Originally Posted by
kavok
Also, for those suggesting removing all cap limits, or having a cap limit so high (i.e. $1 million) that it essentially serves in practice as no cap, here is something to keep in mind:
At some point somewhere, eventually there would be a IDB situation where the cost became say $100k plus. Obviously this would be very rare, but sooner or later some flight somewhere would result in outrageous amount that would be owed.
At that point, the airlines could then sue that the law is requiring unjust compensation that far exceeds any damages caused, and they would probably win. This could result in the whole law being thrown out the window.
To provide an analogy, if I sign a contract to paint someones house but fail to do so, then I am in violation of the contract and can be sued. However, the person who sues me can only sue for an amount that is justifiable for the damages incurred, not a random $1 billion dollars because they feel like it.
For that reason, I think a good cap would be in the $5 to $10k range.. Significant enough that it would rarely get that high, but even if it did, it would not create an undue financial burden and compensation being made due by the airline.
Actually if the airline itself, in response to its normal course of business charges, say 10,000 dollars for some last minute tickets, then why in the event of an abnormal situation created by the airline...would a payment reaching 10 x that amount seem excessive?
The whole point is to keep the customer whole and provide a huge disincentive to IVDBing people.
Originally Posted by
raehl311
The actual answer is:
The current IDB system is EXCELLENT. It allows airlines to inconvenience the least number of passengers possible given the finicky nature of safe air travel.
There is no reason to change it because of one criminal getting hurt when he forced law enforcement to use force against him.
And if you think there is, especially as the frequent traveler you are:
- Do you want entire flights canceled because airlines can't move crew around? Entire series of flights operated by an aircraft delayed throughout the day?
- Do you want flights delayed because passengers think they can simply refuse to leave a plane when asked and there will never be forced used? Even if that passenger is a threat, like drunk, or sitting next to you and touching you inappropriately, or is so large they can't fit in one seat? Or would you rather fly with those people than have them forcibly removed from your plane?
- Do you want airlines to no longer have the option to overbook, and because they are forced to fly your seat empty when you noshow, require you to buy a new ticket for any flight you miss?
Seriously... we've got a good system that has worked pretty well for years, until this ONE GUY decided he was more important than everyone else, and when it finally came to having to force him off the plane because he wouldn't take a simple request to leave, he got hurt. HIS fault. No reason to make everyone else pay for it.
Well that's a certainly unique position.