Snow Storm in Vegas !
No Deicing equipment available !
Was stranded at the airport for the whole night !
Next morning was able to put myself after a lot of agony on a Southwest flight to KOAK. There were no seats available on any plane to any where in USA till that evening !
Boarded the 737 at 7:00am. Middle seat ! The Acft Did not push from the gate until 8:00am. But after pushing back the plane remained stationary in the same place for another 45mins. Until then there was no info from the flight deck. And suddenly, the P1 spoke up saying we had to deice the aircraft before departure (that was obvious because the wing was probably not recognisable under the carpet of ice) .. But the shocking info he gave was we were NO 14 INLINE FOR DE ICING !
Expected delay 2 hours !
As the P1 kept informing us about the status of the line we were in at about 1.5 hours passed the first announcement. Few pax became completely restless and they wanted to leave the plane ! But the capt came running to them to let them know that if we go back to the gate we will loose our sequence ! But they were adamant ! and were left with little choice but to go back to the gate !
As a result we were No:13 Once again from being No:4 in sequence!!
We finally departed at 13:00 hrs ! 6 hours on the tarmac !
All I cud do is pity the captain !
Well had I been the P1 and had it been on myside of the planet ! I wud have kicked the pax butt and ask them remain seated !
Booked a Flight on United from KLAS to KSFO last december.
reached airport ontime but only to find out ALL FLIGHTS WERE CANCELLED !
There was a Snow Storm in Vegas !
No Deicing equipment available !
Was stranded at the airport for the whole night !
Next morning was able to put myself after a lot of agony on a Southwest flight to KOAK. There were no seats available on any plane to any where in USA till that evening !
Boarded the 737 at 7:00am. Middle seat ! The Acft Did not push from the gate until 8:00am. But after pushing back the plane remained stationary in the same place for another 45mins. Until then there was no info from the flight deck. And suddenly, the P1 spoke up saying we had to deice the aircraft before departure (that was obvious because the wing was probably not recognisable under the carpet of ice) .. But the shocking info he gave was we were NO 14 INLINE FOR DE ICING !
Expected delay 2 hours !As the P1 kept informing us about the status of the line we were in at about 1.5 hours passed the first announcement. Few pax became completely restless and they wanted to leave the plane ! But the capt came running to them to let them know that if we go back to the gate we will loose our sequence ! But they were adamant ! and were left with little choice but to go back to the gate !
As a result we were No:13 Once again from being No:4 in sequence!!
We finally departed at 13:00 hrs ! 6 hours on the tarmac !
All I cud do is pity the captain !
Well had I been the P1 and had it been on myside of the planet ! I wud have kicked the pax butt and ask them remain seated !
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Easier said than done in the US, Jet Air. In India, Captain can offload a passenger and not much will be said about it. In the US, CPs will more-or-less go after that Captain. Of course, the union will protect the Captain in the end but it will be a lot of heartache and free-time spent in hearings and writing reports for said Captain.
The public gets what the public wants. Suing pilots and airlines for delays, as seems to be the trend these days, forces pilots to get less and less motivated at work. Not much can be done about it, unfortunately.
The public gets what the public wants. Suing pilots and airlines for delays, as seems to be the trend these days, forces pilots to get less and less motivated at work. Not much can be done about it, unfortunately.
