Weekend survey: What’s the most important air travel issue for lawmakers?

The controversial, often-delayed FAA Reauthorization bill is being debated in Washington next week. The proposed legislation covers a lot of ground, from funding NextGen air traffic technology to forcing airlines to disclose fees.

This week’s big question: Which of these issues are the most important to you, the traveler?

For those of you who don’t think government should be getting involved in the airline industry at all, we made sure there was an option on this survey, too.

Commenters, please tell us why you voted for the issue you did — and what Congress should do with the FAA Bill.

All will be revealed next week.

Here’s the poll.

  • Bill

    4 happens rarely. 1 happens every trip.

  • http://www.thetravelinggiraffe.com Crissy

    1 happens more often, but the consequences aren’t as severe. But 4 would be much worse.

  • http://oussamastake.blogspot.com/ Oussama

    Airlines need to show how will they take care of their stranded passengers. I know this is not as severe as it used to be. This winter in Europe it was a mess and airlines do more

  • Sandie Reed

    Sandie Reed · CSU Long Beach- I think 1 and 4 should be included in the bill. We need to know what we are being charged. But being in a grounded airplane for more than one hour is torture. Not unless a government agency is holding you for investigation, can any company or agency hold you. The must release you or its kidnapping. Keeping people on a plane for hours is criminal and needs to be stopped.

  • Ed

    Why can’t we have the top 4? I like Lays potato chips…can’t have just one!

  • Tom

    Perhaps the FAA should regulate the TSA — or are they the same agency and more interested in CYA?

  • Brooklyn

    1 and 4, please! But especially 1. And if they can squeeze in a rider abolishing the TSA, that would be perfect! ;-)

  • Carly

    I think it’s important to know how much your trip is going to cost before you go on it, and not be hit with tons of little fees along the way. I voted for one. I’d like to expand that one to the entire travle industry! Make cruise ships, airlines, hotels, etc all disclose the “little” fees that can add 100′s to your total trip cost!

  • http://nmdfreelance.com Nancy

    All of the choices need to be looked in to. The government is becoming more and more out of control. However, the airlines are nickel and dimeing (SP?) us to death.

  • Tim

    #1 – Airline websites do a pretty good job on fee disclosure. Just look for the page called “Optional Services”. :)
    #2 – what good is this going to do? Give us a recording to scream at?
    #3 – OMG. Really?
    #4 – Is this really a problem any more? In 14 years of flying 48-50 weeks per year, I have only seen this issue on a particular domestic Russian airline we will not mention. Now we have legislature that dictates the 2 hour rule. Isn’t that enough?
    #5 – Agreed. Let’s worry about more important things like upgrading our air traffic systems and keeping controllers awake!

  • http://www.JustLetMeVent.wordpress.com jaygee

    I voted for 2 because I think it’s the fastest way to see changes happen. In my business, a consumer hotline made a huge difference with the automotive repair industry. I would have voted for 4 if the wording was different: instead of waiting for airlines to police themselves (not going to happen), the DOT should just develop a plan (with consumer input) and require airlines to abide by it. The plan should include returning to gate and allowing passengers to disembark in extreme circumstances.

  • Barry Graham

    Abolishing the TSA would be first in my list too. Having decided this week that I was fed up of being asked to remove yet another item of clothing (my belt) and combined with the issue of possibly having my image viewed by a female TSA officer, I decided to opt for a pat down instead. This was the most humiliating experience ever and makes no sense. A few minutes earlier, they let a family of 4 go through the same machine that I had to (the regular machine) because the line was too long. However I had to be subjected to a pat down because the line was not too long. So the TSA is deciding our safety based on how long the line is. If the line is too long, it’s sufficient to use the regular machine, if it’s not too long, then that machine is not safe. What a system.