Why Airlines Treat You Like Servile Larvae
Deregulation was pushed as the ultimate in efficiency for travelers. The emphasis was low fares and better service because unfettered competition would be best for all concerned. Since deregulation, the America Society of Travel Agents cites over 200 airlines that have filed for bankruptcy causing massive resource dislocation. When an airline is going out of business, its passengers get what is the cheapest service to serve the airline’s debts. And if forcing the passengers to sit for 4 to 11 hours on the tarmac while the carrier tries to make money so be it.
Horror stories about lack of food and sanitation shall be presented this week to the appropriate House of Representatives Committee in an effort to rectify a situation which in 1999 the airlines claimed that they could solve by voluntary methods.
Former U. S. Senator Fritz Hollings of South Carolina told the then President of U. S. Air, Steve Wolfe, that the plan which Wolfe had to merge United Airlines with U.S Air was a plan for monopoly. Mr. Wolfe did admit that if he could bring off the merger that he would be paid a bonus of $30 million. Evidently what starts off as competition may end as monopoly if the legacy carriers have their way.
Competition from foreign carriers such as Virgin Atlantic is verbotten. Under PL 99-234 only U. S. flag carriers can be used by companies having contracts with the United States. Further all troops sent to Iraq and other areas where the Department of Defense finds it necessary are carried on American Flag carriers such as United, America, and Delta. Haliburton is not the only company benefiting from non-bid contracts.
And irony of ironies, while Jet Blue is presented its own unenforceable Bill of Rights for Passengers, the Air Transport Association which lobbies Congress for Jet Blue will be opposing any bill of rights. The Air Transport Association sees no need for regulation as the airlines provide all the rights which passengers need already.