1 minute ago 2009-12-04T01:58:24-08:00
A delayed flight is one thing. But what do you do when you're stuck in plane that's sitting on a tarmac? Do you have any real options?
That was the question posed by traveler Bruce Kane. He referred to an old "L.A. Law" episode in which one of the lawyers is stuck on a plane and calls a partner to file papers to set him free. Was that just artistic license, or would it be possible to free oneself from a stalled aircraft?
According to the Air Transport Association, the industry group that represents the airlines, there is no law that mandates that a carrier has to go back to the gate if a customer demands it for whatever reason. So, yes, Bruce, that "L.A. Law" episode would be a case of taking artistic license.
However, says ATA spokesman David Castelveter, "carriers, for the most part, will try to accommodate [those requests] because they don't want a potential unruly situation. If someone says they are having an anxiety attack, they will have a discussion with a medical professional to determine whether to go back to gate.''
Those decisions are ultimately up to the captain, who can issue an executive decision to return to the gate. As for cell phone use during those Denver-like incidents when people are imprisoned on planes for hours on end, that can be allowed, but the captain has to announce it.
By all means, if stranded folks don't hear that announcement and they want to make calls, they should ask flight attendants to ask the captain, says Castelveter.
Meanwhile, check out Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry's blog for a funny exchange about being stuck in a sitting plane.
Write to Barbara Correa at bboydstoncorrea@yahoo.com
