With a new three-hour cutoff for tarmac delays going into effect Thursday, both air travelers and airlines are likely wondering what the ultimate effect will be.
The goal is to make sure passengers aren't stuck on planes for hours on end without food, water, or working toilets. But with a hefty fine as high as $27,500 per passenger for breaking the rules, some argue passengers will see more flight cancellations.
Gallup asked air travelers in January about their level of satisfaction with specific aspects of flying, including airlines' efforts to deal with flight delays and cancellations. Just over half -- 53% -- said they were satisfied but 45% were dissatisfied. That's a better satisfaction rating than Americans give airlines on baggage and re-booking fees, but a worse rating than they give on going through security and the price they pay for tickets.
The question now -- will these rules help or hurt these ratings? Travelers could grow more satisfied with how airlines handle delays, but more dissatisfied with the number of cancellations. To make sure these numbers improve rather than deteriorate, airlines would be well served to do everything they can to keep cancellations to a minimum, even under the new deadlines for timely takeoffs.
I'll have more on these and other airline satisfaction data, as well as look at how many Americans had their travel plans disrupted by the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland, in a Gallup.com story this week. (Update: read the story.)
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