FlyersRights.org Says Three Hour Rule May Be At Risk

Final negotiations appear to be underway for the long anticipated FAA Reauthorization Bill in Congress. Flyers Rights, in concert with its national partners, are engaging in a final push to get the Senate version of the Airline Passengers Bill of Rights included in the final bill. The Senate version, written by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) would provide the most comprehensive measures ever for airline passengers and is far superior to the House version of the legislation from the organizations' perspective.

"The House version of the bill would allow the airlines to set their own amount of time on the tarmac and would effectively, if passed, cause the DOT to have to repeal the 3 hour rule rule. It would be a draconian measure funded by airline lobbying money... and it would hurt an already smarting flying public!" Said Kate Hanni, Director FlyersRights.org. "No one wants sit in a hot, sweaty plane without food, water, overflowing toilets and screaming babies... not even members of Congress."

"For 5 years FlyersRights.org has fought to protect to ensure that airline passengers are treated fairly by the commercial airlines so that no one has to go through the nightmare that my family experienced December 29th, 2006" said Kate Hanni. "The public deserves a bright line standard that will permanently protect airline passengers and we are at a critical moment."

FlyersRights.org was founded after Kate Hanni and her family were stranded for 9 hours and 17 minutes on AA flight #1348 in conditions she described as "subhuman." 6 weeks later Jet Blue had 100s of flights stuck for up to 11.5 hours on tarmacs up and down the east coast solidifying the need for comprehensive passenger protections.

Senator Barbara Boxer and Senator Olympia Snowe and many of their colleagues have championed the airline passengers bill of rights in the Senate. It is now time for us to give them maximum support so they can get this landmark, common sense legislation across the finish line. We are urging the flying public to contact their Members of Congress now to urge them to pass the Senate version of the airline passengers bill of rights as included in the FAA Reauthorization Bill.

FMI: www.flyersrights.org