Tarmac Task Force Not So Forceful

A federal “tarmac task force” gathered today to vote on a set of guidelines that airports and airlines should use when dealing with passengers who are trapped on the tarmac when planes are delayed. After a year of brainstorming ways to help travelers, the task force came to a lukewarm decision. The guidelines passed in today’s vote yield recommendations rather than requirements, providing feeble help to passengers.

The biggest criticism thus far is that the guidelines do not define the amount of time which constitutes a “lengthy onboard ground delay.” Rather, it provides a recommended contingency plan for airlines to consider when faced with such circumstances, allowing airlines the freedom to act in their own discretion.  

However, the plan’s recommendations do intend to improve customer service during these delays. The recommendations address basic passenger needs such as ample information about the problem, the ability to communicate with friends and family, food and hydration, bathroom use, and a clean environment while waiting out the delay. The contingency plans provide certain ways in which these needs can be met, such as updating passengers every 15 minutes.

According to a statement from the American Society of Travel Agents, a member of the task force:

ASTA voted in favor of the final report, but did not do so because we thought it was the perfect realization of our long-standing goal of improving the treatment of air travelers. It was not. But it does represent a meaningful step toward that goal and, if taken seriously by airlines and airports, will make a major contribution toward improving the care of passengers during the unpredictable but inevitable flight delays caused by weather, mechanical issues, congestion and infrastructure shortcomings.

We agree that this is a fine first step, but we’d like to see actual requirements put in place soon.

Read more: For more ways the federal government can assist travelers, read contributing editor Christopher Elliott’s column, Dear Mr. President… (Part 1 and Part 2) from the November/December issue of Traveler. 

Photo: Sraddhaputra via the Intelligent Travel Flickr pool