[AADFW]

I've been more active in posting this week after a prolonged absence, and I have been looking through a few of my older posts. My previous argument in this thread was that a truly free airline industry, free of any regulation beyond what's provided for currently was the best model moving forward. My logic before was that if the federal government would allow underperforming airlines to go bankrupt, the situation for consumers where service was concerned would necessarily improve. I was wrong.

Since the days of de-regulation, commercial air travel in the United States has become much more affordable when adjusted for inflation. It has also become safer and far more plentiful. As the economic model for the industry has matured, however, service levels have continued to adjust to consumer elasticity of price. The result is that human beings are being treated as something less than human in too many instances.

Formerly, I had viewed re-regulation in all or nothing terms. In truth, regulation comes in many forms that can be instituted on varying levels with a wide degree of economic impact upon the airline industry and its consumers. Setting arbitrary minimum fares is a bad idea, as are bailouts, government ownership, and federal loan guarantees to airlines. However, the legislation of a comprehensive and balanced "passenger bill of rights" is a form of regulation that just makes sense.

In my view, this should include:

- compensating passengers for delays that are within the control of the airline on a sliding scale basis over prescribed lengths thereof;

- creating transparency of price, such as establishing ONE price of fare inclusive of all taxes, “fuel surcharges,” etc.;

- limiting the scope and nature of fee-based services airlines can provide;

- setting phased-in, minimum requirements for seating space and pitch, and of course;

- prohibiting long on-board delays wherein passengers are denied food, water, and access to sanitary, functioning toilets.

There are any number of other factors that could be included as well. These are matters of basic human decency and fairness that would not contravene free market principles to any level of great disproportion. They are needed, and I stand corrected.