There's actually something to be HAPPY about today. Yes, friend -- good news out of Washington on Tuesday, as the Obama Administration finally took action against airlines and decreed that passengers may no longer be forced to sit on the runway for more than three hours at a time. Here's the story, which tells us that "airlines could now be fined $27,500 per passenger for each violation of the new three-hour limit." Very nice!
You may recall that I wrote about the outrageous phenomenon of long tarmac waits some months ago. It's rare that I get truly upset by a news story, but the tale of airline passengers forced to sit inside a plane FOR NO REASON for EIGHT FRIGGIN' HOURS made me want to smack somebody. THANK GOD that the US government has actually done something to help the Average Joe in a practical way for once. Ya know, for all of the jabs that I take at Obama, I gotta say that I can't picture certain OTHER administrations doing something like this, and I salute the Prez on this day.
Of course, I STILL think that a three-hour wait is far too long. It should have been more like one hour. I don't know about you, but I personally can't sit in a stuffy aluminum tube without moving in some way for more than 60 minutes. Once I hit the hour mark of pointless idling, I get antsy, and my chances of ripping open the emergency exit and jumping out toward freedom rise considerably. Nevertheless, I'm glad to see progress has been made on at least ONE little issue this year. It's a crumb, to be sure; but I'll take what I can get.
Now Merry X-Mas to you.
b.
Maybe this will be a catalyst for airlines to get their act together. They most likely would not want to pay out that kind of money, but then again, how will this be enforced?
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