WASHINGTON, April 29 (UPI) -- A passengers' "bill of rights" goes into effect in the United States, with an eye on ending seemingly interminable waits aboard aircraft waiting to take off.
While thousands of U.S. passenger flights each day leave on time, occasional delays -- caused perhaps by issues with the aircraft or weather -- grabbed attention when passengers were kept on planes sitting on the ground for hours.
The result was the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights, which went in effect Thursday, a measure that forces airlines to provide stranded passengers with water, food, adequate restrooms and proper ventilation and air temperature control when aircraft are delayed from taking off.
Passengers will be given the opportunity to leave the aircraft if the delay hits the 3-hour mark. Airlines and airports also need to develop plans, submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation, regarding the handling of delays. Airlines could be fined if found in violation.
However, airlines analysts say this could exacerbate other problems, since airlines would likely just cancel the flight rather than face the fine, forcing travelers to try to find alternate flights on planes that are probably already crowded.
