Profile: yampalin
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Given that most airline tickets today are not reimbursable, do you think the practice of bumping should be effectively eliminated? And how much time do you think the passenger should be given to decide whether or not to cancel?
Thanks for your comment. This is an interesting idea. What do others think of this proposal? Do you think DOT should impose it, or should the airlines just be encouraged to adopt it themselves?
Thank you for reading the summary. However, this is not the time to re-argue positions. Right now, the goal is to ensure that the summary adequately covers everything that was raised during the discussion. If you feel the summary misses something that was already discussed, click on the paragraph you think needs work to comment.
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Thank you for reading the summary, yampalin. This is not the place to argue your position. Now the goal is to ensure that the summary captures all the points that people made during the discussion. If you think something is unclear or wrong, please leave a comment on the section that you think needs work.
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Airlines should not be allowed to lie about delays and cancellations of flights.
At least one bag and one carry on should always be free, under clearly specified size and weight limitations. Lost baggage should also be regulated, although I do not object to system in effect years ago.
Customer service should be with live people, not electronic operators. Passenger rights should be clearly spelled out in the same way that cruise lines spell out their Terms and Conditions and their Insurance Plans.
Also think airlines should have insurance plans for cancellations.
Finally, why not adopt a reservation system similar to cruise lines, whereby a reservations requires a deposit with a final date for final payment. The deposit can be fully or partially reimbursable or totally non reimbursable depending on clearly stated conditions–such as vacation periods, destination, category of fare, etc.
My previous submission disappeared. I suggested airlines use a system similar to cruise lines, differentiating fares by categories that specify seat location and services included. Example- in the aisle seat category, differentiate front from back, and then including or not such services as an extra pillow, use of bathroom more than once, free earphone, etc. But one carryon and one checked baggage should always be free, as also the right to use the bathroom one time and one bottle of water free.
Food allergies and other problems related to foods should be the sole responsibility of the passengers and in the case of children, their parents. Airlines should continue to provide peanuts and other foods, whether free or at a cost. People who may not know of their allergies should not be allowed to sue airlines (or for that matter, anyone) for their ignorance or lack of information about themselves. Every adult person is responsible for his or her own health problems, if any, and for those of an accompanying child.
My previous submission has disappeared. I suggested that bumping be limited to reimbursable tickets only and only after passengers have been given time to cancel with penalty.
Airline fares should be similar to way cruise lines price their cabins, with different fares for different seats and services. There should be no hidden fees to be added later. Thus, aisle seats could have one set of fares which themselves could differe according to what else is included, such as a second bag, food, right to use the bathroom more than once, an extra pillow, and so on. However, all fares should include one free carryon and one free checked bag.
Bumping should only be allowed for reimbursable tickets and when passengers are given time for cancellations without penalties.
Foreign airlines flying to this country should submit to our regulations in the same manner that our airlines must submit to the regulations of the countries they fly to. Better still, why not have all countries agree to the same rules and regulations by having an international governmental body overseeing airlines?
Long time members of frequent flier programs should not be treated the same as newer members or non members. Information on passengers to be shared with others should be clearly specified and passengers should be so advised. Transparency should be the rule of the day in all matters of safety and security.
Customer Service should be improved in many airlines by reducing the waiting time and increasing the number of real people capable of resolving issues. Too often I have had to wait over 15 minutes before an electronic operator appears and then spend another 15 minutes punching numbers in response to questions that ultimately are useless in resolving whatever issue I have, being forced to wait longer until finally getting a real persons, who many times is unable to resolve my problem, forcing me to either call again to get a more professional and learned person, or ask for a supervisor who sometimes is as unhelpful as the first person.
Baggage fees should be part of the basic fare, however, if they are ultimately separated, then airlines should be compelled to state them in a list that should also include all other “extras”, such as taxes and fees, and anything else charged separately. However, if an airline is going to charge separately for baggage, then it should also have to refund the charge if it loses the baggage. In fact, all charges for extras should be refunded when the extra is unacceptable, such as bad food, a non-working earphone, etc.
Oversales/bumping should be penalized in order to dissuade airlines from continuing the practice. But when it occurs, people who have bought non-refundable tickets should be the last to be bumped, only as a last resort.
If it becomes necessary, airlines should first look for volunteers and continue with those without reservations, those who arrived late and as a last resort, when necessary, use a lottery to level the field.
I do not consider justifiable giving preference for frequent flyers even though I belong to five and would likely benefit should the situation arrive.
All information that airlines may be forced to publish should not be limited to websites. Airlines should also make them available in written brochures that may be obtained at request by mail or on ticket counters.