Flying frenzy. Who's to blame? Join the Live Chat
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Tonight, keeping them honest. How is it that some airline passengers who took to the skies for Christmas won't get home until after New Years. Breaking news tonight. An American aid worker held in a Haiti jail for 18 days on charges he used voodoo on a little boy is free tonight. We'll have the latest. And in our Extreme Living series we're looking at what drives people to push themselves to the extreme, not for survival, but as a way of life. Tonight we're interviewing a 14 year-old climber who has scaled 6 of the 7 summits, including Everest at 13.
Scroll down to join the live chat during the program. It's your chance to share your thoughts on tonight's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
Here are some of them:
1) Keep it short (we don't have time to read a "book")
2) Don't write in ALL CAPS (there's no need to yell)
3) Use your real name (first name only is fine)
4) No links
5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated; PG at worst - and that includes $#&*)
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My friend was going back to Colombia. I told her to call before going to the airport. Well the airline told her that if she didi not go to the airport they would not keep her seat. She got stuck at JFK for more than 36 hours. I think that in case of bad weather airlines , should not make people that have a place to stay go to the airport even if they are in nonrefundable tickets .
I would like to ask the question: what would passengers expect the airlines to do.....fly planes unsafe? The airlines don't make the regulations...they abide by them. Instead of getting mad at them....take it up with your gov leaders. Let's quit pointing the finger and work together. But yet again, weather and weather and no matter what the Pax Bill of Rights guy said...weather is NOT the airlines fault....proves his credibility!!! NONE
We seem to think regulations will cure the problems. We no longer have customer service in any other business, why should the airlines be any different. They know we have 'no choice' and when the weather gets bad the airlines must do what is necessary to protect their bottom line. And having people to communicate what is going on is not logic since they no longer have employees that handle customer issues. Call the recorded line, leave your name, number and complaint and someone will return your call, hopefully in the next 30 days. And if you think it was bad this time, wait until the next storm of regulations comes around.
@ Heather – Good Evening. I understand in your area there is a lot of snow. How are the flights there?
@Luigi: thank you for your post. Food for thought. It seems we are suffering in many businesses and service jobs from gross understaffing and overwork, fatigue, which creates alot of illness and absenteeism. All a result of cost containment measures.
I feel it is terrible that all these people are stranded at the airports since after Christmas and now may not get home till after New Year's. I understand that planes cannot fly in a snowstorm/blizzard but these people should have been notified when they could be able to get them on a flight instead of leaving them stranded at the airport for days on standby. And meanwhile other flights are going out, should not these people be allowed to fly home first? There has got to be a more organized system, and leaving the passengers in the dark just waiting endlessly is totally unfair.
I was scheduled to leave JFK yesterday and the flight was delayed 3 times with no explanation. Today around 8:am I received an e-mail cancellation noticed. This is crazy. Now, I took some very nice pictures at the gates that will clearly depict the lack of assistant from JetBlue... If any reported is interesting in posting them please let me know... You will shocked, they had one representative takeing care of more than 300 people... A must see injustice...
I guess if the airlines tried to fly in the bad weather and, God forbid, there is an accident, then its still the airlines fault. I guess the topic would be "Why are airplanes trying to fly in this kind of weather?" Really, I mean do we have to complain about EVERYTHING?
Airlines need more staffing in the airports.
Airlines need MANY more flights! NOW The cut back sucks!!!!!
Stop treating people like crap!
And ticket prices are awful.
@Starr,,I agree with you. Sometime's there are good reason's for air delay's. But they do need to work harder on the way people are held on planes for a long period of time.
When the airlines are able to use the reason "Cancelled due to weather" consumers should have the option of a refund or a voucher for a future flight . . . especially on an otherwise "non-refundable" ticket.
@Nina, I agree, always have a plan B as a just in case for things like weather
I bet with all the news coverage from stations like CNN, Haiti officials decided to release Paul Waggoner as who would want to travel to Haiti and help after viewing his experience.
Thank God Paul Wagganor is free!
What an outrage that he was held without charges for as long as he was in a Haitian prison!
Yes. "big Paul" & AC360 pushed it, and thank goodness this man is free.
Each airport should provide a video feed of information direct from the airlines that displays information on the status of each cancelled flight. This would alleviate the clogging of reservation telephone lines, while providing up to the minute information for stranded passengers, while also saving airport personnel, who have no control over the situation, from the anger of some passengers.
Please, everyone looking to blame someone. It is snow, it is an airplane. No one ever mentions the flight crews that are on board as well, hostile passengers who fail to realize we are there to rescue them, not be their servers. Entitlement, give us cheap tickets and don't be late...never mind safety and get a clue: it is December and we had 30 inches of snow in the NY area. "Stranded" ...please, some people around the world would love to be stranded inside somewhere. Be glad to be alive and safe. Period.
there should be a law enforcing full refunds for cancelled flights... like in the EU!
Delighted to see Paul Waggoner now freed from the prison in Haiti
I had a relative tht was stranded all day, it was terrible unfair service, the passenger bill of rights must be enforced, new techniques should be practiced and placed; the airlines lie and are not proactive on the phone...
@ Megan Dresslar
Winter conditions + Holiday season often = disaster
@Heather: Yes, I agree–those poor employees at the ticket counters and at the gates, etc. They take such a beating when something goes wrong. It's not their fault. I heard someone say today that we have become a nation of wimps. We expect instant satisfaction for everything. No matter the horrible blizzard, THEIR snow should be gone immediately, their flight shouldn't be cancelled, they should not be inconvenienced, if they drive and get stuck, they should get rescued immediately.
That last comment was key. The reason I went to the aiport was becasue I ahd a cheapo non refundable etc... airticket. But I knew that when I bought the ticket and I knew it during the several days of inconvenience. In the event the airline did reshcedule the flight for no fee. And that was on a rock bottom fare on Aeroflot. Go Russia!
Maybe if the airlines refuse to change their business model the airports should buy the right equipment to cope? For example, cots and blankets.
And make sure they have vendors open late that sell jackets, gloves, wool socks and fleece hoodies for those passengers who show up at airports between flights without the right clothing.
Airports, airlines & gov't. regulators could work together to make snowstorms more bearable, but instead they tend to shift blame and point fingers.
All this is a total mayhem. The lack of regulation that protects travelers and clearly defines responsibilities is a shame. The European Union has a very clear passenger rights law that protects customers. We should have one
Might be a good idea if you see terrible amount snow and blizzard conditions to change your travel arrangements... Especially during the holiday season when flights are filled to capacity.
I just flew a week before christmas and there was a delay for my plane due to a bird, but they allowed people to get on and off the plane so I can say that not all airlines will keep people on board during delays
Has anyone checked into the other main reason the many flights have been canceled? The reason is "Airline Under Staffing" you will not hear anything about this because the Companies are required to keep more on than they are by FAA.
This is FACT..Flight Attendants calling in sick, Out of Base, Ticket Agents out sick, Employees over worked...This industry is running on Crew Skeleton..CEO's continue take big money, and Unions continue to Bed with them, while FAA continues to not get involved PERIOD!!
Airfares aren't that cheap anymore. Don't know why you'd say they are.
I like the suggestion of putting the CEO's of the airlines in economy class and holding them on a plane for hours.
Just don't forget a bunch of children between the ages of 2-10 too.
If anyone must call all airlines before you travel home be prepare to check-in due weather comes in to rebook again, I agree all of bloggers says.
Did that guy just say that it is absurd that the airlines are not responsible for the weather?
Outdated business model-I agree.
I understand delays....no problem with that, it is when they don't let you off the plane to wait in the airport I have a problem with....there should be a limit as to the the time you can be kept contained.
Silly regulations?
Cancelling flights does not leave people at home. It leaves them at transit airports.
Due to weather conditions, 10,000 flights along the East Coast have been canceled since Saturday...yikes
Nina,
I agree with you, Yes, Yikes is right!
I think I'd rather be trapped in the airport crowded with people then to be trapped in a crowded plane on the tarmac.
When you have Knee jerk reactions (the passenger bill of rights) to inconvenience, of course you are going to have unforeseen consequences. This time though, it was foreseeable that airlines would cancle flights rather than risk fines. Expect some more knee jerk leislation is reposnse to this winter.
Yes. weather events do make a mess of things.
However, keeping people in planes for hours & hours is Not acceptable.
The air transportation system needs to work TOgether when these kind of events occur. A good communication system is very necessary.
Everyone, please bear with my typo's as i have broken my glasses and cannot see well, thanks.
I feel for the airline employees at the ticket counters who have to put up with the yelling and complaints that the customers are giving them. i give them alot of credit and think they deserve a raise for having to endure the brunt of customers yelling and screaming
Good evening everyone.
Looking forward to the show tonight.
Good evening Randi Kaye and fellow bloggers. I know it was a horrible storm with 20" of snow but all those planes stuck out there is just horrible. Then again you fly at your own risk when the weather is that bad or for that matter you shouldn't be surprised if your car gets stuck interminably if you decide to drive in it. It's twice as bad because it was at Christmas and people took chances they wouldn't normally take.
Good evening Randi-Kaye Team 360 & other bloggers
Due to weather conditions, 10,000 flights along the East Coast have been canceled since Saturday...yikes
I accept their apology all airlines comment, No problem.
I really do not understand why people get upset at something the airlines and their employees cannot control. It's the weather, not the airlines, it's not like the airlines planned for this to happen
Oh wow!!!!! That's so outraged I have people are trapped at airports!!!!! Yikes! I agree with Randi.
Food evening Randi-Kaye & Team 360.
Hello, Nichole, Nancy, Megan, Emily, JoAnn, Mike, Casey, Nina, Samantha, Sharon H.....
Get over it everyone. Extreme weather is going to cause travel problems.
It is a tribute to airline, regulators and airports that there have been no accidents.
If only ski slope operations were as safe.
Helloooo Randi, (Anderson), Megan, Susan, Jane, Martina, Nicole, Kim, Emily, Gloria, Mike, Casey, Milan, Vivan, Gabriela, Cessy, Paula, Isabel, David-Indiana, JoAnn, Monica, Kathy, Jane, Gayle, Renee, Caroline, (Danie), Lori, (Adelaide), Heather, BettyAnn, Starr, Sharon, A. Smith, Devin, Karin, Dulcie, Michael, Karen, Miranda, Sree, Nancy, Sue, Kenya, Libby, Nina, Samantha, others and my friend Facebook Bloggers!!!!
Yay!!!!!! I am so happy for Paul Waggoner release from jail in Haiti.
Evening everyone