[justme]

Just read this on Yahoo!... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_stranded_on_plane It's an article about a Virgin Atlantic flight that diverted and passengers were stuck on the airplane for about 4 hours. Do you think the 3 hour rule should apply to foreign carriers? Does the US have the authority to enforce such laws on companies that are owned and operated from other countries? What are your thoughts?

[Jetliner]

We do have the authority to impose laws on foreign carriers while their aircraft are on US soil. In fact, the time limit rule is in place for them as well, except it's 4 hours, not 3. I understand needing extra time with an international flight as you would need to get customs in place, but I would think this could still be done in a 3 hour period. The extra time would only be needed at an airport that doesn't have round the clock customs or regular customs operations.

This three hour time rule is really starting to wreak havoc but it's what people get. I've talked to some of my old friends at the airport, and here's the problem. Being in central Florida we have daily afternoon storms. And with it lots of lightning. Keep in mind too that our weather patterns are different than in most places in that it can be perfectly clear now, storming like a you know what 2 hours from now for a 2-4 hours, and clear again an hour after that. So what is happening is a plane will be boarded up and ready to go, only to have the ramp close due to lightning, and as such the rampers can't go push the plane. So the plane sits at the gate. But after about 1 to 1 1/2 half hours into it, they have to deplane since keeping them on may run into the three hour rule not knowing when the lightning will let up. The lightning might let up for about 10 minutes, and normally they could go ahead and push the plane, except now they have to reboard. There goes your window to push. Now people start missing connections.

And if it's a flight later in the day, there is a chance of the flight crew timing out. Now you have a canceled flight. And since it's caused directly by the weather, no hotel rooms for when you get stuck overnight, unless you pay for it.

Wait, some time ago didn't I say this would lead to cancelations????

But that's what you get when some idiot like Kate Hanni who just knows so much better than the people who work it daily gets her little way.

[justme]

We do have the authority to impose laws on foreign carriers while their aircraft are on US soil. In fact, the time limit rule is in place for them as well, except it's 4 hours, not 3.

Actually the law doesn't apply to foreign carriers yet... straight from the article... "The limit doesn't apply to international flights and overseas airlines like Britain's Virgin Atlantic, but Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently solicited comments on whether it should."

I completely agree with everything else you said about it wreaking havoc because the idiots who pushed to make it happen have a complete lack of understanding of how the system works in storm situations.

[jimworcs]

First, I am astonished that this regulation has not been applied to international flights. It should be applied in all situations, although there are some complications where the diversion takes place at a smaller, regional airport with limited customs and immigration.

The "told you so" responses of the problems that have arisen ignore one basic fact. It was the egregious abuse of the power to hold passengers that led to this regulation. Had the airlines acted reasonably at all times, this regulation would never have come into force. Holding people on the tarmac at Orlando or Atlanta while a thunderstorm passes through is one thing. Holding people hostage on a plane for 8 hours is another. This regulation came about because airlines abused their power, not because of self publicists like Kate Hanni.

[cortney]

i would LOVE LOVE LOVE if this law were for the international carriers or even international destinations as well. Im ALWAYS stuck on air stinky india for 3 hours while they fix their airplanes in FRA. the only time it has happend to me was on USairways the other week, we had storms in ORD and we were #2 in line for take off (they then shut down all traffic going west due to the storms in the area), we hit the 3 hour mark turned around and went back to the gate, we had the option to get off or stay on, (i decided to stay on) 1 hour later we were clear to take off...well we got back in line and were #20 in line...the noises that came out of the other passengers "never fly this airline again" "this is crap".... this is the ONLY bad thing out of this 3 hour rule thing, we lost our spot for take off so of course we sat there for another hour or so due to that.

[The_Judge]

Hahahahhaha........this is THEIR rule. They (the customer) made enough noise and got legislation for this. Take it and like it.

[justme]

Take it and like it.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

[Gromit801]

Like the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for, it might come true. I think anyone with half a brain knew that cancellations were going to surge. HELLO!

[jimworcs]

Where are all these complaints you guys are gloating about? This is an airine complaints website, and I have not seen any from genuine passengers complaining about going back to the gate after 3 hours on the ground. There may be one or two I havn't spotted, other than the slightly suspect gloating by Cortney, who I suspect may have an axe to grind!! However, nothing compared to the firestorm of complaints about the abuse by airlines of this power.

[cortney]

it wasnt just our plane that returned to the gate, others as well. so i am surprised that the airlines are actually following this rule (which i am glad they are in some ways) trust me, if i complained about EVERY bad flight i have had on an airline this page would be full. BUT there is nothing the airlines can do about me having a center seat for 24 hours, kids kicking the back of my seat, the ****ty service of air stinky india (if i had my way i would NEVER fly that airline again, but the company pays for it so i dont have a choice) or the fact that kuwait airways lets bags sit in the exit row with children in them (yeah i feel safe with that...NOT)

[cortney]

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scot...#ixzz0ru3W4y8l

this obviously should be an international rule...of course this is ryanair were talking about. (sorry if it doesn't work)

[jimworcs]

This intolerable situation demands regulation in the EU too... as Ryanair is exactly the kind of airline which will abuse their power. Although this happens much less frequently in Europe than in the US, it is still a problem and we need regulation here relating to this. It should be absolutely a right for someone to elect to leave a flight which has remained on the ground for 3 hours or more.

[Butch Cassidy Slept Here]

With regard to the article Courtney posted:

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scot...#ixzz0ru3W4y8l

A lot of airport police, in the US, should take note of this article. Confronted with the same circumstances I suspect your average US airport police team would go into riot control/SWAT team mode and abet any concentration camp environment the airline had created. Hopefully, with the 3-hour limit for (US) domestic flights, airport police will have read the DOT regulation and not revert to their previous role—a strong arm enforcer of an airline’s “anything goes” policy of how customers are treated.

Jimworcs: I smell BS in Ryanair’s comment about a slot being available. Is there ANY airport, in Scotland, where the availability of a slot is really an issue??

[jimworcs]

The actions of the police were highly sensible and helped to defuse the situation. I agree that some US authorities could learn from the handling of the situation by the Strathclyde Police.

Everything you need to know about Ryanair and their attitude to customers is covered in this story. Mothers with babies who are becoming dehydrated, distressed passengers and the Captain will not allow the staff to distribute water from the trollies, for "legal reasons". No authority would take action against the staff for acting in a compassionate manager, except perhaps the Ryanair management. Do you think Strathclyde Police will get into trouble for spending public money to help the passengers? Absolutely not, because it is clear that the passengers needed help and respite. (We are, incidently, experiencing a heatwave in the UK over the last week, with temperatures over 80 degrees). To make matters worse, the Captain did order a bottle of water to be brought on board, but only for himself. If that doesn't illustrate utter contempt for passengers, I don't know what does.

However, in relation to the question of slots, the delay was caused by a French ATC strike. The management of air traffic is managed by Eurocontrol which is based in Belgium. When they are talking about "slots" it is the ATC routing which is being referred to, rather than the unavailability of take off slots at Prestwick Airport, which is hardly a hive of activity.