[ID-NJ]

My family just had a horrible experience on December 19 that has exceeded my previous worst airline experience by a wide margin...and I've traveled quite a lot. Any lawyer advice? I really want to do something about this.

Our flight (Continental 78) actually sat in the airplane for close to 6 (yes, six!) hours on December 19 during the "blizzard of 2009". The plane was supposed to leave at 6:50pm from Newark, direction Zurich, Switzerland. It was listed as "on-time" and we boarded without any problems. However, we stayed at the gate for 2 1/2 hours after scheduled departure because four people had to be removed from the plane (we were told due to some vague security concerns) and then their bags had to be removed as well. After this delay we moved to a remote area for de-icing where we spend 1 1/2 hours before reaching the runway. At that time the pilot remembered about the 3 hour federal rule (the one that came after the JetBlue episode) and to everyone's complete astonishment we were told we have to go back to the gate to, quote, "stretch our legs". We had to wait for an hour to deplane, however, because of a frozen jetway. Once parked back at the gate we were told that we have to take all our luggage and deplane. Our misfortune then got worse because at that time Continental decided conveniently (for them) to cancel the flight altogether and everyone had to line up with customer service for "accommodations." It took me two hours to get to speak with an agent. There were of course no accommodations or any sort of consideration or remorse on part of the airline. I was told that there are no flights going out to Zurich over the next 4-5 days; my long planned 1-week family vacation was ruined. My wife and daughter were very upset AND we had to wait for 2 hours in line to be told that there is nothing that the airline can do! At that time it was already 3AM! But of course there is a lot the airline can do. They just didn't want to bother. If this was Europe, they would have to provide sleeping accommodations and then re-plane at the earliest possible hour. Not cancel, just delay the departure. People will understand. Instead, 200 people were treated like baggage. To add insult to injury, when I told the airline that I would like to get a refund since they could not find me a flight over the next 5 days, I was told that I can only "apply for a refund" and there is no guarantee I will get it. I am at the mercy of the airline! In the meantime our plans are ruined, and I have spent over $1000 to pre-book accommodations in Europe, money I will not get back.

P.S> I think the three hour rule will do little to help without being part of a broader measure like a Congress-mandated bill of passanger rights.