Comments on: Sky-high government fines against United, US Airways for safety violations http://www.elliott.org/blog/sky-high-government-fines-against-united-us-airways-for-safety-violations/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Travel News – 'Naked' Scanner, 150 Miles, Reviewers Sued, Snow Virgins, Underwater Museum, FAA Fines | The Amateur Traveler Travel Podcast - best places to travel http://www.elliott.org/blog/sky-high-government-fines-against-united-us-airways-for-safety-violations/comment-page-1/#comment-65564 Travel News – 'Naked' Scanner, 150 Miles, Reviewers Sued, Snow Virgins, Underwater Museum, FAA Fines | The Amateur Traveler Travel Podcast - best places to travel Sun, 06 Mar 2011 04:57:19 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8944#comment-65564 [...] becoming eerier over time.The FAA is continuing their get tough stance with the airlines.Sky-high government fines against United, US Airways for safety violationsIn yet another sign that the government has adopted a “get tough” approach in dealing with the [...] [...] becoming eerier over time.The FAA is continuing their get tough stance with the airlines.Sky-high government fines against United, US Airways for safety violationsIn yet another sign that the government has adopted a “get tough” approach in dealing with the [...]

]]> By: Tim@OKC http://www.elliott.org/blog/sky-high-government-fines-against-united-us-airways-for-safety-violations/comment-page-1/#comment-25465 Tim@OKC Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:07:29 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8944#comment-25465 Key point of the story, the government "proposed" the amounts of the fines, NOT mandated the amount of the fines. Keep following this story through its lifecycle, I'd be surprised if the airlines end up paying an amount equal to 10% of the "proposed" fines. We see it over and over where the FAA sets a fine, only to give in to political/airline lobby pressure and reduces the amount of the fine to chump change. Meanwhile the (all) airlines continue with poor maintenance/customer service and get by with it. Key point of the story, the government “proposed” the amounts of the fines, NOT mandated the amount of the fines. Keep following this story through its lifecycle, I’d be surprised if the airlines end up paying an amount equal to 10% of the “proposed” fines. We see it over and over where the FAA sets a fine, only to give in to political/airline lobby pressure and reduces the amount of the fine to chump change. Meanwhile the (all) airlines continue with poor maintenance/customer service and get by with it.

]]> By: Bill http://www.elliott.org/blog/sky-high-government-fines-against-united-us-airways-for-safety-violations/comment-page-1/#comment-25426 Bill Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:07:24 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8944#comment-25426 Someone should be in jail for these violations, not getting fines. Someone should be in jail for these violations, not getting fines.

]]> By: MarkieA http://www.elliott.org/blog/sky-high-government-fines-against-united-us-airways-for-safety-violations/comment-page-1/#comment-25423 MarkieA Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:50:39 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8944#comment-25423 @Zach Everson Exactly! Now, if the fines could be imposed such that the airlines were forced to take them out of profits, or CEO bonuses... @Zach Everson

Exactly! Now, if the fines could be imposed such that the airlines were forced to take them out of profits, or CEO bonuses…

]]> By: Carver Farrow http://www.elliott.org/blog/sky-high-government-fines-against-united-us-airways-for-safety-violations/comment-page-1/#comment-25421 Carver Farrow Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:27:47 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8944#comment-25421 @Zach I'm sure they would if they could. However, in many markets, air travel is a commodity and thus the airlines have little pricing power over the baseline ticket. More likely, they would try to recoup the revenue from an ancillary source, i.e. more secondary fees. @Zach

I’m sure they would if they could. However, in many markets, air travel is a commodity and thus the airlines have little pricing power over the baseline ticket. More likely, they would try to recoup the revenue from an ancillary source, i.e. more secondary fees.

]]> By: Zach Everson http://www.elliott.org/blog/sky-high-government-fines-against-united-us-airways-for-safety-violations/comment-page-1/#comment-25417 Zach Everson Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:43:07 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8944#comment-25417 Any chance that the airlines will just pass along those fines to passengers? Any chance that the airlines will just pass along those fines to passengers?

]]> By: Justin http://www.elliott.org/blog/sky-high-government-fines-against-united-us-airways-for-safety-violations/comment-page-1/#comment-25415 Justin Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:12:06 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8944#comment-25415 Airlines have the auto industry mentality. Who recalls the story of the Chevy Corvair. It was a death trap on wheels. Yet, it continued to be sold. What about the Mustang and the gas tank rupturing? My point. It seems the airlines figure it's cheaper to keep up the bad behavior and pay the fines, than to do anything meaningful to fix it. Basically, if a plane crashes, all the money we've saved by neglecting will more than cover the lawsuits. We walk away ahead and no less for wear. Justin Airlines have the auto industry mentality. Who recalls the story of the Chevy Corvair. It was a death trap on wheels. Yet, it continued to be sold. What about the Mustang and the gas tank rupturing? My point. It seems the airlines figure it’s cheaper to keep up the bad behavior and pay the fines, than to do anything meaningful to fix it. Basically, if a plane crashes, all the money we’ve saved by neglecting will more than cover the lawsuits. We walk away ahead and no less for wear.

Justin

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