[jimworcs]

Firstly, saying that an unacceptable practice is "standard" in the industry doesn't make it right. Airlines have choices.. for example, some low cost airlines do not over book. JetBlue in the US and Easyjet in Europe for example do not do this. If there are no shows, they will sell the seats to standby passengers 40 minutes before departure. It is absolutely wrong that the airlines have been permitted to sell seats that they do not have and strand passengers with the defence that it is in the T&C'S.

Secondly, the airlines set the prices. Passengers do not expect "first class service", but they do expect to be made whole when the airline screws up. Unfortunately, airlines are abdicating their responsibilities in this regard and passengers are left in a uniquely vulnerable position, which is not comparable with other service industries.

Next, the airlines are de-regulated. Normally, where industries are de-regulated they are subjected to normal competitive pressures. However, the US airline industry lobbies and fights to prevent this. They operate like the Robber Barons, demanding special priviledges such as protection from competition and even from being subject to take overs and these are granted by the US Congress. They are effectively subsidised, and misuse Chapter 11 protection repeatedly to screw their employees, customers and suppliers. It is scandalous abuse of their monopoly power and when customers object and complain, their employees come onto websites such as this and defend them.

I don't wish ill on anyone, but corporations which abuse their effective monopolies have to face consquences or they will get out of control. Look at the arrogance of the banks and ask yourself that if they had been properly regulated would this have happened? The answer is no. The same applies to the airlines. Competition only works in a properly regulated environment. It is time to take measures which include:

1. Re-regulating the industry
2. Strict enforcement of minimum standards of service, with fines and
penalties for failure to adhere to them.
3. Drop restrictions on foreign ownership of airlines
4. Drop restrictions on the operation of airlines from other countries
competing with US airlines
5. Ban the sale of seats more than once
6. Prohibit any airline from seeking Chapter 11 protection from creditors
more than once every 20 years
7. Levy penalties and fines on airlines where the DOT establishes any
dishonesty or malfeasance by airline employees. For example, if an
airline refuses lawful compensation and is subsequently found to have
mislead passengers (eg. blaming weather delay when it was in fact an
operational one), to triple the compensation to the passenger.