I agree with what you're saying in part, but I have to disagree with this whole thing that you hear people talk about regarding the safety of airliners vs. driving. "More likely to be killed driving to the store" etc.

The thing is, you have to compare apples to apples.

Every day in the US, there are about 30,000 commercial airline flights. Call it 100 seats average (even though I think that's a little on the high side) and you're looking at 3 million or so flying passengers each day in the US.

There are 190 million licensed drivers in the US, as well as a lot of children and people without licenses who are passengers in cars regularly. Assuming that the average licensed driver makes 2 car trips a day (fair assumption I think) it's pretty reasonable to say that there are upwards of 300 million car passengers/drivers each day in the US.

There are definitely less people killed in airline incidents than on the roads, but keep in mind that only 1% of the people who drive are flying on any given day.

Easiest way to do this is to tax jump seat riders/non-rev passes. Make the price of a walk-up ticket "taxable income" for each leg and you just made commuting economically un-viable for almost everyone--especially those long, multi-leg, trans-con commutes.

The company isn't blamed for this, and they don't have to track/monitor/enforce this like they would for a crew rest solution. Plus, it'd raise revenue.

Please note that I am not advocating this, just suggesting how they'll do it.

You have stumbled upon another issue. We may have to pay taxes on our travel benefits soon regardless of commuter rest requirements. The US Government is so hungry for money and the IRS taxes many benefits as imputed income I am surprised that our travel privileges aren't.

There is a precedent too. Corporate executives are taxed for their personal use of the business jet.

This would suck!

The IRS just ruled that company provided cell phone use not for work can be taxed as imputed income. Employer provided health benefits are seriously being considered taxable. That one is so politically hot that I think that our benefits would be taxed before health care. Maybe there isn't enough money in taxing travel benefits to make it worth their while. I know that my benefits are certainly worthless when it comes to my family.

Maybe the tax should be progressive. The more senior, the higher the tax because the more valuable the benefit? That would sure stir up the hornet's nest!

I am sure it will be taxed by flight. Like something like 30% tax per walk up fare.
One more reason to exit stage left.

Actually, travel benefits are already calculated as imputed income. That is why there are certain restrictions on who is eligible for them. Since they are considered a benefit though, companies pay the tax and then get to use it as a write-off on their corporate taxes.

The cell phone tax has been an IRS rule for 20 years. Just never enforced.

Well I stand corrected. One learns something new every day here!

I don't know about the rules for commuting, but based on the recent transcripts of the hearings, it definitely looks like change is coming. ALPA seems to be doing something right.