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The NPRM in its current form includes an exception in Section 392.80 for:
“2) Texting is permissible by drivers of a commercial motor vehicle when necessary to communicate with law enforcement officials or other emergency services.”
Do you think that this exception would be sufficient to address your concerns?
For more information about why FMCSA has proposed to imposes regulations against commercial drivers, please see our next post called “Which Drivers are Covered.” After reading through this material, let the community know if your opinion has changed.
As to your comment about enforcement, you’ve identified one of the most difficult questions about this proposed regulation. Feel free to continue to discuss this question in the post called “Who & How of Enforcement.”
Welcome to Regulation Room and thank you for your thoughtful comments.
Do you think that the cab video data recorders should be required in every cab? Do you think that this could be a more effective way to enforce the proposed texting regulation?
Thanks for the interesting suggestion mthornt. Perhaps, DOT will consider rules about carry-on luggage in the future. Do you have any feelings about DOT’s current proposals?
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It’s about time that passengers had some sort of recourse. I missed multiple connections due to the fact that the plane I was on was grounded without any explanation from the staff – not to mention the lost luggage stories. Imagine being stuck in China without a change of clothes. Thanks a lot airlines.
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I think airlines know well in advance which flights are subject to being over sold and have repeated bumping. For repeated bumping on the same flight same day of the week three or more weeks in a row, the specified compensation should double. Airlines should also notify passengeres when a flight is being significantly oversold and offer the denied boarding compensation in advance of the departure date for say 50% of the denied boarding compensation rate payable at the gate to reduce bumping from overbooking.
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Here’s a comment left there by an unidentified participant. (If you submitted this comment and want to have it posted under your user name, contact us.)
Yes finally I have been doing this flying to and from for three years. This is one of the best things that DOT has done in the past three months. I was stuck on a flight for three hours on the tarmac while it was thunder and lighting just sitting. Why now finally something has been done. So little so late for me. But I guess it better late than never.
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Airlines should NOT be able to overbook flights on Domestic, Regional or International flights!!! This alone would put a huge dent in the UNFAIR practice of bumping passengers who expect the airline to get them to their destination in time and on the right flight. It is very inconvenient to have to contact friends and family at your destination that you will be arriving late or not at all because you were bumped. Friends and family on many ocassions have taken time off to meet you.
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I have no problem with the new regulations, however, in fairness should there be penalties or requirements for the passengers? Sometimes some delays are due to passengers. Everyone gets upset about a delay but extending it to have everyone get off and back on is not the airlines fault but they must pay for the delay? As far as overbooking is concerned, perhaps the airlines would not overbook if the DOT required that airline tickets purchased are “use them or lose them” or carry an instant penalty – meaning the value of the ticket is instantly reduced by 50%. The airline can’t afford to have empty seats, yet people just don’t show up or make last minute change costing the airline which ultimately costs other passengers. Everyone has to realize there is going to be a cost to the consumer if there is a cost to the airline. I also would like to see minimum standards set for leg and arm room done by the DOT. It may help some of the irritation that comes with flying.
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It is long past time that the airlines treat passengers, their primary source of income, as customers they cherish and not the nuisance we’ve become. It has been said that new fees and penalties will only be passed to the passenger already struggling with higher fares and convenience fees of all kinds. Passengers need to remember that the airlines are still a competitive environment. If you don’t like the fare, go elsewhere or fine some other mode of transportation. Southwest has been a shining example of what the legacy airlines should look forward to if they don’t treat customers right. I’ve also found plenty of international airlines far more willing to treat me well on those coveted long haul flights and have completely refused to fly any American airlines on a long haul out of the country as a result. They’ve lost my business and until they lose more, they may never learn. They should be allowed to go out of business and let someone else without the legacy problems to have a go at it. American consumers deserve better. Until then, it’s Air France or Lufthansa for me!
Oops. Some people used the Site FEEDBACK button for their comments. Sorry about the confusion.
Here’s a comment left there by an unidentified participant. (If you submitted this comment and want to have it posted under your user name, contact us.)
Airlines are private companies and should not be micro-managed. The regulations should address such subjects as safety and not subjects of compensation to customers for inconvenience. Consider that any extra expenses airlines will be facing with new regulations will be paid by customers. Look at it as forcing customers to pay for air travel insurance that covers any delays and other events that airlines can not control. Customers will be paying high premium for such insurance and will not be able to decline it( how similar to mandatory health insurance! ). Most customers if given choice prefer to travel at lower cost rather than having additional travel interruption insurance.
Oops. Some people used the Site FEEDBACK button for their comments. Sorry about the confusion.
Here’s a comment left there by an unidentified participant. (If you submitted this comment and want to have it posted under your user name, contact us.)
A previous comment stated that airlines are private companies and should not be micro-managed. What about the passenger’s individual right of freedom? I do not want to be stuck on the tarmac or at the gate for more than 2 hours without the option of de-planing. I want to be able to choose another flight, drive to my destination, or come back another day. I do not want to feel like a prisoner of the “private airline companies”. DOT should require the airlines to build valid contingency plans and include them along with their application for right of carriage. Right of carriage does NOT include RIGHT of INCARCERATION!
Oops. Some people used the Site FEEDBACK button for their comments. Sorry about the confusion.
Here’s a comment left there by an unidentified participant. (If you submitted this comment and want to have it posted under your user name, contact us.)
I have an issue with airlines changing my flight after I booked, and leave me no recourse. I booked a flight in November from Orlando to Texas to CA. The airline decided to cancel my flight and book me through Boston instead. There was no offer of a refund, but they were able to put me through JFK – not much better. Passengers should be offered an automatic full refund in this situation. It has happened 3 or 4 times to me – and not always the same airline.
This is an interesting question. Should airlines have to deal with minors or maybe even senior citizens differently? What does the community have to say?
This idea about the airlines contacting you ahead of time if the flight is oversold is potentially an interesting solution.
What do you think about it? How would you feel if you heard from an airline the day before your flight telling you that your flight was oversold and you would not be allowed to board?
Welcome to the community Martine. It seem that you take active precautions to avoid peanut allergy problems. What steps do you think the airline should take?
What do others think about the proposed buffer zone?
So that more users and the DOT could access the information, perhaps you could post a link to a pdf version of the study or the name and author of the study.
Interesting thoughts, thanks for contributing Pixel.
Beyond prominently listing all fees, do you have any thoughts on which of the proposed solutions would make the most sense and work the best?
If we were to implement peanut-free flights and a person were to miss a peanut-free connecting flight or regular flight, how should this problem be dealt with?
One question DOT asks is what method carriers should use for their updates. Since it seems you fly often, how would you like to receive information updates? Do you think all carriers should use a single method?
What do others think? Are Keiserrgx’s problems faced by others?
Laura, could provide the community the information from which you state that between 1997 and 2002 the number of children with peanut allergies doubled?
Thanks to those that have commented on this thread. We know that this can be an emotional topic for all involved.
Ambersky, you mention education as a means to combat the problem. As airlines currently make a preflight announcement about seat belt use, do you think airlines should also make an announcement about peanut allergies?
Welcome to regulation room and thank you for your comments.
Ekskoog, often tickets are refundable, but only if a fee is paid. Do you think this information should be included as well? When do you think a person becomes overloaded with information?
What do others think about the idea of having to include information about whether a ticket refundable?
JJMurray mentions the idea that there should not be a cap on compensation because there is no cap on ticket prices, what do others think about this? Is this too harsh of a penalty for airlines?
Thanks for the comment. Where in the check-in area do you think that this information should be posted? Would it be best on signs as you wait in line? As a screen on the automatic ticket kiosk? Verbally from an agent?
As a hypothetical, would your response still be the same if something drastic and unforeseeable were to take place such that fuel prices quadrupled between the ticket purchase date and the date of the flight? Do you think that in this extreme situation, the airline still should not be able to impose a surcharge?
What do others think about Keithanywhere’s response and about this hypothetical?
Thanks for the comments Vec. Do you have an specific reason or experiences that lead you to suggest that policies need to be spelled out for airlines?
Do others out there think that airlines need to have regulations spelled out with specificity? Or do you think that airlines should have some leeway to develop their own individual policies?
Why or why not?
Interesting thoughts on carry-on luggage, perhaps it will be something that the DOT will consider in the future.
If the DOT were to implement a carry-on fee, how would you want DOT to require airlines to disclose those fees? Is the DOT on track with its current proposals?
Thanks for the very complete answers to DOT’s questions Dave. Please feel free to comment on the other topics as well.
Dave brings up an interesting point about security restrictions and epi-pens. Do restrictions exist against bringing epi-pens on planes? Has anyone had experience with these restrictions? Should these restrictions influence the regulation?
Thanks for the comment Kiminno.
Kiminno brings up an interesting point that might provoke some discussion. How can the information be presented in a way that is easy for the average traveler to understand? Is the best way to use colors? bold text? italics? charts? graphs? pictures? Is there some other method that would make things easier to understand?
Thanks, Kiminno. Note that the proposed regulation states that for delays longer then 2hrs, a passenger can receive compensation amounting to double the price of their ticket or up to $1300.
I understand that you think that the cap is too low, but does this doubling of the price of the ticket address your concern that non-refundable expenses should be paid for as well?
Or would you propose something like double the ticket price and expenses on top of that?
At what point, if any, do you think it becomes unfair for the airline to have to pay these expenses?
This is an interesting suggestion.
The NPRM in its current form includes an exception in Section 392.80 for:
“2) Texting is permissible by drivers of a commercial motor vehicle when necessary to communicate with law enforcement officials or other emergency services.”
Do you think that this exception would be sufficient to address your concerns?
Section 392.80
Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
For more information about why FMCSA has proposed to imposes regulations against commercial drivers, please see our next post called “Which Drivers are Covered.” After reading through this material, let the community know if your opinion has changed.
As to your comment about enforcement, you’ve identified one of the most difficult questions about this proposed regulation. Feel free to continue to discuss this question in the post called “Who & How of Enforcement.”
Welcome to Regulation Room and thank you for your thoughtful comments.
Do you think that the cab video data recorders should be required in every cab? Do you think that this could be a more effective way to enforce the proposed texting regulation?
Trlrider, this is a very interesting proposal.
What do others in the community think about this as a potential solution?
Thanks for joining the community.
Do you think that trlrider’s idea is a workable solution? Would you suggest something different?
Thanks for the interesting suggestion mthornt. Perhaps, DOT will consider rules about carry-on luggage in the future. Do you have any feelings about DOT’s current proposals?
Thanks for the observation and comment CLT_Pass.
1. If the DOT were to include a regulation on inflight sales, how should it work?
2. Do you think airlines should be able to sell everything or should some items be banned from sale?
Oops. Some people used the Site FEEDBACK button for their comments. Sorry about the confusion.
Here’s a comment left there by an unidentified participant. (If you submitted this comment and want to have it posted under your user name, contact us.)
It’s about time that passengers had some sort of recourse. I missed multiple connections due to the fact that the plane I was on was grounded without any explanation from the staff – not to mention the lost luggage stories. Imagine being stuck in China without a change of clothes. Thanks a lot airlines.
Oops. Some people used the Site FEEDBACK button for their comments. Sorry about the confusion.
Here’s a comment left there by an unidentified participant. (If you submitted this comment and want to have it posted under your user name, contact us.)
I think airlines know well in advance which flights are subject to being over sold and have repeated bumping. For repeated bumping on the same flight same day of the week three or more weeks in a row, the specified compensation should double. Airlines should also notify passengeres when a flight is being significantly oversold and offer the denied boarding compensation in advance of the departure date for say 50% of the denied boarding compensation rate payable at the gate to reduce bumping from overbooking.
Oops. Some people used the Site FEEDBACK button for their comments. Sorry about the confusion.
Here’s a comment left there by an unidentified participant. (If you submitted this comment and want to have it posted under your user name, contact us.)
Yes finally I have been doing this flying to and from for three years. This is one of the best things that DOT has done in the past three months. I was stuck on a flight for three hours on the tarmac while it was thunder and lighting just sitting. Why now finally something has been done. So little so late for me. But I guess it better late than never.
Oops. Some people used the Site FEEDBACK button for their comments. Sorry about the confusion.
Here’s a comment left there by an unidentified participant. (If you submitted this comment and want to have it posted under your user name, contact us.)
Airlines should NOT be able to overbook flights on Domestic, Regional or International flights!!! This alone would put a huge dent in the UNFAIR practice of bumping passengers who expect the airline to get them to their destination in time and on the right flight. It is very inconvenient to have to contact friends and family at your destination that you will be arriving late or not at all because you were bumped. Friends and family on many ocassions have taken time off to meet you.
Oops. Some people used the Site FEEDBACK button for their comments. Sorry about the confusion.
Here’s a comment left there by an unidentified participant. (If you submitted this comment and want to have it posted under your user name, contact us.)
I have no problem with the new regulations, however, in fairness should there be penalties or requirements for the passengers? Sometimes some delays are due to passengers. Everyone gets upset about a delay but extending it to have everyone get off and back on is not the airlines fault but they must pay for the delay? As far as overbooking is concerned, perhaps the airlines would not overbook if the DOT required that airline tickets purchased are “use them or lose them” or carry an instant penalty – meaning the value of the ticket is instantly reduced by 50%. The airline can’t afford to have empty seats, yet people just don’t show up or make last minute change costing the airline which ultimately costs other passengers. Everyone has to realize there is going to be a cost to the consumer if there is a cost to the airline. I also would like to see minimum standards set for leg and arm room done by the DOT. It may help some of the irritation that comes with flying.
Oops. Some people used the Site FEEDBACK button for their comments. Sorry about the confusion.
Here’s a comment left there by an unidentified participant. (If you submitted this comment and want to have it posted under your user name, contact us.)
It is long past time that the airlines treat passengers, their primary source of income, as customers they cherish and not the nuisance we’ve become. It has been said that new fees and penalties will only be passed to the passenger already struggling with higher fares and convenience fees of all kinds. Passengers need to remember that the airlines are still a competitive environment. If you don’t like the fare, go elsewhere or fine some other mode of transportation. Southwest has been a shining example of what the legacy airlines should look forward to if they don’t treat customers right. I’ve also found plenty of international airlines far more willing to treat me well on those coveted long haul flights and have completely refused to fly any American airlines on a long haul out of the country as a result. They’ve lost my business and until they lose more, they may never learn. They should be allowed to go out of business and let someone else without the legacy problems to have a go at it. American consumers deserve better. Until then, it’s Air France or Lufthansa for me!
Oops. Some people used the Site FEEDBACK button for their comments. Sorry about the confusion.
Here’s a comment left there by an unidentified participant. (If you submitted this comment and want to have it posted under your user name, contact us.)
Airlines are private companies and should not be micro-managed. The regulations should address such subjects as safety and not subjects of compensation to customers for inconvenience. Consider that any extra expenses airlines will be facing with new regulations will be paid by customers. Look at it as forcing customers to pay for air travel insurance that covers any delays and other events that airlines can not control. Customers will be paying high premium for such insurance and will not be able to decline it( how similar to mandatory health insurance! ). Most customers if given choice prefer to travel at lower cost rather than having additional travel interruption insurance.
Oops. Some people used the Site FEEDBACK button for their comments. Sorry about the confusion.
Here’s a comment left there by an unidentified participant. (If you submitted this comment and want to have it posted under your user name, contact us.)
A previous comment stated that airlines are private companies and should not be micro-managed. What about the passenger’s individual right of freedom? I do not want to be stuck on the tarmac or at the gate for more than 2 hours without the option of de-planing. I want to be able to choose another flight, drive to my destination, or come back another day. I do not want to feel like a prisoner of the “private airline companies”. DOT should require the airlines to build valid contingency plans and include them along with their application for right of carriage. Right of carriage does NOT include RIGHT of INCARCERATION!
Oops. Some people used the Site FEEDBACK button for their comments. Sorry about the confusion.
Here’s a comment left there by an unidentified participant. (If you submitted this comment and want to have it posted under your user name, contact us.)
I have an issue with airlines changing my flight after I booked, and leave me no recourse. I booked a flight in November from Orlando to Texas to CA. The airline decided to cancel my flight and book me through Boston instead. There was no offer of a refund, but they were able to put me through JFK – not much better. Passengers should be offered an automatic full refund in this situation. It has happened 3 or 4 times to me – and not always the same airline.
This is an interesting question. Should airlines have to deal with minors or maybe even senior citizens differently? What does the community have to say?
This idea about the airlines contacting you ahead of time if the flight is oversold is potentially an interesting solution.
What do you think about it? How would you feel if you heard from an airline the day before your flight telling you that your flight was oversold and you would not be allowed to board?
Thanks KT1975 for the interesting comment. Another aspect of the proposal is timely notification of changes in a travel itinerary.
In your experience, did you receive a timely notification? How quickly should airlines notify you?
AKTraveler, thanks for the comment.
Do you think that the tarmac delay period should be the same for domestic and international carriers or should it be different?
Welcome to the community Martine. It seem that you take active precautions to avoid peanut allergy problems. What steps do you think the airline should take?
What do others think about the proposed buffer zone?
Thanks for the information Dr Mom.
So that more users and the DOT could access the information, perhaps you could post a link to a pdf version of the study or the name and author of the study.
Interesting thoughts, thanks for contributing Pixel.
Beyond prominently listing all fees, do you have any thoughts on which of the proposed solutions would make the most sense and work the best?
Pixel brings up an interesting point.
So that the regulators can regulate based on evidence, does anyone know if data exists on the number of peanut-related incidents on planes?
Thanks for the contribution Mom.
Do you think that the rule should be a 3-hour limit at these smaller airports or would you suggest a different rule?
Thanks for the comment dhoic.
Do you think that there should be a cap on the compensation amount as proposed by DOT? Or would you suggest that this should be uncapped.
Elle brings up an interesting point.
If we were to implement peanut-free flights and a person were to miss a peanut-free connecting flight or regular flight, how should this problem be dealt with?
Thanks for your thoughts Keiserrgx.
One question DOT asks is what method carriers should use for their updates. Since it seems you fly often, how would you like to receive information updates? Do you think all carriers should use a single method?
What do others think? Are Keiserrgx’s problems faced by others?
Laura, could provide the community the information from which you state that between 1997 and 2002 the number of children with peanut allergies doubled?
Thanks to those that have commented on this thread. We know that this can be an emotional topic for all involved.
Ambersky, you mention education as a means to combat the problem. As airlines currently make a preflight announcement about seat belt use, do you think airlines should also make an announcement about peanut allergies?
What other steps should airlines take?
Welcome to regulation room and thank you for your comments.
Ekskoog, often tickets are refundable, but only if a fee is paid. Do you think this information should be included as well? When do you think a person becomes overloaded with information?
What do others think about the idea of having to include information about whether a ticket refundable?
JJMurray mentions the idea that there should not be a cap on compensation because there is no cap on ticket prices, what do others think about this? Is this too harsh of a penalty for airlines?
Welcome to regulation room and thanks for trying to discuss these difficult issues.
How you try to address the issue of for which situations notice should be required?
Do others think that this a problematic area of the proposed regulation?
Thanks for the comment. Where in the check-in area do you think that this information should be posted? Would it be best on signs as you wait in line? As a screen on the automatic ticket kiosk? Verbally from an agent?
What do others think?
Thanks for the comment Defsmc. Do you think that the proposed compensation caps are harsh enough? Would you be in favor of no cap on compensation?
What do others think about not putting a cap on compensation?
Keithanywhere thanks for the response.
As a hypothetical, would your response still be the same if something drastic and unforeseeable were to take place such that fuel prices quadrupled between the ticket purchase date and the date of the flight? Do you think that in this extreme situation, the airline still should not be able to impose a surcharge?
What do others think about Keithanywhere’s response and about this hypothetical?
Thanks for the comments Vec. Do you have an specific reason or experiences that lead you to suggest that policies need to be spelled out for airlines?
Do others out there think that airlines need to have regulations spelled out with specificity? Or do you think that airlines should have some leeway to develop their own individual policies?
Why or why not?
Interesting thoughts on carry-on luggage, perhaps it will be something that the DOT will consider in the future.
If the DOT were to implement a carry-on fee, how would you want DOT to require airlines to disclose those fees? Is the DOT on track with its current proposals?
Welcome to regulation room kas and thanks for the informative first post. You have provided the community with some interesting information.
Kas, where do you fall on the peanut issue? Do you think that it should be banned or only banned if animals are banned? Or something else?
What do others think about this information about asthma-related deaths? What effect should this have on the proposed peanut rule?
Thanks for the very complete answers to DOT’s questions Dave. Please feel free to comment on the other topics as well.
Dave brings up an interesting point about security restrictions and epi-pens. Do restrictions exist against bringing epi-pens on planes? Has anyone had experience with these restrictions? Should these restrictions influence the regulation?
Thanks for the information Ruth. Do you think that the regulation should address EpiPens to avoid any potential problems?
Have others had similar or different experiences with EpiPens?
Thanks for the comment Kiminno.
Kiminno brings up an interesting point that might provoke some discussion. How can the information be presented in a way that is easy for the average traveler to understand? Is the best way to use colors? bold text? italics? charts? graphs? pictures? Is there some other method that would make things easier to understand?
Thanks, Kiminno. Note that the proposed regulation states that for delays longer then 2hrs, a passenger can receive compensation amounting to double the price of their ticket or up to $1300.
I understand that you think that the cap is too low, but does this doubling of the price of the ticket address your concern that non-refundable expenses should be paid for as well?
Or would you propose something like double the ticket price and expenses on top of that?
At what point, if any, do you think it becomes unfair for the airline to have to pay these expenses?