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Comments (15)
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Save/ShareThe Feds have counted up how many times airplanes have been stranded on the tarmacs of U.S. airports because of flight delays. The numbers ain't pretty.
In June alone, 462 flights taxied out and were stuck on tarmacs for three or more hours, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. That was roughly 6 percent of flights. (Update: When I posted this 2 hours ago, I wrote 16 percent. Whoops!)
And yesterday the Inspector General for the Department of Transportation issued this report about stranded flights (Warning: Link will open as an Adobe PDF).
The report found that many airlines lack system-wide policies about how to handle these delays, even though they happen hundreds of times a month.
Here's the money quotes from the report:
Of domestic flights arriving late in 2006, the average delay was a record-breaking 54 minutes....Based on the first 7 months of data, it is clear that 2007 could be even worse.
Update 9/27: Editor Erik Torkells calls for a 3-hour rule.
Elsewhere: Former airline analyst Jared Blank calls for a passenger revolt:
It's up to passengers stuck on the runway for hours to invoke their right to habeas corpus - either give me a legitimate reason why I'm stuck here, or let me off this plane. Ring the flight attendant button. Ask questions. Call the airline's headquarters and ask to speak to flight operations (they won't put you through, but they'll put you through to someone...and you'll make your point.) It's enough already. As I've said before: the fact that these companies think that keeping you in a cramped area (31" pitch, my ass) with screaming babies with no idea when you're leaving and no access to food is an acceptable way (let alone legally acceptable way) of treating people is the biggest issue. Enough is enough.
What do you think? Should the airlines be required by law to allow passengers to get off of a plane after a certain number of hours on the runway? Feel free to sound off below.
Earlier:
Video shot by a passenger of a 7-hour tarmac delay.
Our readers tell off the airlines.
A Southwest pilot blogs about long waits on the tarmac.
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Don't target the screaming babies - just because they're doing what you'd want to! As a parent, I used to fault other parents who'd drag therrir babies on flights at ridiculous hours. But you know what? it's become sooo difficult to even book flights, I can no longer fualt them. Fault the airlines, or even better, fault the government for spending more on tax credits and defense than on our civic infastructure!
Posted By Carrie on September 26, 2007, 6:58 PM
90 minutes to 120 minutes should be max. Each airline needs a dedicated gate for deplaning passengers after the established max time is exceeded on the tarmac, or all passengers receive at minimum a free round trip ticket to anywhere in the US.
Posted By Dennis Murray on October 1, 2007, 11:15 AM
Airlines should definitely let passengers off the plane if they are delayed more than a 1/2 hour. The lack of customer service/care is pathetic.
Posted By MKV on October 1, 2007, 11:22 AM
1 hour should be the max time to be stuck on the tarmac.
The airline should make sure that the passengers have priority on the next available flight even if it is on another airline. Transportation should be provided to the departure gate of the next airline. Baggage should get priority service. Lost bags should require the airline to pay a $500 per day fee to each passenger
Posted By Ned on October 1, 2007, 11:46 AM
Each hour, the flight attendants should be required to come by with a beverage service. After four hours, the passengers should be given a 3-course meal. Airlines should not be allowed to keep the Fasten Seat Belt sign on during this time. Once the toilets become unfunctunal, there should be no question that the passengers can get off the plane.
Posted By James Wallace on October 1, 2007, 11:53 AM
increasing delays are a symptom of market forces run amok - every airline wants to fly as many flights/day with full planes as they can. To do this thay had to move from fewer flights on widebodies to more/day on smaller planes. When there is ANY delay the capacity of the airport is exceeded. The solution- airports need to limit the number of flights/day to something less than 100% of capacity- (when weather is perfect etc) this will force airlines to add more larger planes to domestic routes
Posted By jasonmitchell on October 1, 2007, 12:01 PM
I really can't imagine why airlines are reluctant to make passengers as comfortable as possible during these delays. The bad press alone is a killer for the airline.
I also doubt that the crew is in decent shape after dealing with disgrumtled passengers or being cooped up in the cockpit.
I was once stalled in Phoenix for hours being lied to by ground staff, who in the end had to put us up in hotels anyway. Next morning they were begging to have us accept $$$, tickets and even trips out of the country.
What a waste. Then they blamed it on the airport's curfew.
Posted By Phyllis McDaniels on October 1, 2007, 12:32 PM
Passengers should be given the option to deplane if there is no reasonable expectation of take off say within an hour of the door closing and being pushed from the gate.
The airline personnel, pilots, cabin crew have to be there. We dont and should be allowed to make other plans. To expect any rational person to be literally incaretated on an airplane for 5, 6 or 7 hours waiting to take off is absurd. The government has to step in here. The airlines basically do whatever they want and if a passenger objects, the passenger is threatened with arrest by airmarshals. The flying public needs help
Posted By Jeff on October 1, 2007, 12:51 PM
Certainly, airlines should never keep a passenger on a plane longer than 3 hours. Even that is difficult if they don't have at the least, A/C or heat, water, working toilets. After 2.5 hours they should be sent back to unload passengers. Assuming they can do it in 30 minutes.
Posted By Nancy Harrison on October 1, 2007, 1:20 PM
I actually experienced this last week and it was pure HELL! I was stuck for 4 hours, from 12:30 pm until about 4:30 pm. I was only given water and had to ask for something to eat, which ended up being some pringles that I had to pay for! I was unable to eat lunch...the least they could've done was bring a truck out there with some ready-made meals!! They initially told us we would be brought to a gate to deplane if we were there more than 2 hours, but this never happened. We were eventually brought back to the airport and were re-booked (which was a mess) because "the brakes froze-up from us sitting too long" after 4 hours! Of course, when I made it home, my luggage was lost for a day. The whole situation was a nightmare!! All we were offered was a voucher for a meal worth $10 at the airport. I believe we should've at least gotten a free flight. There defititely needs to be a law made about these situations. They should've gotten us off at least after 2 hours! Something REALLY needs to be done about this!!!
Posted By Alicia on October 1, 2007, 3:02 PM
I understand no one wants to be stuck on a plane on the tarmac for hours, but truly how can airlines safely remove passengers...can you imagine the chaos with planes exiting the take off lines, turning around heading back to gates, buses on the tarmac to bus passengers back to the terminal...talking about delays it would days! Pizza delivery trucks, and what about those who don't eat pizza! I don't know, if you have answers call the airlines and offer you advise.
Posted By Paris on October 1, 2007, 3:23 PM
I was on flight from DCA (WASHINGTON NATIONAL) that missed its slot to take off because of waitng for transfers from incoming flight. When we pulled out we waited in the queue just over an hour. Both engines at idle, buring JET A at significant cost. Trip was link to west coast via Dallas. I presme we took off with required reserves.
My beef is that the same plane on ground power would burn diesel, not more expesive fuel, and much less to keep the plane cool. Next is that there are 2 many planes at DCA that are not paying passenger related.
Posted By duke on October 1, 2007, 4:58 PM
I was on a bus yesterday at Paris CDG to get from the terminal to board the plane. If they can do it to put us on a plane they can bus us off rather than keep passengers in this sort of purgatory.
Posted By Renee Tobin on October 1, 2007, 5:29 PM
I recently had this happen we had to sit for 45 minutes at the gate on the plane while the ground crew checked a fuel light that was stuck on. We were not served any food or beverage in coach but in first class they got hot towels, beverages and snacks all while the rest of us in coach just sat and watched thru the "curtain". I may not fly first class but I still pay hard earned money for tickets. We were still at the gate, the door open, I believe that all airlines should do their saftey and flight checks before boarding the passengers and once cleared and everything is okay then board the passengers then we would not have been cramped in a tight coach seat any longer than the 5 and half hours of our "actual" flight time. Shame on these airlines for treating us like cattle headed to the slaughter!!!
Posted By Holly on October 2, 2007, 1:12 PM
I'm writing congressppl to push for pass. Bill of Rights. Too many airlines are dragging their feet in adopting an official "tarmac time-limit". As soon as the uproar quiets down, you know they'll be torturing plane loads of people again-soon! Write, E-mail & telephone Citizens, I don't care how badly you hate Gov't interference, if you ever set foot on a plane, this could be your own torture you are avoiding.
Posted By Morris D. Schrock on October 3, 2007, 11:51 PM