Scott en Aztlán wrote:
> There needs to be a reasonable time limit, after which the plane MUST
> either go to a gate or wheel over a stairway and let the passengers
> out of the plane. It's time the airlines stopped treating passengers
> as though they were self-loading cargo.
Northwest has a self-imposed 3 hour limit. I wonder why American doesn't
have something similar, given all the bad publicity other airlines have
earned after similar things happened.
At the time of the problems, American stated that the TSA had some strict
rules about using stairways at airports. They didn't say what they were,
but it wouldn't surprise me to see some bureaucratic restrictions that make
little sense, but prevent airlines from easily unloading passengers using
stairways where they don't normally use them. The airlines might have no
option of using them.
It also appears that Austin was understaffed. They normally handle far
fewer flights, and I bet a number of their regular employees were on
vacation, so when the rush of diverted planes hit, they couldn't do all the
things they needed to for the passengers. What do you want to bet that a
number of employees also refused overtime to be home with their own
families for new year? With all the job cuts, they likely don't feel they
owe the airline anything, and don't go out of their way. |