Coalition for Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights Encouraged by Department of Transportation’s Call for Investigation into Stranded Passengers

For Immediate Release: Contact: Gil Meneses – 202-445.1570

Coalition for Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights Encouraged by Department of Transportation’s Call for Investigation into Stranded Passengers Aboard jetBlue and American Airlines Flights

Transportation Secretary Peters’ Concerns are the Flying Public’s Concerns. We must Ensure that the U.S. Congress and the Federal Government Join Forces to Protect the Welfare and Well-being of Airline Passengers - Kate Hanni, Coalition for Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights

Napa Valley, CA. (February 28, 2007) – The Coalition for Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights issued the following statement from its spokesperson, Kate Hanni, on news that Transportation Secretary Mary Peters will launch an investigation into recent episodes of stranded passengers on jetBlue and American Airlines flights.

“We are pleased that the federal government is launching an investigation into stranded passengers aboard jetBlue and American Airlines flights. Transportation Secretary Peters’ Concerns are the flying public’s concerns and we fully support her efforts to get to the bottom of this horrific ordeal that kept passengers trapped inside jetBlue and American Airlines planes for more than eight hours.

We must ensure that the U.S. Congress and the federal government work together to protect the welfare and well-being of airline passengers. For the last eight years and longer, the airlines have had the opportunity to make good on their promises to improve customer service and ensure basic rights for passengers, and over and over again, they have failed. Enough is enough. It is clear that the only thing that will ensure change is government action.

We applaud Senator Boxer, Senator Snowe and Congressman Thompson's efforts and look forward to working with them and Congressman Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation Committee and other members of Congress to ensure the introduction and passage of a comprehensive, enforceable Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights that would modernize and improve airline industry standards for customer service."

The coalition continues to gather momentum and support from members of Congress, national organizations and the flying public. Through several recent visits to Capitol Hill, members of the coalition have met with a number of Members of Congress and will continue to visit Washington, D.C. until an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights is enacted.

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Coalition for Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights Reacts to Air Transport Association Comments on Extreme Weather

Press Statement
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Gil Meneses
(202) 445-1570

Coalition for Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights Reacts to Air Transport Association Comments on Extreme Weather

"Blaming the System is the Easiest Excuse to Avoid Government Intervention on Behalf of the Flying Public," - Kate Hanni, Coalition Spokesperson

Washington, D.C. (February 23, 2007) – The Coalition for Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights issued the following statement from its spokesperson, Kate Hanni, on the Air Transport Association (ATA) Board statement on extreme weather procedures.

"Blaming the system is the easiest excuse to avoid government intervention on behalf of the flying public. The bottom line is that no matter what the FAA or traffic controllers say, the pilot is always the final decision-maker in any situation. This latest attempt by the Air Transport Association (ATA) to hide behind FAA regulations is a sad excuse and a cowardly attempt to evade blame and point the finger in the wrong direction.

Any internal guidelines are simply a band aid that airlines can remove at their whim. This is merely a pre-emptive move to stop the bleeding and stop legislation.

It is evident from our December 29th experience on American Airlines and last week's stranded passengers in New York aboard jetBlue that the airlines are not willing to protect the interests and well-being of their passengers. Nor are they willing to police themselves to ensure that similar incidents are not repeated.

We applaud Senator Boxer and Congressman Thompson's efforts to protect the flying public and look forward to working with them and Congressman Oberstar, Chairman of the House Transportation Committee and members of Congress to ensure the introduction and passage of a comprehensive, enforceable Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights."

The Coalition for Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights now counts 13,000 members nationwide. The coalition continues to gather momentum and support from public officials, national organizations and the flying public. Through several recent visits to Capitol Hill, members of the coalition have met with a number of Members of Congress and will continue to visit Washington, D.C. until an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights is enacted.

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Press Statement

Press Statement

For Immediate Release Contact: Gil Meneses – 202-445.1570

Coalition for Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights Applauds Senator Boxer and Congressman Thompson for Standing Up For Airline Passengers Rights

Coalition Reacts to jetBlue’s Customer Bill of Rights Napa Valley, CA. (February 20, 2007) – The Coalition for Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights issued the following statement from its spokesperson, Kate Hanni, on news that Senator Barbara Boxer and Congressman Mike Thompson of California will both sponsor Airline Passengers Bill of Rights legislation in the Senate and House of Representatives respectively. The Coalition also reacts to jetBlue’s proposed announcement of a “Customer Bill of Rights”.

"On behalf of the Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights Coalition, we applaud Senator Barbara Boxer and Congressman Mike Thompson of California for their strong leadership and interest in protecting the flying public. Being stranded for more than eight hours in an aircraft with no food or running water is a horrific ordeal for anyone to endure, let alone for young and elderly passengers and those with medical conditions.

While we certainly encourage jetBlue and other airline carriers to make much-needed reforms aimed at improving customer service, including their pledge to limit stranded passengers from being stuck on an airport tarmac for more than five hours, it is evident from our December 29th experience in Austin and most recently at JFK airport that airlines are not willing to police themselves to ensure that similar incidents are not repeated. This was the very reason that led to the formation of our coalition.

For the last eight years and longer, the airlines have had the opportunity to make good on their promises to improve customer service and ensure basic rights for passengers, and over and over again, they have failed. Enough is enough. It is clear that the only thing that will ensure change is government action.

We encourage Senator Boxer and Congressman Thompson's efforts and look forward to working with them and Congressman Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation Committee and other members of Congress to ensure the introduction and passage of a comprehensive, enforceable Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights that would modernize and improve airline industry standards for customer service." The Coalition will be reaching out to the stranded passengers at Kennedy Airport to join its cause and fully support the fight for an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights in Congress.

The coalition continues to gather momentum and support from public officials, national organizations and the flying public. Through a number of recent visits to Capitol Hill, members of the coalition have met with a number of Members of Congress and will continue to visit Washington, D.C. until an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights is enacted.

It happened again at JFK - post your photos, tell your stories and help us reach out...

This time, it was a smaller carrier, Jet Blue, whose planes were stuck 11 hours in NYC.

LINK TO PETITION - On our way to 10,000 SIGNATURES

We really are doing GREAT! We still need more so keep this going, if we all use our contacts and family members wisely if we all pool together and get everyone we know to sign this, we will reach our goal. Pass it on again, ask your friends and family as so many of you have to support this effort we are working so hard for.

http://www.petitiononline.com/airline/petition.html

Pass the link on to everyone you know.

ON AIR Again 2/8/07 - C-SPAN - Kate Hanni, Lobbying for Airline Passenger Standards - C-SPAN

http://www.c-span.org/rss/video.asp?MediaID=29606

2/8/2007 11:05:46 AM
Kate Hanni, Lobbying for Airline Passenger StandardsMs. Hanni heads a coalition of airline passengers, who were traveling on American Airlines flights #1348, 534 and 1008 from San Francisco to Dallas and were diverted to Austin because of heavy storms in Dallas, became stranded for over 8 hours with no food or access to bathroom facilities. She along with other passengers were on Capitol Hill yesterday to lobby Congress to hold hearings on a comprehensive Passengers Bill of Rights. Her Passenger Bill of Rights would modernize and improve airline industry standards for customer service. 00:24.Washington, DC

Department Of Transportation- Air Travel Consumer Reports for 2007

REALLY HOW ARE THE AIRLINES DOING?
Depatment Of Transportation - The truth is out!

Air Travel Consumer Reports for 2007
The Air Travel Consumer Report is a monthly product of the Department of Transportation's Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings (OAEP). The report is designed to assist consumers with information on the quality of services provided by the airlines. This page was last updated on February 7, 2007, and the most recent data is from December 2006.
The report is divided into six sections (Flight Delays, Mishandled Baggage, Oversales, Consumer Complaints, Customer Service Reports to the Transportation Security Administration, and Airline Reports of the Loss, Injury, or Death of Animals During Air Transportation).
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/atcr07.htm


Star Telegram
Problems for air travelers increase in 2006
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/16651531.htm


If you want your complaint to get to the Department Of Transportation
Go to Aviation Consumer Protection Division :
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/problems.htm