or; why I oppose the government meddling in this at all, and pray that the petition fails miserably.
Yesterday I had to get a haircut. (Basically, my boss/father told me that I get a haircut this week or I look for a new job next week . . . not a tough decision. 
) As I sat in the chair in the salon and the cosmetologist molested my head for half an hour, the Rachel Ray show was on. (Yes, I know, she's my sworn nemesis, but what was I gonna do? I gotta keep tabs on the enemy, after all . . .) She had one Kate Hanni on her show, who was trapped on an airplane for 9 1/2 hours without being able to leave. In consequence, she began an online petition to create a Passenger's Bill of Rights (link to that document here. It's about halfway down in the right column) to send to DC, intent on making it a law that these stipulations govern every flight.
Now, none of these stipulations are bad, and none of them seem necessarily extreme. Some of the things that this coalition is fighting for:
Establish procedures to respond to all passenger complaints within 24 hours and with appropriate resolution within 2 weeks.
Notify passengers within ten minutes of a delay of known diversions, delays and cancellations via airport overhead announcement, on aircraft announcement, and posting on airport television monitors.
Provide for the essential needs of passengers during air- or ground-based delays of longer than 3 hours, including food, water, sanitary facilities, and access to medical attention.
The formal implementation of a Passenger Review Committee, made up of non-airline executives and employees but rather passengers and consumers – that would have the formal ability to review and investigate complaints.
Ensure that baggage is handled without delay or injury; if baggage is lost or misplaced, the airline shall notify customer of baggage status within 12 hours and provide compensation equal to current market value of baggage and its contents.
Require that these rights apply equally to all airline code-share partners including international partners.
Now, like I said, none of those things seem bad, and I'd like if they were ensured to me as a traveler. I, for my part, have never had a problem (except for with rough handling of my baggage, which has resulted in the lost wheel or two) with any of these. I've never been stuck on the tarmacadam for three hours, I've never actually missed or been bumped from a flight. But I know it's happened to many.
That's why airlines like JetBlue have actually created their own personal, company-wide Passenger's Bill of Rights, for which I commend them. It's a brave thing to admit that your company was in error, and JetBlue has shown their true colors with their current "scandal" - and those colors have been impressive. Yet other airlines have yet to enact policies like this.
My problem with a Passengers Bill of Rights, however, is this: The minute the government sets a minimum that must be met, that's all that will ever be met. Service will not excel; it will, in fact, be a detriment to the entire flying experience. It's the same reason socialized medicine won't work - when you set a minimum standard, that's all that will ever be met, because more than that is unnecessary.
Thus, as I said, I applaud JetBlue for their efforts, and hope more airlines follow suit. But I seriously hope that the government doesn't step in to regulate these things, as we'll only be shooting ourselves in the feet.