Here's an organization that workes tirelessly for a bill of rights.  They've made some progress, but need our help.  Volunteer time or money, as I do, to help them represent our interests.

http://www.flyersrights.com/

Start naming the bad airlines, then people can boycott them. When visiting in Canada I used Air Canada, that was a night mare from the rude ground crews to the rude air crew. On the return trip I was told to use Westjet, this airline has got it together, was a very pleasant experience. We could use their service in the USA. I have used JetBlue and had no complaints with their service.

If the people on this thread would start naming the bad and good airlines it would be a start on getting the message out to the airlines that the passengers are not going to put up with any more bad services from the airlines.

Kendall-1024163... Thanks for that link. I went to it and signed the petition.

I have always had good service with the overseas airlines. They treat you like a paying customer who wants your business again.

It's really a shame that organizations like this has to be created to force corporations to do the right thing. It's even worse when corporations would rather send lobbyists to keep government out of the picture but yet continue to abuse their customers. It should never get to a "what if someone went into a medical emergency".

it is criminal, "habeas corpus" it is illegal to detain or confine anyone with out do cause! but the government refuses the enforce the laws.. can we say special; interest

I'm surprised the situation didn't deteriorate into something physical. Airline customer service went right out the window after 9/11. They impose their will on us wherever there's another dollar to be made, and they stand at the ready to unleash the law on ordinary protesting citizens, labeling them as risks to flight crew...in other words if you don't do (with a smile) as they say, they have authority to treat you like a terrorist! I absolutely hate the airline industry.

Hear, hear! My sentiments exactly.

Congress doesn't care, didn't you hear? They just approved the purchase of 8 jets for their own personal travel, at a cost of $540 million dollars. This doesn't affect them.

Actually the House turned them down last night. The Senate is the body expected to put up a fierce fight for VIP jets.

Yes! A class action suit would be just the "ticket". What if a passenger had chest pains...a stroke? No food...no bathroom facilities? Unbelievable.....Then what? This is asinine.

This just kills me. These are the same corporations that will scream and whine about the government sticking their nose in private business. It seems that they just refuse to do the right thing unless they're made to do it.

Makes me sick that you have to have legislate decency.

Then you wouldn't get anywhere if you decide to leave during busy times at larger airports. There is a spacing requirement between aircraft departures. When a larger airdraft departs infront of a smaller commuter it can be as much a 4-5 minutes. If you are sitting on the ground at JFK with 30 other aircraft it is a natural delay, or would you like to take off and die. And don't think that I am exagerating this.

I hear what you're saying, Frustrated Pilot, but 9 HOURS!! The least they could do is bring them food and water. The last time this happened the people were stuck on the plane for 6 hours, no food, no water, no toilets! That's ridiculous!

I do agree that 9 hours is rediculous. My airline states that 4 hours and we can make the call to go back. The company in the MN incident is to blame here, they would not allow the pilots to deplane the aircraft. If it was me I would have deplaned and answered the questions from the company later. I sure as heck wouldn't want to sit on that aircraft for that long either.

9hrs!?!?I understand wait times between flights...but this is CRAZY! I applaud you for saying you would've dealt with the questions later. What was going on around the plane? Anything? My mind can't even comprehend what that was like. I was stuck for about 20 minutes and thought I was going to go insane!

We would've had a SERIOUS problem if I was on that plane. I would've 'nutted-up' (went crazy)..

Okay...nine hours in a plane is horrible...but in NO WAY is it worse than what Vick did to those dogs...let's keep it in perspective here! Vick strung up and electrocuted dogs...that is inexcusable.

Seriously. Michael Vick should have stayed in prison for the rest of his life based on what he did to those poor dogs. It disgusts me that some stupid people don't think what he did was all that bad. Jesus.

Michael Vick is a killer, not a kidnapper.......INEXCUSEABLE!!!!!!

amen!!!! Criminally responsible for kidnapping!

At least you got home safely!!!!

frustrated pilot - we know it's not your fault, but just getting home safely is still NOT GOOD ENOUGH. There's only one acceptable cause of delay - weather. Anything else is not.

There are those of us disabled, who limit ourselves to 4 hr trips due to the inaccessability of bathrooms. This situation could have meant kidney damage for sure!

As an airline captain I take issue with this. Yes you are correct we get paid only when we are away from the gate, but this in no way influences my decision to pull away from the gate. There are a whole host of other issues that go along with the decision to load and go our pay is generally not on that list. Gate availability for incoming flights, taxi time at current airport, FAA flow control into destination, weather at both airports, and the list goes on and I'm not being paid to write a dissertation on departure decisions. This was an isolated incident handled pi$$ poorly by the respective airport and airline managements. Maybe it is time for a passenger bill of rights but be careful what you ask for when the gov't gets involved it will get screwed up. Let your wallet do the talking. If JetBlue keeps you in JFK on Valentine's Day for six hours and you by a ticket with them six months later you have no basis for complaints.

Every time an airplane "docks" at a gate, the airline has to pay a gate fee. So naturally, it is less expensive to just make the passengers wait on the airplane than to pay the gate fee. It boils down to extra profit for the airlines. They really could care less about the passengers comfort or health.

The captain who responded to this agreed with the pilot pay but claimed it did not influence his decision! Fine, he may do the right thing regardless, but many other pilots will not! It appears that there is a financial interest for both the airlines and the pilots to strand their passengers in these situations! Obviously, that makes it likely it will continue. Congress needs to act. In fact, a law against this should have been passed years ago. All congress has to do is authorize civil lawsuits in these cases -- that will take care of it, because it will remove the financial incentive to strand passengers.

The real financial incentive comes when we stop buying the absolute cheapest ticket without thinking and consider an airlines reputation. It doesn't take many empty seats to make a real difference on an airlines profits. If only 7% of the passengers made a decision not to fly with that airline and the seats were empty, it would have a big effect. We need to take responsibility for our decisions and not expect the government to protect us from things we can change ourselves.

Agree! We The People must take responsibility and, as the pilot above said, let our wallets do the talking! Keep the government out!! Every time the government gets involved, it gets screwed up.

We must not turn into a socialist nanny welfare state with the damn government dictating everything. People, take responsibility for your own life!!!

This story angers me and I sure hope every passenger sues the living lights out of those responsible. If I'd been on that damn plane, I would have released the emergency exits and said "F*** this s***!!"

Are you for real? Michael Vick drowned, electrocuted, and beat dogs to death. You really think this is worse?

Michael Vick is a killer, not a kidnapper................INEXCUSEABLE

Are you kidding me???? Typical response from a moron! What vick did was wrong and he was punished. Your talking about dogs though. Why is it that you don't get outraged when people are abused?? I hate you people more than anything else! You care more about animals than human beings and that's sick.

I'm with you, Zman55. See the USA in your Chevrolet, or Toyota, or whatever. You can stop when you like, enjoy the scenery, have your car when you get where you are going. You are in control. I used to love to fly -- not any more.

Me too...thinking about buying a vacation home for excellent relaxation (right now it's good time to buy) and not to worry about TSA, plane delays, etc.

RUSS!?

I hear you, that's what I do. I laugh everytime somebody complains to me about their nightmare experience at the airline. My reply is always than stop flying, or stop bitching about it!

Are you kidding me?? b i t c h i n g is not a curse!!! America the free, yeah right it's more llike communism at it's best. Good ole sensorship in America what else is new!