Website    News    Legislation    Help! I'm Stranded    Media    Contact Unhappy Holidays Ahead Sept. 29,2015

Last week, the DailyKos reran one of their top, most commented articles, which was forwarded numerous times to FlyersRights. Let's review: Few experiences are as universal to Americans as the shared degradation and misery of flying on our nation's air carriers. These corporate behemoths have somehow managed to wrap up everything wrong with this country and present it to us as a package deal: income inequality, corporate indifference, dwindling services, automation and skyrocketing prices all combined to make flying a tortuous chore rather than a pleasure, particularly in the last ten years.  It's no different than fiscal austerity, really--just a calculated effort to push the limits of greed for a tiny minority to the point where Americans won't tolerate any more, then convincing us that such a drastically diminished quality of life is the "new normal."  A universially shared experience? How did we get to this place?  One reason may be that our elected representatives in Congress don't know what constitutants have to endure - they don't fly coach and don't experience TSA hassles. In fact, they're flying high at at taxpayer expense: (2009): Sens. John Cornyn and Chuck Schumer each spent more than $140,000 in taxpayer money on travel in the first half of the fiscal year. Cornyn racked up more than $38,000 on a St. Michaels, Md. retreat for 59 staffers and by taking expensive, multicity charter flights throughout his home state of Texas. Schumer ran up the second-highest bill by routinely flying private charters to cities in New York served by commercial airlines. (2009) "The Federal Election Commission issued a new ruling that allows U.S. senators to fly in private planes at commercial rates. In fact, there is no more pampered class of air traveler than a member of Congress: At Washington's Reagan National Airport, they have their own special parking spaces-right up close to the terminal that they don't have to pay for. Being a member of Congress also means never having to rush to catch a flight. The airlines allow lawmakers the special privilege of simultaneously booking themselves on multiple flights. Most fly a lot, and many fly first class. Of course the public continues to suffer. For many of us, travel is necessary for our livelihood, or -with the holidays around the corner - the only way to see family. With cabin capacity at record highs the airlines have abandoned all pretenses of what the public thinks of them. Every plane will be packed regardless - guaranteed. Which helps explain Delta's new "economy minus" class - where anything that might administer comfort is eliminated: food, pillows, blankets, space - and then resold to you as an extra fee. The New Yorker says a big source of misery is the much-reviled fee system. Perhaps the most notorious is the 200 dollar "change fee" that FlyersRights is fighting against, (signour petition here). But many fees are usurious, particularly for those who book refundable tickets. There can be a thousand dollar price difference between refundable and non-refundable tickets.  The term 'calculated misery'  also popped this year. It describes the cost of a fee for misery avoidance, like the Economy Plus fee for a few extra inches of legroom. Even the process of boarding is ruined by the fee system, as airlines play the status game. So now the process of boarding has many layers of misery added, along with the embarrassingly harsh portrayal of income inequality. Thrown into the mix is the invariable, unexplained flight delays or abrupt cancellations attributed to (often non-existent) "weather" or "maintenance" problems. Passengers are then trapped in the airport that could pass for a Third-World country. Your Letters!     Last week we asked you to write to us    with your experience and concerns on helicopter safety. Here's what you said:   Dear FlyersRights: Thanks for continuing to publish what you do. I have not had a bad experience - but my father was a USAF rescue pilot. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in Vietnam. He never considered flying commercially even though he could. He thought, until the day we lost him to the effects of Agent Orange, that Choppers were too complicated to be properly maintained by commercial concerns. Not my words but trust the source, as people say. Regards, PB Dear FlyersRights: In August 1999, I went to change planes on DFW with Delta. When I walked up to the gate, it was "blacked" out. I walked over to the next gate and asked nicely about the flight which I was supposed to leave on in 40 minutes. The gate agent was perturbed and told me that the flight was cancelled and I would have to wait in the ticket line outside of security and said "Get lost, I'm busy" and he "waived me off" with his hand. I was so mad, I began ventilating. Fortunately I was good health however someone who wasn't in good health could of had a heart attack or a stroke.  How many businesses would of tolerated an employee treating a customer like that? I had mentioned this to a doctor a few years later and asked her "Can you imagine if one of office staff treated a patient like that"? Her reply was, she would of fired that person on the spot. The next day I called Delta about this incident and all I got was an offer for a credit. One Delta employee said that he was having a bad day and took it out on you. I replied that this happened at 6:15 AM. Another point: The airlines seem to have forgotten that the American Taxpayer "bailed" them out after 9/11 for $ 35 billion dollars and we are still treated as "cattle". It's high time we reminded the airlines about this and tell if another 9/11 happens, God forbid they may not get a "bailout" if the flying passengers are to be treated with such disregard. Baggage charges, cramped seats and over booking. Enough is enough. GH Dear FlyersRights: Your [helicopter report] underscores the "aviation/industrial complex" - bottom line, corporations collude with government where the citizen passenger loses. SK Dear FlyersRights: The fixed winged pilots I flew with stated they'd NEVER take a helicopter job, much less ride in one.  Due to military crashes and deaths, they thought it was eventual suicide.  That was 50 years ago, wonder how many have changed their minds since? JR Dear FlyersRights: A few comments on your recent article on helicopter safety. The figure that helicopters are 85 times more dangerous than automobiles is based on fatalities per hour of operation. The preferred way to look at transportation fatalities is fatalities per passenger mile. Because helicopters move much faster than cars, the fatality ratio is much lower than 85. Also helicopters may carry more people on average than cars on average. However, helicopters on average don't move 85 times faster than cars, and most carry only a few passengers, so they probably are more dangerous than automobiles even on a passenger mile basis. I agree that full safety regulations should be applied to all helicopters that carry passengers for a fee. MB Davis, CA Dear FlyersRights: I saw a quote once - a helicopter is 100k parts flying in close formation - all trying to kill you. EM Dear FlyersRights: I'm a private pilot and someone very interested in preserving the rights of the traveling public. I read with great concern your email, Unfit for Flight, and wonder about the conclusion you've drawn. "The reason helicopters remain so dangerous is that the FAA created a giant loophole that allows manufacturers to ignore safety measures...." * 2005 East River crash was found due to a takeoff contrary to the winds and being overweight in passengers and fuel. No fatalities. Not a helicopter design issue but a pilot problem. What does this have to do with the manufacturer or regulations? * 2011 Nevada 5x fatality- inadequate maintenance of the helicopter...improper nut, lack of pin, inadequate inspection. Again, not a manufacturer ignoring safety measures. * 2007 March 8 4x fatality- NTSB probable cause is failure of maintenance personnel to tighten control servo, and operator's failure to ensure maintenance program was executed by regulation and * 2007 March 11 fatality- failure of the tail rotor fitting due to manufacturing defect. This was a defect in the way the helicopter was built, not in its design or safety measures. The four examples you portray are graphic and disturbing, and would serve to rile up readers, but have nothing to do with manufactures ignoring safety measures. For the accidents with the greatest fatalities I bet you could have wrapped those passengers in helmets, bubble wrap, and whatever kinds of seat belts and modifications you want, but with a catastrophic failure of vital mechanisms the accidents still would have been unsurvivable. What you call for is aircraft built to regulation being retrofitted to newer regulation. This is an expensive proposition where costs will be transferred to the flying public. The four examples you give would not have benefited from increased safety measures since the causes lay in pilot error, lack of maintenance, or manufacturing defect. Yes airline traveling is statistically safer than riding in a helicopter. There are deaths bungee jumping, riding horses, and in cars driving to these various activities people enjoy. There is inherent risk involved in many things. Flying privately carries about the same risk as riding a motorcycle, yet you write "The reason helicopters remain so dangerous..." as though the industry kills by the millions. That is inflammatory language that is unfair to the flying industry and will undermine your attempt to improve it. Increased regulation will not serve to negate risk. But increased regulation can create increased expense, making flight prohibitively expensive to many customers, and lead to further cost-cutting measures such as a lack of adequate maintenance, flight operators paying less salary and hiring less experienced pilots, or operators trying to recoup expenses by overloading passengers into aircraft. I appreciate when you advocate for passenger rights such as seat pitch, more reasonable security measures, or reasonable treatment during delays. I fear your hyperbole and your attempts to influence regulation based upon fear mongering and ignorance or manipulation of the facts. WR Dear WR: We all take vacations and the idea of splurging on a helicopter tour is enticing, whether it's Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon or Manhattan. A luxury in the context of a vacation that may seem tempting. This is also about keeping your family safe.  Helicopter traffic is the wild west of aviation. Helicopters are subject to much less scrutiny than other types of aircraft - this is a fact.   The FAA can't kick this can down the road any longer. They must take a serious look a the potential dangers imposed. Sincerely, Kendall Creighton FlyerRights.org Dear FlyersRights: I'm dismayed by the nonsense of the airlines. Instead of their spending millions lobbying Congress, the airlines could spend their money and effort on improving the quality of their product; e.g. improving customer service and maintenance.  Regarding false claims of weather delays, the public should have access to the actual cause of delays. Perhaps the airport control tower would be the best source of that information.  Airlines should be punished by the government for their dishonesty if they lie about delays or other matters. PH Dear FlyersRights: I think the space issue should be based on the airplane being viewed as a room. How many people can legally be in the room 65 feet long and 6 feet wide without it being a fire hazard? In many planes, I was sure a sign should read, "Occupancy by more than 55 people is prohibited." Iagree with other commenters, I never fly if I can get there any other way. I drive 6K a year just so I do not have to fly . Bring back the railroads. DK Dear DK,  Please see the FlyersRights seat space petition - just docketed last week on the FAA website: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-4011-0001 We urge everyone to comment on this important legislation! Our Acclaim:     Getting on a Plane?  Put This Number in Your Phone: 1 (877) Flyers6   1 (877) 359-3776 The FlyersRights HOTLINE! We publish weekly newsletters. There's no charge to receive any of them: FlyersRights is a nonprofit organization that depends on contributions from people like you! Help us make air travel a better experience, or simply show your gratitude for whatever value you find in our work, by making a tax-deductible donation: Do you how desperately this country needs a Passengers' Bill of Rights? Which allows for passengers to be treated like humans even when things don't go so well? Airlines prefer you to sit entire flights on the tarmacs during delays with no food or water, or simply denying access to information. Check Out and Sign our petitions! Comments? Complaints? Criticisms? Send to the newsletter editor: kendallc@FlyersRights.org Twitter: @KendallFlyers

Website    News    Legislation    Help! I'm Stranded    Media    Contact Unfit For Flight Sept. 22,2015

Helicopters are 85 times more dangerous than autos and 350 times more dangerous than travel by airliner. A helicopter crashed into the East River in 2005 near Downtown Manhattan while carrying tourists on a sightseeing tour. This crash was the seventh of 10 helicopter crashes into the Hudson or East rivers since 1995. It has lead to a proposed NYC bill to ban tourist helicopters. That is the underreported story in aviation news today. Over 20 years ago, the FAA issued regulations requiring safer helicopter designs to improve air crash safety. However, the fatality rate has not budged because only 10-16% of the fleet have the safety devices needed to prevent fires and ensure crash-worthiness survivability. There is a civilian helicopter accident three times per week and an average of one fatality per week. But only 2% of fatalities are on choppers with the safety measures mandated 20-25 years ago. In the past 25 years there were 4,200 accidents with 9,200 occupants and 1,300 deaths according to a FAA Rotorcraft Directorate report issued September 17th. Five people were killed in 2011 in a helicopter crash during a tour of Las Vegas and the Hoover Dam. Safety Last The reason helicopters remain so dangerous is that the FAA created a giant loophole that allows manufacturers to ignore the air crash safety measures for new helicopters if they are based on an older design which most claim to be and does not require any retrofitting of the existing fleet. On September 17th over the strenuous objections of Flyersrights.org, the FAA choose to study the matter for another 2 years years rather than take action. This will forgo any modification or enforcement of its 20-25 safety regulations indefinitely. Paul Hudson, Flyersrights.org president and a member of the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee expressed shock and outrage. March 11, 2007 (above) One person was killed and three seriously injured in a helicopter crash in Kauai. Just three days earlier, four people were killed and three were seriously injured when a tour helicopter crash landed on grass in Kauai. Hawaii has seen 60 helicopter crashes in the last 30 years. He requested that any further study to implement the 25-year-old fire and crash worthiness rules be taken in six months instead of two years. This was rejected by the FAA and the industry-dominated advisory committee, chaired by a Boeing representative. Mr. Hudson noted, "This is an egregious and deadly example of what is horribly wrong at the FAA. It often refuses to implement basic safety rules, grants waivers or refuses to close loopholes in existing safety measures, causing unnecessary loss of life." The fatalities from helicopter crashes are primarily due to blunt-force trauma, fire from fuel tank explosions and drowning, largely preventable by the FAA safety measures that the helicopter industry has craftily avoided for decades. Those particularly at risk are vacationers, helicopter pilots, frequent passengers such as offshore oil workers and affluent business persons and their families using helicopters to avoid traffic congestion. Please write to us with your experience and concerns. A petition will be launched soon. (Read More: FlyersRights FAA Rotorcraft report 9.17.15.pdf *** Your Letters: Dear FlyersRights: I have to tell you that I enjoyed yesterday's article in the Washington Post about passengers' right to less confinement.  The claustrophobic seating is one of the main reasons our family has not traveled on an American airline in the past 7 years. I got  a particularly good laugh at the quote - "Competition should determine what is offered," says Jean Medina, a spokeswoman for Airlines for America, an airline trade group.  Now that there is barely an competition whatsoever, they are in favor of it?  And while the Free Marketeer airlines are genuflecting to Competition as the deciding factor in all aspects of their industry, they are simultaneously fighting, tooth and nail, to keep higher-rated Gulf airlines - i.e. Emirates, Qatar, etc - from entering the US market Sincerely, PW Washington DC Dear FlyersRights: Just took a flight from Denver to Minneapolis. I am of average height 5' 11" and I had a middle seat on the flight. Delta Airlines on MD-90 Both of the gentlemen in my row were just a bit over 6'. I am wearing the khaki pants, they are wearing jeans. You will notice how their knees are right up against the seat in front of them. All I can think of is the pictures I have seen of the aftermath of a plane accident and how all the seats look like they have been "tossed" around. If is something were to happen, I would think these gentlemen at the least would be trapped and maybe even suffer substantial leg injuries. Just wanted you to be able to add this to you information that you are sharing with Congress. - BB Missed Last Week's Newsletter? Read It Here!  The New Yorker Our Acclaim:     Getting on a Plane?  Put This Number in Your Phone: 1 (877) Flyers6   1 (877) 359-3776 The FlyersRights HOTLINE! We publish weekly newsletters. There's no charge to receive any of them: FlyersRights is a nonprofit organization that depends on contributions from people like you! Help us make air travel a better experience, or simply show your gratitude for whatever value you find in our work, by making a tax-deductible donation: Do you how desperately this country needs a Passengers' Bill of Rights? Which allows for passengers to be treated like humans even when things don't go so well? Airlines prefer you to sit entire flights on the tarmacs during delays with no food or water, or simply denying access to information. Sign our petition! Comments? Complaints? Criticisms? Send to the newsletter editor: kendallc@FlyersRights.org Twitter: @KendallFlyers

Website    News    Legislation    Help! I'm Stranded    Media    Contact  Power Failure Jeff Smisek's power trip comes to an end Sept. 16,2015

United Airlines' CEO, Jeff Smisek's forced ouster last week was only shocking considering how long it took, and that it didn't come from employees or passengers. His tenure was all about pushing the envelope in ways that reflected a power trip - that is, if he could get away with it, he did it.    Things have not gone well for United in recent years - once known for its white-glove service back in the 1990s, even in coach. Today, the news is all about the carrier's Summer From Hell, the protests over its severe cost cutting, the farming out of flights to second-rate regional airlines, or its outsourcing aircraft maintenance and repairs to unlicensed "mechanics" in China, Singapore, Mexico, and El Salvador.    caricature by Aren Elliott But the writing was on the wall when consumer advocate Ralph Nader published an open letter accusing the airline of being disloyal to its workers and giving $320 million in profits to its shareholders.  "Squeezing appears to be your corporate policy tool for your passengers as well -- for example, squeezing their leg room, squeezing them by innumerable fees and penalties, and squeezing their time by delays on the phone in responding to their questions," wrote Nader. United contracted out 2,000 union jobs at twenty-eight airport stations last year, including closing its Cleveland hub, with the idea of saving $2.7 million from long-time UA employees (many made $15 per hour plus benefits). Meanwhile, Delta Airlines shared its $1.1 billion profit with its employees and American Airlines announced pay raises for its pilots and flight attendants. Flygate Besides deciding to dispense entirely with the respect of his customers, Jeff Smisek tried to balance things out with the larger theme of political corruption.  Taking a page out the handbook of corrupt countries and time-honored American payola, Mr. Smisek based an airline route on where an influential public official wants to fly, and when he wants to fly there. Now the Feds are looking into United's relationship with a former chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, regarding the unprofitable two-day-a-week flight United launched from Newark to Columbia, S.C., not far from where the chairman had a weekend home. The message? While United may treat economy-class passengers like sardines, and smaller cities seeking air service like pariahs, they're more than able to find wiggle room to deliver a half-empty, non-stop to a town where a big shot weekends. Just a few months ago, we saw how both political parties and all branches of government placed corporate interests above the interests of passengers, airline employees, the nation's economy.  Death By A Thousand Cuts     Isn't it a nice message to the 82,000 United employees when the CEO steps down over an ethics breach? As if the $12M pay-package wasn't enough incentive to conduct business legally. Add to that a $4.9M severance package, plus free first class flights for life. All contingent on Mr. Smisek not being convicted of a federal crime - which appears possible at this point. Your Letters: (In response to last weeks newsletter, Buy The Seat Of Our Pants) Dear FlyersRights: Generally, I am opposed to excessive government regulation in business and industry.  I have always believed that the supply and demand of the market place will sufficiently regulate.  Thus, I have somewhat mixed emotions relative to government regulation of airline seating. I do feel, however, that there should be some way of determining the seating space in the coach section, now better referred to as the steerage section, of the various airlines.   On my most recent flight -- on American Airlines from Los Angeles to Honolulu --  I sat in the steerage section and felt claustrophobic.  I wondered if that is what it felt like to be buried alive.  Although I am of average height and build (5-11, 180 pounds), my legs did not fit in the space between seats.  I had to keep them stretched out under the seat in front of me.  Since I am 78 and have a blood-clotting condition, I have been advised by my doctor to get up and walk every 30 minutes or so.  But the one aisle on the planes was so narrow that I had to walk sideways.   Moreover, since one toilet in the back of the plane was out of order, people were lined up in the aisle about five rows from the rear of the plane, making it next to impossible to get by them or in anyway walk when the food cart was not blocking the aisle.      I did fly economy-plus from Honolulu to Los Angeles, but there were no economy-plus seats available on the return flight.     I mentioned the claustrophobic conditions on the return flight to one of the flight attendants and she fully agreed with me, but could offer nothing more than a shrug of the shoulders as to a solution.  To maintain sanity, I spent about an hour standing in the rear of the plane, where the flight attendants spend most of their time and they did not seem to appreciate that.    The response from the airline might very well be that I need to upgrade every time I fly.  Caveat Emptor before government regulation makes some sense. But here is the problem.  Not all airlines are the same.   I gather that United and American now have pure steerage, but I don't think Hawaiian Airlines or USAir does.  In fact, I flew USAir from Los Angeles to Philadelphia and paid for what I thought was extra leg room. It did not appear to have the same space as on my flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles, and when I asked the flight attendant about it he confirmed that it had no more space than in the economy seats behind me.  I asked what I was paying extra for and was informed that it was for the benefit of getting off the plane faster, i.e., being nearer the front of the plane.  I would never have paid $85 extra for such a benefit as I was not in that much of a hurry to get off the plane.   The bottom line here is that I will never again fly pure steerage, but since planes differ relative to seat spacing there should be some way to figure out what each airline has to offer.  Some airlines do not offer economy-plus; therefore, there is no way of knowing if it is steerage spacing or the old standard economy spacing.  I suggested to my local paper that they show the seat spacing in the travel section of the Sunday paper, but I doubt that anything will be done.  I don't think government regulation is the answer, but I don't know what is.   Aloha! MT Kailua, Hawaii I agree that regulation is a last but necessary resort when competition breaks down and corporate greed and executive corruption take over.  Hopefully Michael Huerta, FAA Administrator, Anthony Foxx, DOT Secretary and President Obama have not drunk the airline corporate Kool-Aid or been paid off. The test will be how they respond to the Flyersrights.org Rulemaking petition submitted 8/26/15, yet to be docketed, re. setting minimum seat and passenger space standards and order a moratorium on any further shrinkage while rulemaking is pending. If you care about this issue I would urge passengers to attend the 9/17/15 meeting of the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee at FAA HEadquarters in Washington DC and contact their Congressman and US senators. Paul Hudson President Flyersrights.org Member, FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee Paul@flyersrights.org Dear FlyersRights: I think that making our Representatives fly in coach for about 4 hours would be enough to influence their decision. No one can do that and not see the safety and health problems. Same for upper management at the airlines. AM Dear FlyersRights: Thank goodness you're doing this. I am just under 5'4" and even I have trouble fitting into some planes. Several of my tall colleagues are forced to pay extra for "premium" seats. This is surely discriminatory against the taller people! Keep going--and let's get to where they need to refit each airplane within a certain period of time. The money they are saving with the significantly lower fuel costs can be used for this, rather than profit. LH Pics Of The Week: Southwest Airlines new no-recline seats showing how undersized and uncomfortable they are: Our Acclaim: Getting on a Plane?  Put This Number in Your Phone: 1 (877) Flyers6   1 (877) 359-3776 The FlyersRights HOTLINE!   We publish weekly newsletters. There's no charge to receive any of them: FlyersRights is a nonprofit organization that depends on contributions from people like you! Help us make air travel a better experience, or simply show your gratitude for whatever value you find in our work by making a tax-deductible donation: Comments? Complaints? Send to the newsletter editor: kendallc@FlyersRights.org Twitter: @KendallFlyers

Website    News    Legislation    Help! I'm Stranded    Media    Contact Buy The Seat Of Our Pants   Sept. 8 , 2015 We're making waves in the airline industry. FlyersRights is riding the groundswell of passenger resentment against moneymaking off their suffering in smaller and smaller airline seats. As the airlines pack in more per plane, passengers are beginning to fight back and are are asking the federal government to step in to specify minimum seat standards for legroom and width to assure safety and comfort. This only requires ratification as part of the proposed Airline Passenger Bill of Rights. That was the sentiment of more than 30,000 people who signed our seat-space petition, which was sent to the Federal Aviation Administration last month. The petition points out that many airlines have installed narrower seats with less legroom to increase capacity. It asks the FAA to put a stop on any further reduction in seat space and to appoint a panel to come up with minimum seat standards. The interior of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crash in 2013 at San Francisco International Airport. To increase profits, airlines have been allowed to insert rows of seats making the pitch substandard and deadlier from an egress and DVT standpoint on longer flights. Reuters The indifference to passengers' health and safety is astonishing. The public may think the DOT or OSHA are protecting passenger health and safety, unfortunately, there are few people monitoring the weak requirements regarding seat space or egress. Back in 2001 The Lancet published an analysis estimating that 1 million cases of DVT related to air travel occur in the US every year and that 100,000 of these cases result in death (Lancet, September 8, 2001, p. 838). Of course today, with much tighter seating, the risks posed by air travel may be dramatically greater. The airlines have done little to help. Many have put general flight-health advice on their websites and placed information pamphlets on in-flight health in the seat pockets. Those airlines that do mention exercise advice almost never mention the words 'deep vein thrombosis'. One suspects that their motive is to forestall litigation rather than help their customers avoid the condition. The airlines are clearly in denial but a growing body of research is pointing to a major health problem. Advocacy for seat reform is much needed considering the tens of billions made off of sardine seating every year. The DOT does not impose any standards for seat legroom, width or comfort. Instead, the federal government allows airlines to put as many seats in a cabin as the companies want as long as the passengers have enough room to escape in an emergency within 90 seconds. However, as FlyersRights pointed out last week, the FAA permits the airlines to use computer simulated evacuation tests. This ongoing, preventable plight of airline travel is an important issue for FlyersRights which has observed the steady decline over the last several years. Airlines for America, the lobbying firm for the airline industry, has rejected the idea of legroom and seat width standards. "We also believe that government should not regulate airline seat sizes, but instead market forces and competition should determine what is offered," said Jean Medina, a spokeswoman for the airline group. During the meeting, panel member and travel expert Charles Leocha said he was troubled that the government has adopted minimum space requirements for dogs traveling on airplanes but not for humans. The ruling dogma of the airlines is 'free market' The airlines claim to draw legitimacy from the 'free market' theory that passengers want cheap seats, and therefore sardine seats. Free markets, airlines say, are the best mechanism to allocate resources for the exchange of services. They believe markets without regulation, taxation or competition from government entities produce the best results. Yet, the industry makes massive exceptions that rig the market and tilt the seller-buyer balance heavily in favor of the former. The wave of consolidation that swept the U.S. airline industry has significantly reduced competition at many of the nation's major airports, and passengers are paying the price in higher fares and fees, an Associated Press analysis has found. Over the past decade, mega-mergers reduced nine large U.S. airlines to four - American, United, Delta and Southwest - with the result that travelers are increasingly finding their home airport dominated by just one or two players. Meanwhile the campaign cash flows into the abdicating law-makers' coffers from the likes of Boeing and Airlines for America. Another point is how market forces work well for the traveler when there is clarity of what is offered. Think Uber vs Taxi. The true price of an airfare and what it does and does not include is a mystery that changes often. The traveling consumer has a high bar to reach to find the level playing field. History has proven that small numbers of people can successfully take on injustice and corporate abuses. Thank you for signing the petition. And, as always, thank you for your support of FlyersRights.

Our Acclaim: Getting on a Plane?  Put This Number in Your Phone: 1 (877) Flyers6   1 (877) 359-3776 The FlyersRights HOTLINE! We publish weekly newsletters. There's no charge to receive any of them: FlyersRights is a nonprofit organization that depends on contributions from people like you! Help us make air travel a better experience, or simply show your gratitude for whatever value you find in our work by making a tax-deductible donation: Comments? Complaints? Send to the newsletter editor: kendallc@FlyersRights.org Twitter: @KendallFlyers