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Lending A Hand Dec. 29, 2016 2016 year-end insights from your letters! Read a few of our best saves: Subject: Missed flight. Need info. Dear FlyersRights: On April 22, 2016 I booked tickets on Delta Airlines several months in advance. It was the first evening of a religious holiday my family was scheduled to travel to visit my sick mother in Florida. We arrived two hours early with our boarding passes in hand they airlines were backed up  at luggage check-in we were told that we could no longer make our flight.  We were also told that we should have gotten to the airport earlier. I don't know anyone who would have gotten to the airport earlier than two hours on a domestic flight from New York to Florida. They wanted to charge us $900 per ticket to change our flights and get to West Palm Beach airport which was the airport we were scheduled to arrive at   We had to wait in the airport until 345 pm for them to schedule us on a flight going to Fort Lauderdale. Without any vouchers for meals or future airline tickets.  And we were charged 150 per ticket due to their inability to check us in in time. With that,  my sick mother had to spend the Passover holiday trying to find someone to drive her to our relatives home.  As she is unable to drive due to open-heart surgery.  I just noticed that we have rights as a flyer I wanted to know if you could recommend how we should handle this matter.  Thank you so much for your time. Sincerely, Karen H. Hello Karen, What a shame that you missed your events due to the intolerable acts by Delta. I have several suggestions for you.  We would advise that you take the position that you were involuntarily denied boarding and are due the "bumping" compensation of four times the price of a one way ticket and a refund for what you were charged the day of your flight. Start by filing a complaint with the US Department of Transportation at www.dot.gov/airconsumer.  Summarize what happened and what you were charged. Next send a copy of what you sent to the DOT to this contact at Delta: Heidi Gould Manager, Customer Care heidi.gould@delta.com If you do not get a satisfactory response from Delta, we would advise that you file a small claims court lawsuit for any monetary damages you incurred.  Unfortunately you cannot sue for your mistreatment, only monetary losses.  Please keep us informed as to your progress. If you found this advice helpful, please consider a donation to FlyersRights at www.flyersrights.org.   Regards, Joel Joel J Smiler DVM Hotline Director www.flyersrights.org Subject: Missing Baggage - Airlines is NOT paying the Compensation Dear FlyersRights: I flew on Ethihad airlines in Business class from Chicago to Abudhabi to Hyderabad (India), Leaving Chicago on June 8th 2016 and arriving in Hyderabad (India) on June 9th 2016. I checked in 2 suitcases in Chicago. When I reached Hyderabad (India) only one checked bag arrived. I filed the complaint for the delayed baggage. In a hurry I just mentioned that I had clothes in the delayed baggage. In fact all these are business formal clothes including formal dresses, suit, formal shoes etc. They DID NOT PAY any interim compensation for the delayed baggage. After 21days also the baggage could not be traced by the airlines. In the meant time I purchased all the items that were lost and needed for me. Including the new suitcase. The total amount came to be around USD 765.00. In the meantime my mother passed away in Hyderabad (India) and I was busy with those arrangements and activities. I filed the claim (via email) on July 21st with the Etihad Airlines staff at Hyderabad. Today (August 1st 2016) I got an email that Etihad is going to pay me ONLY HALF of the claim amount ACCORDING TO THE ETIHAD Policy. My contention is that as the flight originated from the US, they need to follow the US Aviation Regulations and (or) International Aviation Conventions. Please help me in getting the claim of $765.00 paid by the Etihad Airlines. Attached are the documents that I sent to Etihad. They are saying that I submitted the "Estimations" only and not "Invoices". In fact all of them are Invoices except 2 receipts where I bought from a small local stores. Thanks and Regards Rao D. Dear Rao, If you do not get the results you are looking for you can sue the airline in small claims court in any venue where the airline has a presence.  Best of luck.  Please keep us informed as to your progress.  Also please consider a donation to Flyers Rights at www.flyersrights.org. Regards, Joel Joel J Smiler DVM Hotline Director www.flyersrights.org   Dear Joel, Thanks a lot Joel. Sure I will send the complaint to that Etihad HQ. I will keep you posted. Rao D. Hello Rao, You are asking a very reasonable amount and they should pay you.  You are well under the amount that is called for in the Montreal Convention rules.  I would complain to the Department of Transportation at www.dot.gov/airconsumer.  I would send a copy of your complaint to the airline at: Calum Laming Vice President of Guest Experience P.O. Box 35566 Khalifa City A Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates +971 25114601 claming@etihad.ae   Subject: Norwegian Air on Christmas Eve Dear FlyersRights: Thought you might be interested in this experience:   https://www.facebook.com/MendelsonImages/posts/1344661745567755 Happy Holidays, Marcy M. Dear Marcy,   What an awful and mostly avoidable experience!   Delay compensation should be available under the Montreal Convention Article 19 up to $5500 and Possibly also under EU or Canadian flight delay rules.    Airlines could also possibly be fined up to $28,000 per passenger for 3 hour rule violation of holding passengers on the tarmac without food water for over two hours and on tarmac for over 4 hours.    Flyersrights.org has a rulemaking petition pending before US DOT to require airlines give plain language notice of delay compensation rights to Passengers on international trips. Would be curious to know what Norwegian says about your compensation rights, as many airline customer service persons simply misinform passengers that they have no rights.    I will send you tomorrow more detail and am also forwarding your note to Joel our hotline director who may have some additional suggestions and contacts.   Paul Hudson President Flyersrights.org    Hi Paul, Thank you for your prompt response! Norwegian isn't doing anything.  No contact, no follow up, nothing on the plane in way of information or even compassion. Your assistance is appreciated. Best wishes, Marcy Hello Marcy, As Paul has suggested you can demand compensation under the Montreal Convention and EU compensation from Norwegian Air.  Here is a contact at Norwegian if they ignore your website complaint: Lasse Sandaker-Nielsen Vice President of Corporate Communications PO Box 115 Fornebu, Norway N-1330 +47 45 45 60 12 lasse.sandaker-nielsen@norwegian.no   If you do not get anywhere with the airline I would suggest you try to get the EU compensation by using one of the services that are available that take a portion of your refund for the service of collecting.  They are very successful at getting compensation.  Try www.ecclaim.com or www.refund.me .  Please keep us informed as to your progress. Regards, Joel  Joel J Smiler DVM Hotline Director www.flyersrights.org  Marcy, FYI EU passenger rights do apply to a trip from within the EU to a destination out of the EU. EU Regulation 261/2004 allows passengers to claim up to 600 euros for delays over 4 hours (I believe this is a Type 3 flight, not a Type 2 flight) (Article 7.1(c)) not due to weather or something out of the airline's control. Additionally, after 5 hours, the passenger is entitled to a refund of unused or useless flights (Article 6.1(iii), OR a trip back to the origination point. (Article 8.1)   Keep at it.  FYI see attached for delay compensation rights under the Montreal Convention. Regards, Paul Hudson Flyersrights.org  www.flyersrights.org  877-FLYERS6 hotline P.S. If this information has been helpful to you, please consider a donation to Flyersrights.org  as we depend entirely on public contributions and are primarily staffed with volunteers.  We also have a key staff person in Berlin and are looking to expand to the EU in a major way in 2017 and are looking for volunteers. Subject: My rights Dear Flyers Rights, Please inform me if I must be compelled to go through a full body scanner at the airport. There is no clear indication on your website as to my rights. Many thanks, Eric G. Hello Eric, According to the newest rules by TSA, they are compelling a small number of flyers to go through the body scanner even if they want to opt out and have a pat-down.  Also, those passengers do not have the option of just not flying that day and leaving, they are required to go through the scanner.  TSA says there will be a small number of people required to be scanned. I hope that answers your question.  Don't forget to donate to flyersrights on our website Joel  Joel J Smiler DVM Hotline Director www.flyersrights.org  Subject: Last Snow Storm During the last snow storm in January when flights were canceled, we were in Riviera Maya, Mexico for a wedding. One of the bridesmaids was scheduled to fly home on United going from Cancun to Newark airport. Her flight was canceled and she was trying to get another flight out the same day or next day but was told that to do so would cost over $800.00. She was not put up in a hotel and had to pay out of pocket for a room until she could get a flight home which was two days later. That is highway robbery in my book and the least United could have done was to put her up in a room at no cost. I had given her the phone number for Flyer's Rights but don't know if she called.  Just wanted to share this information with you. Thanks for all your help. Joanne L. Hello Joanne, I am sorry to hear of your problems with United during the recent snowstorm.  Unfortunately airlines are not required by the DOT to provide housing or food for flight cancellations for any reason.  They often will provide such assistance when the cause of the cancellation is not due to weather, but no airline provides hotel vouchers for weather delays.  This is not just United but is universal for all airlines.  You might consider writing to the DOT at www.dot.gov/airconsumer to express your displeasure at this situation and urge them to require the airlines to provide hotels and food when they cancel flights.  We will be working for the same results here at Flyers Rights. Regards, Joel Joel J Smiler DVM Hotline Director www.flyersrights.org  Hi Joel, Thank you for your response. My other concern was the fact that they wanted to charge her over $800 for another flight so she could get home. Shouldn't they have done it free of charge? Joanne Hi Joanne,   I guess I misunderstood.  Are you saying that United wanted $800 to put her on one of their own flights?  I assumed that it was going to be $800 on another airline.  United should have put her on it's next available flight with no extra charges.  If they did not, I would file a complaint with the DOT at the same address I gave you in the previous email and copy United at this address: Laura Mandile Director, Customer Care lauramandile@united.com    Joel   Joel J Smiler DVM Hotline Director www.flyersrights.org Subject: Claim against American - advice needed Dear FlyersRights: I have a serious claim against American Airlines and need advice on how to proceed. My family and I were recently flying from PHL to DEN. We checked in and received boarding passes stating "doors close 10 min prior to scheduled departure time". The security lines were very long, plus American initially sent us to the wrong terminal, but we were at the gate 13 min before departure - to be told that because the flight was oversold, they did not wait until 10 min and gave our seats to other customers. We were very upset and got into an argument, after which police were called and we were removed from the terminal. The reason given was our behavior - I was accused of threatening the agent (convenient for them, but completely untrue) and as for my wife - the reason was "I don't like your attitude". Our kids were not accused of anything, but were upset and crying. We then went to American counter and were told that our tickets have been cancelled and we have to go to another airlines. We bought new tickets from United for $4100 and we lost a vacation day. In addition, my wife's medical condition was aggravated. I have a lot more details plus a wonderful picture of the agent trying to hide under his desk from being photographed. My attempts to reach a settlement with American have so far been fruitless - they are offering to refund the original tickets, but that would be a fraction of what we lost. Their Legal Department is very well protected, and my attorney has not been able to reach anyone at the number given to me by Customer Relations. Do you have advice for me? Sincerely, Allen K. Dear Allen, If, as is likely, you get nowhere with American, you have the option of a small claims lawsuit.  No attorney is needed.  You can sue in any county where American has a presence.  You can sue for monetary damages only.  If, as is likely, American does not send a representative, you will present your side of the case and will win.  If they do show up, they will try to have the case moved to a higher court, where you would need an attorney.  If you win, you send your judgement to their headquarters in Fort Worth for collection.  If you want to sue for more than monetary damages, such as pain, suffering, embarrassment, etc. you will need a personal injury attorney willing to take the case.  They normally work on a commission basis so there is no fee unless you win.  If your personal attorney wants to help you he should write to anyone at American headquarters at the address above.   He can send his letter to the legal department or any executive on up to Doug Parker, the CEO.  Again, we advise writing, not calling so anything promised would be in writing.  The airlines are good at promising things that do not happen.  If you want other contacts at American, or have any other questions do not hesitate to contact me.  We are here to help.  Please keep us in the loop as to your progress.  If you feel so inclined, we always appreciate donations at our website www.flyersrights.org. Regards, Joel  Joel J Smiler DVM Hotline Director www.flyersrights.org  Thank you for all the info, Joel. I have already had several communications with them so there is more to the story - please see attached the latest communication (April 5) which sums everything up. When you have a chance, I would appreciate your comments. I also have a couple of specific questions: Does American have the right to cancel our tickets (including return tickets which were in fact on a different carrier)? Is it a violation of any law to take a photo of the gate agent? Thanks in advance Allen Hello Allen, If you were, in fact, at the gate with more than ten minutes before departure and the flight was oversold, then you would all be entitled to the "bumping" compensation, plus they would have had to honor your tickets and get you on the next available flight.  This is complicated by the dust up with the gate agents and police.  That would likely be their argument against compensation of any sort. I will give you the email address of a contact at American.  You can ask for whatever compensation you feel you are owed, such as the difference in the price of the walk-up fare you had to pay the other airline and what you had paid for your American tickets.  That would be reasonable, but again I do not know how receptive they will be.  We advise doing whatever you do by email or US mail, not by phone, so you have a record of whatever they promise you.  The contact at American is: Sean Bentel Vice President Customer and Relations 4333 Amon Carter Blvd Fort Worth, TX 76155. (817) 967-2116 sean.bentel@aa.com   Subject: Question Dear FlyersRights:   I was pleased to find your website and I am writing to you to ask for advice.   I did book a ticket on the American Airlines (AA) website to travel from Memphis (TN) to Casablanca (Morocco), via Philadelphia and Madrid (Spain) on 03/05/2016, returning on 03/12/2106. I was allowed to make that purchase and to board in Memphis (AA 3934). However,  in Philadelphia I was denied boarding on AA 740 to Madrid (Spain) on the ground that my US passport was about to expire in two months (actual expiration date is: 05/18/2016) and in spite of the fact that my boarding pass had the mention "Docs Ok".    By searching the internet, I verified that this rule about passport having to be within 3 months of expiration date is indeed real. However, I wonder why AA since they knew about this rule did let me purchase a ticket. I contacted their customer service department who declined to issue a refund on the grounds that their policy is that documentation requirements are "the full responsibility" of the traveler. This to me appears very deceptive: by not disclosing this policy AT TIME ticket purchase AA is misleading its customers by enticing them to purchase tickets while knowing that these tickets have a chance to be declined and to cause substantial hardship and financial loss to the purchaser. There may be some mention of this "full responsibility" policy on the travel documents issued AFTER ticket purchase, but this, to the best of my knowledge, may represent an unfair business practice.    Is this also your opinion? I did also contact FAA and they were responsive. Any other suggestion?   Sincerely, Omar S. Hello Omar,   We have had several questions like this one on our hotline.  While the airline (not just AA) are required to collect passport information when making a reservation, the reservation systems of the US airlines at least, do not kick out reservations where the passport expires before the required time for the countries where you are traveling.  As American stated, it is up to the passenger to research the passport and visa requirements of those countries to which they are going. Where American did make an error was in allowing you to leave Memphis.  You should never have been allowed to go at all.  I would say that the only compensation you might be due would be if they charged you to get you back to Memphis.  If you were charged extra, I would dispute that charge with American, and if needed, your credit card company. If you still want to make your trip, you should be able to use the same ticket, minus any change fees and change of fare, after you obtain a new passport. I know that this is not what you wanted to hear from us, but this is the situation as it exists at the present time.  If I can answer any other questions or you need contacts at American, let me know.  I would start at their regular email contact on their website. Regards, Joel    Joel J Smiler DVM Hotline Director www.flyersrights.org  Dear Joel,   Thank you very much for your prompt reply. Your response is not what I want to hear indeed, but it is comforting to hear this from a source other than AA.    Let me also mention that in addition to the mishap of letting me board in Memphis, AA did load my suitcase on the plane to Madrid while they knew that I was not on the plane. I have a record of my phone conversation with AA agent acknowledging that my suitcase was in Madrid. (My suitcase eventually made it back home). I have contacted the FAA to report these two mishaps and they are pursuing the case. If this is of interest to you, I will share the outcome with you.   From a consumer standpoint, I believe it is wrong for airline companies to pocket the money without informing the customer of these rules BEFORE finalizing the ticket purchase since in the end it is the airline companies who enforce these rules at time of boarding and/or check in. Why can't they do this checking at time of purchase? This does not make sense.   Best regards, Omar CC'd to FlyersRights: Dear friends over my 76 years, Pass this on to anyone you know in these states: Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Washington.  Driver's licenses from nine states won't be valid IDs for domestic flights in 2018.  See that section in the latest Newsletter.  Forwarded to you, the latest Newsletter from FlyersRights.org.  Costs nothing to join, but stands up for your interests as a passenger, and I've donated about $10,000 since 2007 and I've proofread the newsletter weekly as an unpaid volunteer for several years.  Join FlyersRights to keep up, and forward this to anyone you know in the states affected.  The processing time for passports is certain to grow, possibly to several months, with applications from those states, so help your friends get ahead of the curve by telling them now. Dan P. FlyersRights' founder and spokesperson, Kate Hanni, is available for media interviews regarding holiday air travel! To reach our airline expert Kate Hanni for interview requests, call +1 707-337-0328.   Flyers Rights Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) charity to which contributions are tax deductible. Also consider adding us to your employer's gift matching program. Getting on a Plane?  Put This Number in Your Phone: 1 (877) Flyers6   1 (877) 359-3776 The FlyersRights HOTLINE!   Get get our newsletter in your inbox! Follow us on Twitter ... and Facebook!

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Of Supreme Importance Dec. 21, 2016 This week FlyersRights filed a brief in the US Supreme Court, in support of airline passenger rights and interests.  This is the second time we have filed an amici curiae at the US Supreme Court in support of the passenger.  FlyersRights is asking the Court to reverse a Ninth Circuit Appeal Court ruling that refused to recognize filing a lawsuit in another country satisfies the two-year statute of limitations for claims against airlines on international trips.  In FlyersRights' previous filing in MacLean v. US Department of Homeland Security, the Supreme Court agreed with our position - that the Whistle Blower Protection Act does apply to the Dept. Of Homeland Security and protects Sky Marshals and TSA workers who notify the public of serious malfeasance or misdeeds affecting aviation security by the government. See our Press Release: Ninth Circuit Delivers Blow to Passenger Rights:  Appeal Filed with Supreme Court FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 21, 2016 - Washington, DC:  FlyersRights.org, the nation's largest airline passenger organization, has joined forces with an aggrieved airline passenger whose personal injury claim was denied by a Federal Appeals court.  In a hastily written and very short 2-1 decision, the Ninth Circuit struck a blow to passenger rights guaranteed by the Montreal Convention. There was, however, a very lengthy dissenting opinion.  FlyersRights and Travelers United have filed an amici curiae briefwith the Supreme Court after the passengers filed an appeal.  In  Von Schoenebeck v. KLM a seat back collapsed on the head of a passenger, causing severe spinal injuries. The airline refused to compensate the passenger for the injuries, even up to the no fault or strict liability amount for personal injury found in the Montreal Convention. Instead, the airline sought a bond for its own attorney fees and costs from the passenger in the South African court. The airline suggested the passenger litigate in the United States, and when the passenger filed in California, the airline sought dismissal based on a novel interpretation of the 2-year statute of limitations.  The Ninth Circuit refused to recognize claims against airlines timely filed in other countries unless also filed in the United States. This is a shocking interpretation of the Montreal Convention, the treaty providing for airline passenger rights in international travel. The Montreal Convention was designed to achieve uniformity of rule governing causes of action against airlines. Unless reversed by the Supreme Court, airline passengers on international flights will have to file claims against airlines in multiple countries in order to preserve their rights.  FlyersRights also has an appeal pending in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the FAA's refusal to regulate seat size and leg room on airplanes.  *** Reps. Cohen and Kinzinger to Re-introduce Airplane SEAT Act Early Next Year    Nowadays, airline passengers pretty much assume that airline seats will shrink to nothing.  Fortunately our friends on Capitol Hill,  Congressmen Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) announced this week they're again introducing the Seat Egress in Air Travel (SEAT) Act into Congress, in attempts to halt the sardine seat trend in the airline industry.  "As millions take to the skies this week for the holiday season, it is a reminder of our obligation to ensure air travel is safe for passengers," said Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) on Monday.  He continued, "The time to examine the safety implications of smaller airplane seats is now, not after some future tragedy. Planes need to be capable of rapid evacuation in case of emergency, yet appropriate testing has not been conducted by the FAA on all of today's smaller seats. In addition, doctors have warned that deep vein thrombosis can afflict passengers who don't move their legs during longer flights. The safety and health of passengers must come first. That is why Congressman Kinzinger and I will be reintroducing the SEAT Act early next year during the new Congress.  "This time of year is a busy time of travel for people in Illinois and across the country, and it is critical that safety is our top priority."  Press Release  Another Reason To Order  Or Renew Your Passport Driver licenses from nine states won't be valid IDs for domestic flights in 2018.  This means bad news for Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Washington: Starting January 22, 2018, driver's licenses issued by these states will  no longer be accepted at TSA checkpoints. They fail to meet the federal government's minimum security standards under the Real ID Act.  In order for states to pass the government's security standards, they must verify every ID applicant's identity, put anti-counterfeit technology in the production of the card and conduct background checks on those who issue driver's licenses.  So, travelers have to use another form of identification to pass through security for domestic flights- such as a military ID, permanent resident card, or passport. First flight became reality 113 years ago December 17, 1903 the first flight took place - 113 years ago on a windswept beach at North Carolina's Outer Banks, the Wright brothers made the world's first powered, heavier-than-air flight. With Orville and Wilbur alternating as pilot, the plane made four flights that day.  The first airplane flight lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 feet. The longest distance covered that day was 852 feet in 59 seconds - an average speed of 31 miles an hour.  In only a few decades, the airplane became a vital part of America's economy and defense, as well as a form of transportation relied upon by an increasing number of people.  Now, aircraft manufacturers in the U.S. do just over $123 billion of business annually. It's worth remembering how far aviation has come," said Paul Hudson, president of FlyersRights. "Aviation started with private funding, then was subsidized by taxpayers.  Hopefully, affordability, service and comfort in air travel going forward will improve along with technology. But the reverse [will happen] if based solely on for-profit, unregulated monopoly-seeking corporations.  Compare the agenda of Airlines for America, The International Air Transport Association and Boeing/Airbus with FlyersRights' agenda.  Airlines and airports seek to drive revenue per passenger ever higher, service ever lower, while FlyersRights is pressing for the opposite.  All passengers are funding the industry agenda involuntarily, but must fund the passenger-side voluntarily. By doing nothing, passengers are really helping the airline industry side and only you can change this by supporting the passenger side now.  Paul Hudson President Flyersrights.org Bag Humbug     This holiday season the airlines have a gift for you; a sack of hidden fees!  Only YOU can help Tiny Tim, the Cratchit family and your fellow passengers  from being Scrooged over and over in 2017: Flyers Rights Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) charity to which contributions are tax deductible. Also consider adding us to your employer's gift matching program. FlyersRights' founder and spokesperson, Kate Hanni, is available for media interviews regarding holiday air travel!  To reach our airline expert Kate Hanni for interview requests, call +1 707-337-0328. Getting on a Plane?  Put This Number in Your Phone: 1 (877) Flyers6   1 (877) 359-3776 The FlyersRights HOTLINE! Get get this newsletter in your inbox! Follow us on Twitter ... and Facebook!

Website    News    Legislation    Help! I'm Stranded    Media    Contact Wronging Your Rights November 30, 2016 When Pigs Fly What's the price for not being able to fit in the assigned seat, with your knees trapped on the back of the next seat? It's a torture pitch for roughly half of the population (slightly taller or taller than the mean) that is becoming widespread and progressively standard - going from rational 31-32" pitch to 28-29". The airlines like to tell us that economics justifies tight seating and they have no choice. FlyersRights has asked why regulatory authorities don't step up and set a minimum floor space requirement for humans travelling by air, as already exists for livestock and pets. Why don't two-legged animals enjoy the same level of protections? Purchasing extra legroom or higher classes of service is not always an option, and shouldn't be necessary. When the race to the bottom takes airlines below the level of human decency it is time for the public to say "enough, stop!" We are not cattle. When companies - not just airlines - have to squeeze their customers this hard in order to make a profit, it usually comes down to greed. The idea that airlines need the extra 6 seats to turn a profit is hogwash. And Ryanair has said that if not for EU safety regulations, they would have added standing seats. If we had a nickel for every time we heard the following... "The market is efficient. If the level of service drops below what customers will accept, they'll move on."  "I don't understand this urge for regulating that which you don't like. The low-cost carriers offer cheap fares but that cheapness comes with certain restrictions - (duh!) - and among those restrictions is the seat pitch." "If the airline restrictions are not acceptable to you, don't fly 'em.  People can choose to take the train if they so wish, or not to travel at all."  "I can get a cheap meal at McDonalds, but I don't like the taste, so I forgo cheapness in favor of something I prefer." "When did anyone dictate that every airline has to be all things to every passenger? No one is forcing anyone to fly in conditions they don't like." "Personally I don't want to pay higher prices just because tall or fat people are too greedy to pay for extra space." ... we would never have to fundraise! With utmost respect, this is absolute rubbish. Taking a train from Los Angeles to New York isn't an option for most people.  Also, in many cases people cannot "move on.", as there might not be anything available to move on to. And, don't tell us that tall people should purchase business fare if they don't want to travel in pain). Nor can passengers go and purchase 30% more room for a 30% more money because the airlines have decided you either want to be crammed for the cheapest coach fare or you want to pay three times coach for premium economy. The lack of leg-room for seating in passenger jets has been linked to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which can cause fatal blood clots, particularly on long-haul flights. The research also showed more space between seats could allow passengers to evacuate planes more safely in an emergency. FlyersRights stands firm - we need minimal regulations governing humane standards regarding leg space and seat comfort on aircraft. "The market" won't do it. FlyersRights' founder and spokesperson, Kate Hanni, is available for media interviews regarding holiday air travel from now until New Year's!  Kate's tips:  Don't wrap your gifts before packing them in carryon or checked baggage No electronics or batteries in checked baggage Keep medications in carry-on or purse (high level of theft of medications according to airport crime database) Try to get your flights early in the morning and without connecting flights, especially no connections in Texas due to weather/thunderstorms there Pre-ship anything valuable (Christmas presents) with insurance if you can afford to do so.  That will ensure your gifts and expensive electronics are at your arrival area If you are going on a cruise give yourself 24 hours between the arrival of your flight and departure of cruise Pack all medications in carryon and a set of comfortable jammies or sweats in case you do end up in a "cot city" in Chicago or elsewhere Stay calm.  The holidays are stressful enough! To reach our airline expert Kate Hanni for interview requests, call +1 707-337-0328. Getting on a Plane?  Put This Number in Your Phone: 1 (877) Flyers6   1 (877) 359-3776 The FlyersRights HOTLINE! Get get this newsletter in your inbox! 100% of your donation supports our advocacy: Follow us on Twitter ... or Facebook!