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Kate needs your help

April 5, 2007

Readers of this site have followed the brave efforts of Kate Hanni as she’s fought for a Passengers Bill of Rights. And many of you have told me that you think it’s time for our elected representatives to take some action. Well, I received a call from one of Kate’s people yesterday, and now it’s time for us to put up. Kate’s going to Washington — and she needs your support.

Kate will be testifying in Washington on April 11. She will, as her spokeswoman put it, “be speaking for the elderly who aren’t physically able to camp out in an airport or sit on a plane for hours. She will be speaking for diabetics and other health risks who would suffer from not being able to eat or drink for many hours in a plane. She will be speaking for children who could find themselves delayed and searching for a place to sleep overnight while traveling alone.”

In other words, she’ll be speaking for you.

But she can’t do it alone. She needs to be surrounded by people who support her cause. “If Washington doesn’t see that the public strongly supports this cause, the Bill of Rights is headed for failure,” she told me. “The voice of the people can only be heard if Kate doesn’t show up alone.”

It’s true. As I’ve noted in this blog, there have been lots of attempts at passing a bill of rights. All have failed.

If you’re in Washington and can attend the hearing, please contact Kathi at kathi@flyersrights.com for more information.

Good luck, Kate.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

3 comments

  • Benjamin Strong

    We have needed a Passenger Bill of Rights for many years and our airline has steadily gone down-hill. I use Delta, normally since I have many SkyMiles because of my AMEX card and USAir when I can’t get a Delta flight. Both provide equally bad service.

  • Sarah

    I won’t be in DC, but go Kate!

  • John Watson

    Be very careful what you wish for. I flew for Delta Air Lines for 33 years.
    Speaking from experience, it’s my opinion that the “bill of rights” will
    hurt far more that it would help.
    I place the blame for the horror stories of being stranded on the tarmac for hours right on the pilot and local operations.
    During the 5 years I flew international out of JFK if a “bill” had been in
    place it would have screwed up things far more than the normal JFK delays.
    Let’s say the 2 hour, or whatever, delay time is up and the aircraft has to
    return to the gate….
    1. 1/2 the passengers would not want to return and the other 1/2 might.
    2. It may be next to impossible to get back to the gate. They don’t keep
    taxiways open or have taxiways that you can just zip back to the gate.
    Literally the way to the gate may be blocked by other airplanes.
    3. Airline A may not want airline B to use it’s gates.
    4. When and if you return to the gate what happens to the baggage?
    5. Airline staffing at the minimum level will preclude rapid rebooking, meal
    vouchering, hoteling, etc. You may have 2 agents trying to rebook 300
    passengers.
    I could go on and on but I think you get the idea.
    The bill of rights is a very bad idea.
    Oh, and I have no reason to promote the airlines. Delta took over 1/2 my
    pension away after their bankruptcy, no love there.

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