Basic rights for air passengers

THE consumer has a right to basic freedom and convenience — even when trapped in an airplane that may or may not take off in the next few hours.

A series of unacceptably long airport holdovers with passengers stuck in airplanes for as long as 11 hours prompted a reasonable call for a passenger bill of rights.This is not some nanny-ish list of rules requiring airlines to be overly accommodating to passengers. That moment in airplane flying apparently has passed.

The passenger bill of rights, contained in a Senate bill proposed by Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine and Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, deals with basic courtesies and conveniences. There is no reason for Democrats or Republicans to allow this legislation to languish.

The bill says airlines must provide adequate food, potable water and restroom facilities for passengers during a delay. Who can argue with that? The bill also requires that passengers be allowed to deplane safely at least once during each 3-hour period the plane remains on the ground.

Exceptions are provided if the pilot intends to leave within 30 minutes or if deplaning would jeopardize passenger safety or security.

This is not complicated. It's basic, humane treatment of consumers. Rising fuel costs cannot be the blanket excuse for everything that ails airlines and passengers.

The state of New York attempted to impose a bill of rights for passengers stuck on the ground in epic delays. A federal court ruled the federal government, not individual states, must enact such law.

That makes sense. Fifty states with 50 different sets of rules would be unwieldy and unworkable.

This is why the federal government needs to get moving. Democrats and Republicans in Congress ought to demonstrate a little muscle and courage.

It is time to require that airlines not treat passengers like cattle when takeoff is delayed. This basic consumer protection should be approved without further delay.