Source:	NAPC (www.napconline.org)
Headlines:	Airlines Resist Honesty Policy for Late Flight Notification Story
"Once again the airline industry is trying to thwart Congress' efforts to rescue delay-weary passengers," says Scott W. Reed, Spokesman for the National Airline Passengers Coalition. "And you can bet they'll spend millions of dollars fighting legislation that requires them to tell the truth about flight delays." " On June 20 House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) plans a hearing on whether the airlines should be required to warn passengers about chronically-delayed flights or clarify what passengers can expect during long delays. "If a particular flight is late or canceled 40 percent of the time or more, airlines should be required to tell customers at the time of booking," says Reed. "If other industries pulled the stunts the airlines pull, they'd be out of business." says Reed. "When was the last time you purchased a movie ticket for 5 p.m. but were stuck waiting in the lobby with your popcorn for three hours, only to find out later that your movie is delayed 40 percent of time. Most people would choose another form of entertainment." S. 319, a bill proposed by Senators McCain, Hutchison, and Hollings, is coming up for a Senate vote and would require truthful disclosure among other basic passengers' rights provisions. "The Air Transport Association contends that major airlines shouldn't have to inform passengers of delays and cancellations because smaller carriers and travel agents don't have to," says Reed. "That's absurd. The airlines sell millions of tickets every month and yet they refuse to be honest with their own customers. Smaller airlines and travel agents aren't the problem." "If the airlines are so worried about tarnishing their reputation, they should tell the truth about delays, assist stranded passengers, and work toward solutions to end the national travel crisis," says Reed. The National Airline Passengers Coalition (NAPC) is a non-profit organization that seeks to protect the interests of airline passengers by persuading Congress to enact a "Passengers' Bill of Rights," and by holding the airline industry accountable for sub-standard service and safety practices.