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SENATE PASSES "AIRLINE PASSENGER BILL OF RIGHTS"
Earlier this week, the New York State Senate passed legislation to provide passengers stranded on airplanes at New York airports with certain basic amenities to make their wait more tolerable. The bill also creates a new Airline Consumer Advocate Office to help airline passengers in our state report air travel service problems.
Although we here in Western New York only think of the Greater Buffalo Niagara International Airport as our transportation hub, we need to keep in mind that our state is home to some of the world's busiest airports. In fact, many connections to Buffalo are made through either JFK airport or LaGuardia airport, so we do have a vested interest in the problems that travelers have experienced at these large volume facilities.
It's my feeling that in too many instances the airline industry has failed to exercise corporate responsibility by providing for the basic needs of their customers. This measure would set basic customer standards that all major airlines should follow. Included in the bill are provisions that all airlines in New York airports provide snacks and water, fresh air and power, and working rest rooms to passengers on any plane that has left the gate and been on the tarmac for more than four hours.
This legislation would also create the Office of Airline Consumer Advocate within the NYS Consumer Protection Board to provide the public with a New York-based consumer advocate and contact person who can help to coordinate with the appropriate airline industry officials and federal agencies in the event an incident occurs.
This law was suggested after the now famous "Valentine's Day" ice storm stranded passengers on planes on runways at downstate New York airports. Then on March 17th, another day-long ice storm forced airlines to strand hundreds more passengers at JFK for hours. Passengers onboard these planes complained of no food or water, overflowing toilets and no ventilation. While JetBlue has since announced their own passengers Bill of Rights that provides monetary compensation following such incidents, it does not require amenities be given to stranded passengers.
Although federal law places restrictions on what individual states can do when it comes to legislation relating to air travel, federal courts have held that the provision of "amenities' for air travelers is one area that states can legitimately address.
If you think this is a good idea, you can contact your State Assemblyman
and ask that it be passed by that house.
Senator William Stachowski
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