Actually, the law DOES cause unnecessary cancellations. At my airline if you're not off the ground in EWR 2+30 after you push, you go back to the gate even if you're next in line for takeoff. Flight cancelled.

The RJ was not allowed a gate or to deplane. It was a TSA issue, not an airline issue. The terminal was "closed" for the night. No one wanted people in it.

Sorry, they are stupid. They have not paid for any raise I've had since before 9/11. I "paid" for their tickets by taking paycuts to give them cheaper tickets. They still are not happy and want to fly on outsourced airlines to save a buck.

Fine, if they want to save a buck, then fly on Colgan to Buffalo.

Fine, if they don't want to be late three hours by air, then they can drive or walk. The airline will cancel before paying $27,000 per passenger.

It doesn't take much per ticket to get pilot pay where it should be, but the passengers want greyhound service in the air instead of a professional airline. I'll be happy to give them what they deserve. ;)

Otto,

As the old saying goes: "You get what you pay for." And as it was pointed out before the "Passenger Bill or Rights" is a perfect example of the Law of Unintended Consequences.

I personally have been stuck in an RJ in Jackson MS for 4 hours. Here is a lady that claims 9 hours in Austin: Passengers Sue American, Saying “We Were Imprisoned Against Our Will”

Are you saying that they were all TSA's fault. Do you really want me to google the DTW NW flight that started this mess. Yes there are extenuating circumstances but yes airline have also made some very stupid choices when faced with delays.

I agree the regulation makes cancelations more likely but if I want to get off an airplane, that is just sitting on the ramp, after a reasonable amount of time, I should have that option.

I agree Columbia as I had wondered if the cancellations were in part due to those concerns voiced in the OP's posting of the article. When I was trying to explain to family and friends why we were stuck outside of Baltimore due to a weather cancellation before the snow had even started falling, I told them about the 3 hour rule and NONE of them had heard of it.

I also disagree with those who point the finger at the passengers as those responsible for low fares. The public will pay what it costs. There might be a few who chose otherwise, but people kept paying nearly $5.00 for gas too. I'll buy the same furniture from a different store if it is $25.00 cheaper or a shirt from one department store rather than another if there isn't a difference in quality, and I'm less likely to pay extra for a pricey brandname (think Pottery Barn on some goods) rather than the same thing, somewhere else - - and I'll bet that many complaining about the consumers on here do the same thing with products that don't affect their daily lives.
I was inconveinenced by the cancellations and it was hard to sit there and watch my few days of leave burned with a smattering of snow on the ground in my local area at the time - -but I understood (or at least tried too) the bigger picture. The airlines in this case seemed to have been put in a tighty Catch 22.

In any case - thanks to the crew that DID eventually get me home a few days later than planned (and landed in that really bad fog (1/8SM -DZ VV001) in Kansas City (and OKC for that matter) on the 29th). NICE JOB :)

USMCFLYR

I'd imagine in the days of the likes of Ernest Gann, etc, when pilots had the cojones to stand up for what was right, this wouldn't have occurred.

is this type situation like that RJ, what not just taxi to the gate and tell them open the door or your going to EVAC?

That was back in the day when Airline pilots were well respected and their word and Judgement was gospel. Now, if you make a decision that doesn't jive with what the TSA wants you would probably be fired, have federal marshals show up on your door step, be brought up on charges and be treated like a terrorist!

No you shouldn't...you'll sit there and LIKE it! :D (At least for up to 3 hours)