New Tarmac Rule Limits Time Stuck on Airplanes: Will it Work?

April 28, 2010 | Posted in: ABC Column,Airline News,Ask Rick,Delays,DOT,Passengers

Tomorrow – Thursday, April 29 – a new Dept. of Transportation rule called, “Enhancing Airline Passenger Protections” goes into effect.

You know it better as the “3-hour rule” – and it means no more passengers getting trapped-on-the-tarmac in planes going nowhere, after a wait of three hours.

It also means, while you are on that plane, waiting for those three hours, medical attention will be available to anyone who needs it, and after two hours, food and water will be available as well.

Plus, the lavatories will have to be in working order (don’t think this hasn’t happened before).

The airlines don’t like this rule – and some passengers say, three hours is too long. I take a look at this angry debate (and more) in my latest column for ABCNews.com.

Here’s an irony: the new three hour rule could wind up delaying your plane a lot longer than three hours – or at least, that’s what some experts are saying. Is that argument valid? I’d love to hear what you think.  

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4 Responses to “New Tarmac Rule Limits Time Stuck on Airplanes: Will it Work?”

1. rainyb says:

   April 28, 2010 at 11:39 am

   I agree. Three hours is too long + it gives the airlines ‘permission’ to delay the flight for up to 3 hours, likely w/o compensation?? grrrrrrrrr
2. Bill S. says:

   April 28, 2010 at 11:54 am

   I have to say that I have been there before! Didn’t get anything but an “I am sorry”!
   I have to wait 2 hours before I get something to drink ,like water? Food are they going to carry food that cost $$$ that I wouldn’t feed to my dogs to eat? Man, what would the toilets be like after 2 hours let alone 3! How about being taken back to the gate and left off until we can fly out of there! This seems t me to actually help the airlines in amking a decision to let you off rather then compensate you!
3. Krysia says:

   April 29, 2010 at 7:30 pm

   Sat on the tarmac for 7 hours waiting to be deiced. We were next in the Q and had to go back as we ran out of fuel.
   Food and drink were brought out after 4 hours and everyone running to the bathroom, put one bathroom out of order.
   Airline/airport refused to let us back into the departure lounge, no more food available, one passenger insisted they deplane.
   We finally took off, one toilet for the entire plane, nothing more was served.

   All we got was “warm temperatures at our destination, sorry for the inconvenience folks”.
4. Rick Seaney says:

   April 29, 2010 at 11:47 pm

   Krysia,

   Sounds like you’re more than ready for the new 3-hour tarmac rule.

   Thanks for sharing your horrendous experience.
   Rick