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Jimworcs, you understand that hundreds of thousands of people depend on their jobs to work for the airlines right? Your neighbour, the guy down the street, your third cousin? If we had your way we would all be out of jobs. We are people too.
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Yes, I think that the monopolistic and abusive behaviour of the airlines has gone too far and that they should no longer be protected. In the short term, people will lose their jobs. Just as they did in other industries. The only way to deal with the abuse of monopolies, just like the robber barons of the steel industry, railroads, communications industry etc was to break them up, encourage new entrants and regulate them. This is the only solution now. In the long run, more jobs will be created by having a more competitive industry with a larger number of smaller, more competitive airlines. This is how capitalism works best.
Delta should have been allowed to go bankrupt. No airline should be allowed to file Chapter 11 more than once per 25 years, (if ever) and if they do, the Board and Senior Managers should be replaced without payoffs. The airlines should be subject to normal rules of competition, allowing foreign carriers to compete and foreign ownership. No airline should be allowed to have more than 25% of the routes from any hub. The argument against the break up of steel, railroads, ATT etc are exactly the same as you put forward. Sadly, millions are losing their jobs, some in industries which are genuinely competitive. Why should airline employees be any different.
Chris H: It is refreshing that you acknowledge the common sense response required to address the problem faced by whpress, but the examples you give are not analogous to his situation. The only reason that he was unable to take the second flight was because Delta failed to get him to his destination in the first place. They have perfectly understandable reasons for this failure, there was an equipment failure and no one would wish an airline to fly unless the aircraft is fully airworthy. All that was required was that they made the passenger whole. They have two ways to do this.. 1) Get the passenger there by an alternative means, or 2) Refund the money paid by the passenger. It is sad that Eagleguy cannot see the injustice of failing to do either of these things in this case, but I am pretty sure that a court would not take the same view. I hope whpress takes this further and lets us know the outcome.