If you're gonna get locked inside a plane that's endlessly delayed on the taxiway, better do it in Canada. The country has just launched Flight Rights Canada, a new sort of passenger bill of rights for everyone using a carrier based in the country.

Included are earth-shatteringly sensible provisions like "Passengers have a right to take the flight they paid for" and "Passengers have a right to information on flight times and schedule changes."

The new rules even cover what happens if you get trapped on the plane:

If the passenger is already on the aircraft when a delay occurs, the airline will offer drinks and snacks if it is safe, practical and timely to do so. If the delay exceeds 90 minutes and circumstances permit, the airline will offer passengers the option of disembarking from the aircraft until it is time to depart.

Funny, we seem to remember taxiing around JFK one time for about 90 minutes--and that wasn't even a delayed flight.

Related Stories:
· Announcement of Flight Rights Canada [Official Site]
· Power to the Passenger [The Economist]
· Passengers in Argentina Not Calmly Asking for "Bill of Rights" [Jaunted]

[Photo: preciouskhyatt]]]> pbb 2008-09-10T09:15:25-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/6/16848/12689

Any government agency could potentially take a seven-word laptop-screening policy ("Take your computer out of its bag") and turn it into a 510-word briefing including two diagrams, a bulleted list, a note and a disclaimer. But only the TSA would have audacity to dub that kind of effort "simplifying laptop bag procedures."

Yep, there are apparently four different styles of new laptop bags that are OK by the TSA, but don't try to sneak an "accordion style" pouch past these logicians! Actually, don't try to sneak anything by them because:

If [an officer] finds that the bag does not present a clear and distinct image of the laptop separate from the rest of the bag, the laptop will have to be screened separately.

Still wondering why we called this plan stupid?

Related Stories:
· TSA "Simplifying Laptop Bag Procedures" [Official Site]
· Airport Security coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-08-06T16:10:00-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/4/162421/5154

"Just try it, Peters," seems to be the message from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which announced today that it would disallow departures or arrivals that are "issued by auction or similar process," saying such slot sales "would be illegal without Congressional authorization."

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is lining up behind the authority, agreeing with the position that auctions will only cause fares to go up while doing nothing to alleviate the congestion that has choked New York area airports over the past few years.

So what does he propose instead? Schumer thinks upgrading air traffic control equipment and adding staff at control towers will rid the region of delays and cancellations. Maybe he could interest you in a six-figure hiring bonus?

Related Stories:
· Port Authority Will Block US Plan to Auction Airport Slots [NYT]
· Port Authority Acts to Block Flights [Official Site]
· Secretary Mary Peters Wants to Touch That Paper [Jaunted]

[Photo: ATIS547]]]> pbb 2008-08-04T16:30:04-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/4/74453/42773

Yet another reason not to carry lots of luggage: "Hairspray" actress Nikki Blonsky and her father were arrested last week for allegedly getting into a fight over seats in a departure lounge at Providenciales International Airport.

Supposedly Blonsky and pa had left their luggage on a set of seats in order to save them, and when a traveling trio (which happened to include a previous "America's Next Top Model" contestant) removed them, Blonsky struck out at them to protect her seat sovereignty.

If only she had just packed one bag, none of this would have happened!

Related Stories:
· Nikki Blonsky Injured, Arrested in Brutal Luggage-Defense Melee [Defamer]
· Movie Set Travel: "Hairspray" Is From Baltimore [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Still from "Hairspray" in which Tracy Turnblad demands Link's frequent flier miles: Girl.com.au]]]> egw 2008-08-04T09:30:04-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/1/11553/48765

After an airport revolt earlier this week, authorities in China will start penalizing airlines that don't clamp down on riotous passengers. Says deputy head of the civil aviation office, Yang Guoqing:

We will severely punish airlines which experience aircraft occupations and other incidents as a result of service reasons which originate with the airline. These measures include cancelling slots at corresponding busy airports.

On the upside, at least it looks like checking your flight status might be a little bit easier, now that China has been shamed into partially lifting some internet restrictions.

Related Stories:
· China to Punish Airlines Whose Passengers Misbehave [Shanghaiist, via]
· Punishing Airlines Whose Passengers Misbehave [Reuters]
· Chinese Upping the Angry Passenger Ante [Jaunted]

[Photo of PEK: valerious]]]> pbb 2008-08-01T12:00:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/31/104650/182

Software glitches at JFK on Wednesday caused monumental baggage hassles for passengers, as workers sorted luggage by hand and suitcases didn't make it on flights leaving Terminal 8. American Airlines was even telling passengers they could elect to take a later flight if their baggage couldn't be found.

Flier Mike Howell had the punch line everyone was thinking:

If they do charge people 15 dollars per bag, they should get it right.

American says many of the flights were international--routes on which the baggage fee isn't charged--but they're having trouble making that message stick. Maybe AA could post it to the airline's blog?

Related Stories:
· Baggage System Breakdown Delays Flights [AP, via Yahoo]
· Baggage System Meltdown at JFK [BT]
· Airport Hell coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-07-31T10:50:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/30/102734/484

Look out, Argentina! Chinese passengers stranded at Kunming Wujiaba International Airport staged an even bigger riot than the one that went down at Ezeiza in January. Sadly, though, we can't find any video of this one.

After China Southern Airlines cancelled three flights Monday night due to foul weather, more than 170 passengers were forced to spend the night on-board their planes or in the departures hall. A Chinese state media outlet reports that no food or alternative accomodations were provided. When staff came back on Tuesday, the passengers started smashing computers and desks and got into a scuffle with police at the airport.

China Southern, though, says it did offer up a hotel that some passengers simply refused. Whatever the case, the airline managed to get all of the stranded out of the airport by Tuesday afternoon.

Related Stories:
· Stranded Air Passengers "Clash with Police" [AFP, via Google]
· Angry Passengers Make Computers Crash [Reuters]
· Airport Hell coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: superciliousness]]]> pbb 2008-07-30T10:30:25-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/