DOT Announcement a Step Forward for Airline Passengers' Rights ... But Still No Promise of Basic Human Standards on Delayed Aircraft!

NAPA, Calif., May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kate Hanni, Founder of CPR, Health and Safety issued the following statement.

"Today's DOT Announcement is a small but important victory for airline travelers who've found themselves stuck on the tarmac on a diverted or canceled flight. At least the Government will force the airlines to document and report these incidences where people leave the gate and fly at tarmac level for hours on end. Our Coalition discovered that diverted and canceled flights were not counted for "Time on the Tarmac" and we can take credit for this victory. Airline Passengers will also get better disclosure up front, at the point of purchase, regarding baggage fees, another victory for the Coalition!

It's important to recognize that we have been down this road before with this administration -- today's DOT announcement is no exception. Although any improvement that DOT puts in place to help passengers is a step in the right direction, it simply does not go far enough in meeting the very basic needs of protecting and legal rights for the flying public. The DOT should embrace the efforts of our growing coalition in ensuring that airline passengers have rights when boarding a plane.

We want to thank Secretary Peters, but the flying public still deserves better," said Kate Hanni, CPRHS. "We will not rest until Congress gives the flying public basic rights and protections in the form of a passenger's bill of rights that includes 3 hours for deplanement, food, potable water and hygienic toilets during delays," said Kate.

Our coalition remains committed to the efforts of Senators, Boxer and Olympia Snowe who have fought for the flying public in Congress over the last 12 months. The rest of Congress now needs to put partisan politics aside and give airline passengers' the protections they need when they board a plane.

(CPRHS) is the largest non-profit consumer group for airline passengers in the U.S. & is the fastest growing grassroots coalition in history with over 23,000 members since being established February 10th, 2007. For info. kate@flyersrights.com www.flyersrights.org. Our 24/7 hotline number is 1-877- FLYERS6.

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Source: Coalition for an Airline Passengers Bill of Rights

CONTACT: Coalition for Airline Passengers Rights, Health and Safety
(CPRHS) Formerly, CAPBOR, Kate Hanni, Exec. Dir., +1-707-337-0328

Web site: http://www.flyersrights.com/

2008-05-19 06:09:07 0364644 PRNEWSWIRE