Wait! Let me make sure I understand: Getting the federal government involved in this is supposed to SOLVE the problem?

Open up domestic routes to foreign competitors

Although, I have not experienced these delays as other people. (Maybe because I ALWAYS fly Southwest?)

But unless something is done, people will start finding alt travel means such as trains and cars.

I do enjoy flying myself. However, I always, ALWAYS prefer driving because I get to decide when I leave and how many stops I wish to take along the way.

When the airlines goes under do not bail them out.

Please tell Mr. Bush to start spending the avaition trust fund that we flyers have been paying into forever instead of holding onto it so he can use it to help defray the budget deficit. It’s our money!

The problem is one of airspace congestion.

The so-called ‘Regional Jet’ is being stuffed down consumers throats on longer and longer routes!

The newest tout for saving the harried executive is the oncoming VLJ (Very Light Jet). This aircraft will carry 2 pilots and 4 passengers but will utilize the same ATC resources as a large jetliner carrying 245 passengers!

I ask you, which is the most efficient usage of the limited resources? Small aircraft or large aircraft?

My suggestion would be to drastically limit aircraft with less than 99 seats during peak usage times at airports with limited capacity: NYC region primarily! Other high usage airports such as Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Los Angeles International should be limited on smaller aircraft also.

Since his “Base” never flies commercial, it’s a stretch to think that very much Presidential “Capital” will be expended in the interests of Airline Passenger problems.

If your flight is delayed, baggage lost (or if it takes too long to get to you once you arrive), or you are stuck on the run way (coming in or going out) for more than a set time-you get a bunch of frequent flyer miles.

The aware has to be large enough to be meaningful to those who do not fly much to motivate them to take another flight with this airline. It also has to be a big enough penalty of additonal miles to the frequent flier.

Further the extra miles can be used at anytime and are not subject to a blackout. In other words to be a real penalty to the airline they are just like cash.

Frequent travelers will not be as upset when they are inconvienced as they know they are getting a lot of new miles. Casual travlers are getting the chance to earn a free flight if they fly one or more times. The airlines are penalized but with the casual travler they may be motivated to buy a ticket sooner than later.

Absolutely, his Royal Highness The W is going to ride in on his white and blue 747, wave his staff, and instantly suspend the laws of physics until further notice. Well, isn’t that special…!?

He should also order the airlines to serve cake during gate holds, and weather delays, too.

Without a plan for more runways, this is just more of too little, way too late. The consequences of which are only beginning.

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

He should declare war on all the airlines and invade the airports immediately.

Build more Airports or develop fast railways system like Eurpoe has.

Two situations need to change:

1) Break up the hub operation that requires all the airplanes to fly in all at the same time, quickly exchange passengers, then all fly out again at the same time.

2) Eliminate the pilot rule that they get full flight time pay for when the aircraft is away from the gate but still on the ground. What incentive does the flight crew have to stop at the gate and end the flight if they can sit on the ground away from the gate and get full flight pay and accumulate monthly flight hour requirements for doing absolutely nothing?

You’re doing a heck of a job.

So Bush wants the re-regulate the industry and have the government tell airlines what is appropriate customer service? I’ve sat on those planes and all it takes is faking deadly illness to get back to the gate and every cheers when you can walk off the plane with them!!

Institute a carbon tax on air travel, that will cut down on the # of flights, passengers. A portion of the funds goes towards hiring more qualified NSA agents, the balance to public transit systems.

“I don’t know about you, but the news that Mr. Bush is engaged in solving a problem of this magnitude is welcome indeed. At least it gives us something to smile about.”

Err, based on 7 years of historical performance, what makes you think the problem will be solved, or if anything, made far worse.

Yes, send him this web site and have him talk to the lady that put the thing together and began the fight, Kate Hanni. http://www.flyersrights.com/1.html

I think we should outsource the problem– let’s hire a private offshore company to handle the complaints!

Go private enterprise! Yay team!

Bring back the CAB. Many readers are too young to remember when the Civil Aeronautics Board regulated airline routes and rates, and the FAA regulated safety. When the airlines had little control over pricing or flight frequencies (prior to 1978) they competed by offering higher quality of customer service. Service? Now, there’s a novel concept…

Mr. Pollock seems to think it’s all about pilots being selfish and unmotivated to do anything… After all, if they push from the gate, hey, they are getting paid! What is their motivation to get passengers to their destination??? After all, they are getting paid for doing absolutely NOTHING!!!

Wow, if it were only so simple…

Pilots are only paid when the aircraft is ‘in motion’. That is, after it has left the gate. Yep, that much is true!

Faulty assumption however is that it is to the pilot’s benefit to dawdle and do nothing….

This is FAR from the case! A typical pilot’s day has 3 or somtimes 4 legs…. if ONE of those legs gets screwed up and goes beyond the scheduled time, then the pilot LOSES the remaining time! Sometimes as much as 75% of their scheduled work time! They then have to try to make it up…. Maybe they can, maybe not….

No silver lining here… Pilots get screwed just as much as the passengers when they cannot complete their scheduled trips within a reasonable amount of time…

Sorry Mr. Pollock, your assertion that the pilot’s don’t care or are ‘making money by doing nothing’ is absolutely not true in this case…

The govt should not be involved with a problem that the market place will solve

Extrapolating from Mr. Bush’s first seven years in office, I’m guessing his solution to travel woes will be two-part. 1) Reduce the tax rate on first-class and business class tickets. 2) Require full body searches for everyone in coach.

Everyone should write to their favorite airline carrier and request larger aircrafts with more seating. What happened to those 420 seat 747’s? Now the airline companies are trying to create a shortage of seats to boost prices. Enough with these 100 seat aircrats. Get bigger planes

Nice post, did enjoy reading and watching it you can hang out on site i have with alot of quotes!

I don’t reside in the US. Can anyone tell me about what exactly travel woes Americans experience include? I think travel woes can be worldwide? Airport management is definitely one thing, need more innovations as to the directions given in airport to those flight passengers who seem to get lost in such a huge complex all the time. And the logistics and everything inside airport needs to be in good hands. On flight though, I need the whole experience is based on price- I for one, wouldn’t complain about 2nd class service provided I can’t pay for 1st class. But the taxes though, I personally think there are more and more taxes for carbon and oil etc. We as travelers have no say. I wonder where can I channel my views on that to the policy makers.