PHX quoted the following...
And some will argue that rather than punishing airlines for delays, the Obama and past administrations would have done better modernizing the antiquated U.S. air traffic control system, which many industry observers believe is the root cause of most delays in the first place.
On its face one can't argue with this statement. What I have a problem with is when the airlines (and probably some on this board) take it one step further and, with a straight face, say the government has no right to demand that airlines be "realistic" with their timetables and when it comes to selling tickets involving connecting flights. The airlines, and their group of blind followers, want to be able to use the absence of a modernized air traffic control system as an excuse to perpetrate almost every conceivable form of consumer fraud upon the public as they can. And my guess is they will fight the proposed DOT rules all the way to the Supreme Court and through their paid "agents" in Congress.
As to the matter of selling tickets wherein there is an unrealistic connecting time between flights: I give credit to American Air. Their on-line site contains warnings when the connecting times are short. I haven't seen this repeated by any other US-based airline. Still, in my view, American Air is nothing more than a prisoner transport service, with flight attendants, and gate agents, acting as guards. Too many of their staff lack the basics of human decency.
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