It’s time for Airline Re-Regulation! The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 deregulated the airline industry in the United States, removing the Federal Government’s control over airfares, routes and entry of new airlines into the market. Introducing a free market to the airline industry lead to a dramatic increase in the number of flights, decreases in fares, and an increase in the number of passengers and miles flown.
The last thirty years may have given us more opportunities to fly, but at the cost of poorer customer service, overcrowding, discomfort, hostile cabin environments, and flat out “air rage”! Flying in 2017 has resulted in cabin fist fights, passengers being dragged from planes, overbooking, and cabin attendants threatening passengers and misstating the law.
We don’t want our government to overburden businesses with regulations, but it is not unreasonable to demand that our government to establish a basic level service below which the airlines cannot fall. The airlines have proven that Americans need this protection, a protection that the industry appears to be quite unwilling to provide.
Airline Passenger Act of 2018
The New American Party is now advocating for a new Airline Passenger Bill of Rights in 2018 – airline re-regulation, if you will – to address abuses by the airline industry reported repeatedly the past few years. The new regulations include the following:
- Minimum Economy seat width of 18.5 inches between arm rests.
- Minimum Economy seat pitch of 35 inches.
- Planes may not be boarded until take-off is guaranteed within 30 minutes of door closer.
- Passengers must be deplaned within 40 minutes of touchdown. If a gate is not available passengers must be deplaned using portable stairs or other vehicles and transported to the terminals by bus.
- Passengers must be allowed a carry-on and one bag under their fare.
- Passengers must be offered beverage service for flights over 2 hours. (For a fee)
- Passengers must be offered meal service for flights over 4 hours. (For a fee)
- Tickets are a contract with the buyer and the seat is the buyers whether he or she uses it or not.
- Tickets may be transferred to other parties as long as the airline receives 48 hours notification and neither check-in nor boarding passes printed.
- Passengers may not be bumped except in the case of medical emergencies.
- No overbooking allowed.
Will prices increase? Probably. Will the quality of service and flying experience improve? Absolutely! Why is this needed? Because the airlines have proven they cannot be trusted to provide an acceptable, fundamental level of service in their unbridled pursuit of profits. The airlines have shown a complete disregard for their captive customers who have no other real purchase “choices”.
The airlines are regulated in other ways regarding mandatory mechanical inspections after a specific number of hours flown and T&L’s, and flights crews have a limited number of hours they can work for safety sake. A few more regulations to protect the customers will not be an undue burden. Are Americans willing to pay a little more for better quality of service…to “fly the friendly skies” once more? The New Americans are! How about you?