If more people could practice what happened on this Delta flight it would make us a bit nicer as a society.

https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/delta-air-lines-late-anxious-passengers-flight-attendant-master-class-empathy/91257595

Noel

This should be a rule, not a nice gesture.  When the flight will arrive late, the flight crew can check passengers' ticketing information and determine who has a connecting flight and how much time they will have to make that connection after landing.  They then inform al the other passengers that they must remain seated to allow the folks with less than, say, 45 minutes, to get to the gate for their connecting flight, to exit the plane first.

Moreover, flights that arrive more than 15-20 minutes late should require that the airline issue a partial refund, and the later the arrival the greater the refund.

We still don't have a passenger bill of rights, even though it's been in the works for years now.  You think maybe the airlines don't like the idea?  Mmmm...

Dave

21 minutes ago, dave2013 said:

We still don't have a passenger bill of rights, even though it's been in the works for years now.  You think maybe the airlines don't like the idea? 

That would be more government interference with private enterprise, like in the EU. Can't have that.

Cheers

 

1 hour ago, dave2013 said:

This should be a rule, not a nice gesture.  When the flight will arrive late, the flight crew can check passengers' ticketing information and determine who has a connecting flight and how much time they will have to make that connection after landing.  They then inform al the other passengers that they must remain seated to allow the folks with less than, say, 45 minutes, to get to the gate for their connecting flight, to exit the plane first.

Moreover, flights that arrive more than 15-20 minutes late should require that the airline issue a partial refund, and the later the arrival the greater the refund.

We still don't have a passenger bill of rights, even though it's been in the works for years now.  You think maybe the airlines don't like the idea?  Mmmm...

Dave

A LOT of that used to happen regularly. And I’ve seen it still happen. 

but I’ve also seen a seemingly inexorable increase in atrocious passenger behavior. 

im sure a lot of this “airline” behavior is a reflection of the regular abuse of flight crew by the “poor little passengers”. 

that said, the airlines do absolutely need their chain jerked, as well. 

1 hour ago, Luke said:

That would be more government interference with private enterprise, like in the EU. Can't have that.

Cheers

 

We get EXACTLY the government for which we vote. 

Guys, instead of morphing this thread into what or what the government should or should not do and drift into the forbidden topic of politics and getting the thread shut down lets talk about what we as individuals can do to help out those who need it.  I'll start with a couple of personal examples.

I'm not hurting so when I see someone who is, I try to help out.

A lady in front of me having items removed from her basket because she doesn't have enough money to pay for it I tell the checker to put the items back and I'll pay for her basket of groceries.

In the checkout line if I have a basket full of groceries and the person behind me has only a half basket full of groceries I allow them to go ahead of me.

I was getting some copy paper at our local Office Max.  The lady ahead of me had two baskets; one contained office supplies and the other what looked to be school supplies.  She asked the checker to ring them up separately.  I asked her if the second basket were school supplies.  She answered yes.  I asked her if she were a teacher.  She said yes.  I offered to pay for the school supplies.

When I see someone with a sign asking for money alongside the road to Walmart I put a couple dollars in my shirt pocket and on my way out of he or she is still there I give them a couple of bucks.

Friend tell me that maybe these people don't really need my help...they're scamming me.  Perhaps some of them are, but then again maybe most of them aren't.   My philosophy is perhaps I am getting scammed sometimes.  But it's small price to pay to help those who really are in need. 

And yes, I also support some legitimate charitable organizations.  And I still have enough to play BINGO twice a week and poker  on Tuesday and Friday evenings.

Noel

 

2 hours ago, birdguy said:

Guys, instead of morphing this thread into what or what the government should or should not do and drift into the forbidden topic of politics and getting the thread shut down lets talk about what we as individuals can do to help out those who need it.

For the record, I didn't say that my proposed rule regarding allowing certain passengers to exit the plane first should come from the government.  This should be a common sense airline rule.

As for the passenger bill of rights, while I don't like too much government interference, there are some areas where it is necessary to ensure safety and civil rights.  I have heard horror stories of folks being trapped on a plane for hours on the tarmac due to lack of parking or whatever.  This is tantamount to forced detention without cause and violates one's civil rights.  The airlines should be required to disembark passengers after a reasonable period of time and make whatever arrangements they must make to accomplish this.  I don't care if it impacts their profits.

Being an airline passenger is different in that once you are inside the plane you are trapped and at the mercy of the airline.  We have seen, and I have personally experienced, many abuses by the airlines over the years.  The only way to stop these abuses is to make clear rules and apply fines when the airlines violate those rules.

The fact is that flying is too inexpensive nowadays.  I know that for many this is a great thing as otherwise they would rarely or never fly, and we all like to save money.  The problem is that the industry has become so hyper-focused on price wars, profits, and increasing passenger volumes, that the airlines choose to sacrifice quality, ignore inconveniences caused by their incompetence, and violate personal freedoms in order to save a buck.  I would rather pay 50% more and have better and more competent service.  Let's also be honest, the higher prices would weed out a lot of the uncouth riff-raff as well, making for a more pleasant experience.

As for unruly passengers who become violent, this would not be tolerated and these folks would be arrested upon arrival and banned from flying.

Dave

1 hour ago, dave2013 said:

I would rather pay 50% more and have better and more competent service.  Let's also be honest, the higher prices would weed out a lot of the uncouth riff-raff as well, making for a more pleasant experience.

This is the airline for you; the great  unwashed remain in steerage: 🤣

 

On 10/30/2025 at 1:21 PM, dave2013 said:

I would rather pay 50% more and have better and more competent service.  Let's also be honest, the higher prices would weed out a lot of the uncouth riff-raff as well, making for a more pleasant experience.

Maybe some airlines are seeing the light?  https://airguide.info/airlines-win-by-investing-in-experience/

On 10/30/2025 at 3:21 PM, dave2013 said:

For the record, I didn't say that my proposed rule regarding allowing certain passengers to exit the plane first should come from the government.  This should be a common sense airline rule.

As for the passenger bill of rights, while I don't like too much government interference, there are some areas where it is necessary to ensure safety and civil rights.  I have heard horror stories of folks being trapped on a plane for hours on the tarmac due to lack of parking or whatever.  This is tantamount to forced detention without cause and violates one's civil rights.  The airlines should be required to disembark passengers after a reasonable period of time and make whatever arrangements they must make to accomplish this.  I don't care if it impacts their profits.

Being an airline passenger is different in that once you are inside the plane you are trapped and at the mercy of the airline.  We have seen, and I have personally experienced, many abuses by the airlines over the years.  The only way to stop these abuses is to make clear rules and apply fines when the airlines violate those rules.

The fact is that flying is too inexpensive nowadays.  I know that for many this is a great thing as otherwise they would rarely or never fly, and we all like to save money.  The problem is that the industry has become so hyper-focused on price wars, profits, and increasing passenger volumes, that the airlines choose to sacrifice quality, ignore inconveniences caused by their incompetence, and violate personal freedoms in order to save a buck.  I would rather pay 50% more and have better and more competent service.  Let's also be honest, the higher prices would weed out a lot of the uncouth riff-raff as well, making for a more pleasant experience.

As for unruly passengers who become violent, this would not be tolerated and these folks would be arrested upon arrival and banned from flying.

Dave

“The airlines should be required to disembark passengers in a reasonable amount of time…”

This already is regulated by the US govt. If airlines fail to meet the time limit, they get fined quite a bit.

”The airlines should issue a partial refund if they are 15-20 or minutes late…”

You kidding right? Where did you come up with that limit? I can’t tell you how many times I landed at ORD ON TIME just to be given the grand taxi tour of Chicago to arrive at the gate 20 minutes late. What about weather ground stops? Both of those are out of the control of the airline. What about maintenance? Airplanes break. No matter how good mx is, they still break. The only thing I could see that’s really the airlines’ fault is the willingness to short staff themselves. 
 

Besides, if you are crunched for time when you’re only 15-20 minutes late, maybe one should do a better job mitigating risk when planning air travel. I’ve gotten chewed out by passengers when I have been more than 15-20 minutes EARLY because they don’t have enough time for their connection. It goes both ways…
 

Then what’s up with your comment about being at the mercy of the airline? The mercy? You say this as if airlines are executioners or tyrants.  Trust me when I say that flight crew, cabin crew and everyone loathes being in an airplane just as much as you do during delays. 
 

It’s clear you have some strong opinions but goodness, airlines have to operate within and around a ton of red tape. Stuff happens, the experience can be really bad. Or it can be on time.